APPENDIX. 219 



upon the system ; and no doubt those who have the organ of marvellous-ness largely de- 

 veloped suppose that some such effect is produced, with other strange fancies. 



The question naturally arises, How far is it useful 1 This remains yet to be shown. 

 Some attach great remedial power to magnetism, and, no doubt, in some cases, it exerts 

 an influence, and may have proved useful ; but as yet nothing very definite or certain has 

 been established that we can rely upon. It would appear that those termed " clair- 

 voyants " are able to detect diseases, but most of them are unable to prescribe success- 

 fully, as I have proved in my practice. How far this agent will be more fully developed 

 remains to be seen. But probably much greater light will be thrown upon it by future 

 investigations. Without doubt all the phenomena are to be referred to natural causes, 

 and not to superhuman or satanic agency, as has been supposed. * 



Some err, if not degrade themselves, by the false and visionary ideas they attach to 

 magnetism. They make it their " hobby," and much of their ideality is associated with 

 its wonderful effects on the system. To listen to them, we would suppose that their 

 claims to discoveries were superior to all others. This manifests a peculiar state of 

 mind bordering on monomania, and the healing art at least will not be much indebted to 

 such for improvements. 



The subject of animal magnetism now excites considerable interest in England and 

 India, and some experiments have been made which illustrate very clearly its singular 

 effects upon the system. Institutions and periodicals have been established to promote it, 

 particularly among the poor, as a medical agent. A mesmeric infirmary has been esta- 

 blished for the poor in Dublin, and one in Madras, in India, called the Eckctic Mes- 

 meric Hospital. The British government has appointed a committee to investigate 

 its merits. The resident surgeon has reported several operations performed on native 

 patients for large tumors, which were removed without pain in the mesmeric trance, 

 weighing from thirty to a hundred pounds. Dr. Esdaile, one of the surgeons of the 

 institutions in India, closes the report on the effects of mesmerism in the following 

 language : 



" From the foregoing facts, I consider myself entitled to say that it has been demon- 

 strated that patients in the mesmeric trance may be insensible to, 



" 1st, The loudest noises. 



11 3d, Painful pricking and pinching. 



" 3d, The cutting of inflamed parts. 



" 4th. The application of nitric acid to raw surfaces. 



" 5th, The racking of the electro-magnetic machine. 



" 6th, The most painful surgical operation, and yet be aroused into full conscious- 

 ness by the exposure of the naked bodies for a few minutes to the cold air. 



(Signed) " JAMES ESDAILE, M.D. 



"* 1st January, 1847." 



