302 



KIDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



PROGRESS OF SCIENCE. 

 MESMERISM— AND WHAT IS DONE BY IT. 



The generous heart 

 Feels great delight in easing others' pain. 



The benevolent and kindly feeling, 

 my dear Sir, which are exhibited by your 

 interesting Journal towards all animated 

 nature, and which, from personal acquaint- 

 ance, I know you carry out in practice as 

 well as inculcate by precept — assures me 

 that you will be rejoiced to hear of a fellow- 

 creature having been spared an intensity of 

 suffering ; also that you will have pleasure in 

 recording the subjoined case of painless 

 surgical operation, during mesmeric trance, 

 as witnessed by myself and several other 

 gentlemen at the Mesmeric Institute (36, 

 Weymouth Street, Portland Place), on Wed- 

 nesday, 26th April, 1854. 



Mrs. Flowerday, the patient, resides at 

 Upwell, in Cambridgeshire, and has been the 

 mother of three children. Since the weaning 

 of her last infant (three years ago), a tumor 

 had been gradually forming in her right breast 

 — occasioning her much pain, and no little 

 anxiety. Every day, in fact, increased its dan- 

 ger. It at length reached such a climax, that 

 the only alternative was either to submit to its 

 removal, or to pass the remainder of her 

 days in mental and bodily anguish. She 

 however possessed a sufficient degree of forti- 

 tude to prefer the former course. For- 

 tunately for her, her medical adviser (Mr. 

 Tubbs, of Upwell) is a believer in, and an 

 advocate for mesmerism, which he employs 

 in his practice whenever available ; and I 

 should tell you that he had established such 

 an influence over her, that he could, at will, 

 send her into the mesmeric trance in a few 

 minutes. 



Mr. Tubbs, who in the infancy of mes- 

 merism suffered a species of martyrdom for 

 his faith in its virtues, and who experienced 

 a series of persecutions that one less deter- 

 mined must have sunk under, — was desirous 

 that, for greater publicity, the operation 

 should be performed in London. In pur- 

 suance of this wish, he brought his patient 

 from her residence to the Mesmeric Institute, 

 for the purpose of being operated upon. 



He then, in the presence of Dr. Elliotson, 

 Dr. Symes, and a number of other witnesses 

 (both medical and non-medical), succeeded 

 in throwing her into the mesmeric trance 

 (during which all sensation is suspended) and 

 in removing the diseased breast.* His patient 

 did not only not betray the slightest indica- 

 tion of pain, but she remained evidently quite 

 unconscious that any operation was being 



* The whole of the breast was removed ; laying 

 the pectoral muscle completely bare. The effusion 

 of blood was incredibly slight. 



performed — much less one of so severe a 

 character as that she was then undergoing. 

 The operation was performed in the most 

 deliberate manner possible. No haste was 

 required ; for Mr. Tubbs was thoroughly con- 

 vinced that his patient was insensible to suf- 

 fering. (Her placid features declared as 

 much.) The wound was now secured by 

 ligatures, and the patient restored to con- 

 sciousness ; when, instead of manifesting the 

 prostration one would naturally have ex- 

 pected from the severity of the operation, 

 she declined the aid that would have assisted 

 her up to bed — saying she felt quite capable 

 of walking thither. This she accordingly 

 did, up two pair of stairs, and without 

 assistance. 



To inquiries made on the following morn- 

 ing, the reply was, she had passed a tranquil 

 night ; slept soundly ; was perfectly free 

 from pain ; and progressing in the most 

 favorable manner. 



I have not attempted to give you a 

 detailed account of the operation, in which I 

 should probably fail for want of technical 

 knowledge ; but I state simply what myself 

 and a number of others " saw with our own 

 eyes." All present, both professional and 

 non-professional, were unanimously of opinion 

 that a more triumphant, success coidd not 

 have been achieved. They concurred, more- 

 over, in their admiration of a medium by 

 which so terrible (but under these circum- 

 stances, so imperatively necessary) an ope- 

 ration had been conducted, — not only without 

 pain to the patient, but with a complete un- 

 consciousness of its having taken place. 



I would have sent you this communication 

 earlier, but I wished to wait till the certainty 

 of success was placed beyond a doubt, I 

 have just heard from the Institute, that Mrs. 

 Flowerday is nearly well (this being the 10th 

 of May). I therefore consider further delay 

 to be uncalled for. 



G. F. L. 



May 10, 1854. 



[Chance has thrown us, recently, into the 

 company of a number of gentlemen who were 

 present on the occasion of this most interest- 

 ing and successful experiment. They confirm, 

 to the echo, all that is here said by our kind 

 and humane correspondent. We record the 

 facts with unfeigned pleasure, and without 

 any comment. Nature is so true to herself!] 



TO THE GENTLE SUMMER RAIN. 



Come, then, and brim the meadow-streams, 

 And soften all the hills with mist ! 



0, falling dew ! from burning dreams 

 By thee shall herb and flower be kiss'd ; 



And earth shall bless thee yet again, — 

 0, gentle, gentle Summer rain ! 



