140 
Mesmerism . 
[March, 
is generated the fish loses an equivalent of nervous energy’ 
and for this reason the production of the eledtric force is 
strictly limited to the amount of nerve force possessed by 
the animal.” 
Again, in his concluding observations on the eleCtric eel, 
Humboldt remarks, “ That which constitutes the invisible 
weapon of these inhabitants of the waters ; that which, 
awakened by the contact of moist and dissimilar particles, 
circulates through all the organs of animals and plants ; 
that which, flashing amid the roar of thunder, illumines the 
wide canopy of heaven ; which binds iron to iron, and directs 
the silent recurring course of the magnetic needle — all, like 
the refracted rays of light, flow from one common source, 
and all blend into one eternal all-pervading power.” 
That mysterious and occult influence the consideration of 
which has occupied the greater part of this paper is consi- 
dered by many authorities to constitute what is known as 
the “ Vis Vitce ,” or vital principle ; but this view is hardly 
acceptable, and whether in its ultimate essence it is merely 
a subtle modification of the eleCtric force is a question which, 
in the present imperfeCt state of our knowledge, we are not 
justified in answering. The faCt is that here we reach the 
legitimate boundary of faCt, and beyond the demonstration 
of the existence of this fluid, and its probable connection 
with the mesmeric phenomena, all else is mere specu- 
lation. 
For many years animal magnetism has been in vogue as 
a curative agent, but qualified medical men are averse to its 
practice, and, from the unsatisfactory nature of the results 
which frequently attend its application by empirics, we 
doubt very much if its use should be recommended. 
The immense amount of light which the study of 
Mesmerism is calculated to throw on the science of Psychol- 
ogy ought to be a sufficient inducement to us not only to 
collect faCts, but to study, and if possible to classify, them. 
Let us not remain satisfied with the meagre information we 
already possess, nor leave to future investigators a task 
which it is our duty to perform. 
