Etherology, and the phreno-philosophy of mesmerism and magic eloquence : including a new philosophy of sleep and of consciousness : with a review of the pretensions of phreno-magnetism, electro-biology, &c.

Front matter

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Tufts College Library

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SECTION II. History op Etheropathy

Ignorance of the Ancients concerning the Causes of Etherean Phenomena — Witchcraft — Divination — Magic — Discoveries which led to a Scientific Knowledge of Etheropathy — Van Helmont — Mesmer — His Career — D'Eslon — Adverse Report of the French Commissioners — Foissac and the Academy of Medicine — Their favorable Report — Gall — La Place.

Theory of Light — Of Heat — Of Electricity — Of Magnetism — Of Gravitation — Newton's Conjecture — Rev. Mr. Townshend on the Mesmeric Medium — Animal Electricity — Electric Fishes.

Credencive Experiments — Experiments during Somnambulism — Upon Diseased Persons.

Preface

While hundreds, and perhaps thousands, are engaged in repeating old experiments, and trying newones in Mesmerism and Clairvoyance, no successful attempt has hitherto been made to explain the phenomena upon scientific principles, and to show their consistency with previously known truth.

In philosophy, facts are useful only as far as they lead to a true theory ; and a theory is only a method of showing the true relation which exists among the facts.

When a theory is, or seems to be, well established, any fact which appears to militate against it is apt to be disputed, or received with caution and incredulity. For this reason, mankind have been disposed to oppose new discoveries and innovations, which render a change necessary in their theories, creeds, opinions, or habits. It is not because they are unfriendly to improvement, but because they doubt the reality of the discovery, or the real practical importance and utility of the proposed change. It rather demonstrates their love of truth, for they, like St. Paul, verily believe that they are doing their duty by resisting the introduction of error. But if the new truth can be made to harmonize with the old opinions, it is then cordially received into the family of

PREFACE.

admitted facts, which go to constitute our favorite theories. The facts of a science may be compared to the scattered and broken bones of a skeleton, while a theory is the method by which they can be put together, and proved to belong all of them to one animal.

The facts in Mesmerism call to mind a collection of strange bones once found in England, which apparently belonged to animals of a different kind from any that had ever been known to exist on earth. Some very learned and sagacious men at first denied the existence of the bones ; but when they were dragged to light, and protruded before them, so that they could no longer avoid acknowledging their existence, they declared that such enormous limbs must have a supernatural origin, and that they were undoubtedly the bones of fallen angels ! Upon further examination by scientific men, it was found that they were bones of whales and other marine animals, that had been ages ago " in the deep bosom of the ocean buried," and that the place had been afterwards raised to eminence, like classic Delos, upon the shoulders of an ambitious and aspiring volcano.

The facts in Mesmerism are exceedingly numerous, and some of them of a most wonderful and monstrous character. They have been denied again and again, even by those who have witnessed them ; and when admitted to be true, they have also been accounted for by referring them to a supernatural origin ; but the time has come when these facts should, like the facts in Geology, Chemistry, and Astronomy, be

PREFACE.

wrested from the hands of superstition, mystery, and

quackery, and moulded into symmetrical forms of scientific beauty. This is a most difficult and laborious task, and any one who undertakes it may fairly claim some indulgence for the imperfections of his performance. I am desirous to do for Mesmerism what my friends claim that I have done for Phrenology— to reduce it to a scientific system.

When the doctrines of Phreno-Magnetism and Neurology were announced, and were making converts by thousands, and multitudes of new organs were daily discovered by these means, so that my favorite science was threatened with an overwhelming inundation, I was forced to take up this subject in earnest. Almost every friend I met asked my opinion of the new doctrines and new organs, and seemed surprised at my scepticism. This has led me to the determination of publishing this volume, that I may thus at once justify myself, and vindicate what seem to me the true principles of Phrenology. If I am mistaken in any of the positions which I have assumed, there will doubtless be enough to correct me, and I shall acknowledge the correction with gratitude. I have several times given the substance of this work in public lectures, and the approbation with which it has been received, especially at West Point and at Union College,* far surpassed my most sanguine hopes.

The plan which I have adopted for this work is, to present first a brief outline or summary of the whole,

* See Appendix to Phreno- Philosophy.

PBEFACE.

comprised in a few pages, and then to take up each important topic, and treat it separately. It appears to me that this method will assist both the understanding and the memory of the reader.

In regard to other authors, I have made use of their language wherever I adopted their ideas, provided I found them suitably expressed ; and in such cases I have given all due credit. Wherever I differ from others, I have quoted their expressions sufficiently to do justice to their real meaning, and then freely and frankly given my own opinion, and exposed what appeared to me to be their errors. There have been so many new doctrines advanced within a short time, both on the subject of Phrenology and Mesmerism, that I must necessarily assume the office of a critic in speaking of the performances of others. I am aware that I shall be liable to the charge of arrogance ; but at the present time, scarcely two Phrenologians, or Mesmerologists, can be found who agree ; any one, therefore, who treats upon both these subjects at once, with the design of producing an harmonious system, must seem to assume that he is wiser than all others, and capable of filling the chair of grand master of the fraternity. No modesty of expression, nor respectfulness of style, can shield him from this imputation. Under these circumstances, I have deemed it best to " speak right straight on," regardless of the apparent egotism, and to " utter my thoughts " with entire independence of every thing but truth and justice.

J. STANLEY GRIMES.

TO THE SECOND EDITION.

The lively excitement awakened in all the principal cities of the United States, during the past winter, by lectures upon Mesmerism, and its offshoots, Pathetism and Electro- Biology, renders necessary the republication of a book the very existence of which is unknown to most persons ; and yet it seems to be the only philosophic explanation of that series of wonderful facts which have been accumulating in the world's history, since the Pythian priestess raved upon her tripod. Physical and mental phenomena have been presented, which have astonished thousands of intelligent witnesses, and even staggered their confidence in the evidence of their own senses. These phenomena are so out of the course of our ordinary experiences, that scepticism is not only to be expected, but is allowable ; especially when we know that the deceptive jugglery practised by many public lecturers, who are more desirous to amuse an audience than to establish the truth, has led the public to regard with suspicion and contempt both the science and its advocates. But, apart from Mesmerism in its different phases, we have a record of facts, observed by physicians and recorded by historians, which come fairly under the title of Etheropathic

13 INTRODUCTION TO THE SECOND EDITION.

phenomena. Salem witchcraft can scarcely be mentioned without a pitying smile at what we think the absurd folly of our ancestors ; and yet there was a truth in Salem witchcraft, and of fearful import to the pious and devil-hating Puritans. But with a susceptible subject, every wonder of Salem witchcraft can be actually reproduced ; and what is better, understood by any one who admits Professor Grimes's system of the Phreno organs. Phrenologists familiar with the facts of Mesmerism will be likely to have their faith in the old Phreno systems weakened when they find that their phenomena can be explained by his system, and by no other. I think that every attentive reader must rise from the perusal of this book feeling, that, even if Professor Grimes has not explored all the minutiae of his subject, he has at least done for the Philosophy of Mesmerism what Columbus did for America ; he has shown where the land lies.

Critics may be disposed to object to the nomenclature introduced by the author. His object was to obtain the most comprehensive term possible. Mesmerism is, by far, the most generally used and understood, but is objected to, by nearly every writer on the subject, as insignificant and inappropriate. Every word in the Greek lexicon that could be dragged into service, has been altered, amended, and compounded, but without as yet arriving at any all-embracing term. Every experimenter who deviates somewhat from the common method, or observes some new results, forthwith invents a new name for what is in reality to be attributed to the same general influence. Hence we have the Neurology of Buchanan, the Pathetism of Sunderland, the Electro-

Introduction To The Second Edition. 13

Biology and Electro-Psychology of Dodd and Fiske. Mental Influence, if it could be condensed into a single euphonious word, would seem to be a more appropriate and genuine term than any yet suggested ; but the author, in consideration of the universality of the Etherium by which he explains these phenomena, includes all classes of these effects under the general term Etherology ; though he is by no means tenacious of names — new names do not constitute new things. Claims to new discoveries have been preferred by those who have only relabelled old experiments. All that is now claimed under the name of Electro-Biology was practised years ago, and its principles explained in this very book. Coins and other substances were placed in the hands of subjects, but it was found that the very same effects could be produced without as with them, and they were abandoned as useless. It is evident to any one at all acquainted with electricity, that the zinc and copper coins now used cannot have the least appreciable effect, except as they may serve to delude the ignorant, by throwing an air of mystery around the process.

The object of the author in writing this book was primarily to defend the peculiar system of Phrenology which he had discovered, from the implied attacks of Neurology and Phreno-Magnetism, as practised by Buchanan, Fowler, and others. For if the new organs which they claimed to have discovered with such ease and certainty had real existence, the system of Phrenology, which, in opposition to others, he maintained to be the true one, was unfounded. An examination of Neurology and Phreno-Magnetism not only showed 2

14 INTRODUCTION TO THE SECOND EDITION.

him the errors into which their supporters had fallen, but afforded strong evidence of the truth of his own system. Hence the book was in many respects of a controversial character. The publishers of the first edition had issued only 1,500 copies, when they failed, and the work, which was not stereotyped, was abandoned. During the past winter, the book has been industriously sought after with but little success. Copies are so rarely to be met with, that one in this city was sold for $5.00, and one in Philadelphia for $ 10.00.

These considerations have induced the author to issue another edition ; but having his time wholly occupied in delivering an extended course of lectures in this city, he has been obliged to intrust the necessary revisions and corrections to another, which, without doubt, would have been much better performed by himself. I have accepted this task, with permission to alter and amend as I might think proper, and tho request to omit all controversial matter not necessary to a full understanding of the subject.

The alterations made are mostly verbal corrections, and, in some few cases, changes in the structure of sentences. The omissions have been numerous, and have abridged the original volume more than 150 pages. The absence of this controversial matter, which had an interest when first published that does not attach to it now, is more than compensated by binding up with the Philosophy of Mesmerism the author's recent work entitled the Compend of Phreno-Philosophy.

The reader will perceive, as he progresses through the work, that Professor Grimes has introduced several important and original views, by means of which he is able to explain