Letters to a candid inquirer, on animal magnetism

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Preface

The following Letters were projected, the plan sketched out, and a part of the work written, in the latter months of 1849. But the translation of Reichenbach's Researches on Magnetism, and other labors, besides my absence abroad in the summer of 1850, have retarded its completion. This I do not regret: first, because, in the interval, Mr. Lewis and Dr. Darling, whose interesting experiments are fully noticed, have visited Edinburgh ; and secondly, because, partly in consequence of this, many of our scientific men have become convinced that there are many facts in Animal Magnetism, too long neglected, which must be investigated. Indeed several of them have actually commenced observations on the subject.

In later times, Animal Magnetism was first prominently brought before the British public by Mr. J. C. Colquhoun, in his "Isis Revelata," and other interesting works. But these works did not produce all the effect which might have been anticipated from the great learning and research they displayed, and the clear, logical style and temperate tone in which they were written; perhaps because, Mr. Colquhoun being a lawyer, and not a professed man of science, he may have been erroneously supposed, without investigation into his works, to be too credulous in this matter. Subsequently,

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Dr. Elliotson took up the subject, and has, in spite of much opposition, especially from his professional brethren, persevered in the practical study and application of Animal Magnetism, with a constancy and devotion to truth that do him the highest honor. A considerable number of medical men have, in the course of time, rallied round him, and have, like him, recorded their observations in periodical works, especially in the Zoist. But Dr. Elliotson has not given to the world a systematic work on the subject. Two respected clergymen, the Rev. Messrs. Townsend and Sandby, have published small works on Mesmerism ; and more recently the Eev. Dr. Scoresby, so highly respected in the scientific world, has added another. These, with the Letters of Miss Martineau, the small works of Mr. Braid and Dr. Haddock, and one or two other works which I have not seen, make up the chief part of the English Literature on the subject, till the appearance, a very few years since, of Dr. Esdaile's interesting and valuable contribution to the medical part of the subject, his "Mesmerism in India." Still more recently, Mr. Herbert Mayo, a medical man of eminence, now retired from practice, has in various forms given to the public his experience.

It might be supposed, that the works above mentioned would have spread abroad a general knowledge of the subject, and would have had the more effect, because a large proportion of them proceeded from medical men, well qualified to investigate such a subject. But, whatever may have been the cause of it, nothing is more certain, than that a knowledge of Animal Magnetism has hitherto, in this country, been confined to a few, and that it is in the medi-

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cal profession that the fiercest opposition has been met with. In every society or company, the large majority do not even profess to have studied it, although that does not prevent many from expressing tolerably decided opinions. And we find, even among such as have paid a little attention to the subject, many ideas and views which are quite erroneous. In point of fact, therefore, a new work on Animal Magnetism is far from being superfluous ; and it is hoped that this humble effort may have its use, were it merely in exciting the attention of some, and correcting the false impressions of others. It makes no pretension to a full and systematic treatment of the vast subject; and its only object is to convince the reader that there exist, in nature, a multitude of most valuable and interesting facts, which, in spite of their appearing strange or incredible at first sight, are true, and, being so, demand and deserve the most patient and complete investigation. If I shall succeed in conveying to the reader's mind that conviction, my object will be attained, and we may look forward to the appearance of some one, qualified for, and willing to undertake, the herculean labor of a complete study of Animal Magnetism.

There are various indications that the time is approaching, when the subject must receive the attention it deserves from men of science in general. Within the last ten years, there has been a growing interest in it, in all quarters, which is now reflected in the changed tone of many of the leading periodicals. But, besides this, scientific men begin to feel that they must attend to it, or be left behind. Perhaps this feeling has been considerably strengthened by the appearance of the work of Reichenbach, of the first part of which,

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the most material to this subject, I published an abstract in 1846. In this work, without making any observations on the mesmeric sleep, but simply by studying, in the most strictly physical manner, the action of magnets, of crystals, of the hand, &c, on the human frame in the waking state, the Author has demonstrated the existence of a power, distinct from all known influences, pervading universal nature, and capable of producing marked effects on healthy persons in the ordinary waking state. It was easy to see that Reichenbach, by following a different route, had discovered the same mysterious agent which Mesmer had called Animal Magnetism; and that, while some of Mesmer's theories might probably be fallacious, yet the main facts had been fortified by these new observations, made in a manner so different, and, scientifically speaking, so satisfactory. Such, at least, was the impression which the study of Reichenbach's work produced on my own mind. I felt that, sooner or later, the whole subject would be investigated in the same way; and in the meantime, I was desirous to satisfy as many persons as possible, not only that certain most curious facts existed, but that they would all, in time, admit of a natural explanation. It was then, that I was repeatedly urged to publish what I happened to know on the subject, but various things interfered, and it was not till about eighteen months ago that I finally agreed, at the request of a friend, to write the following Letters.

I have not ventured to direct attention to this interesting subject without due preparation, and some acquaintance with it, both theoretical and practical. My attention was first called to it in the autumn of 1827, by the late Dr.

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Coindet, senior, of Geneva, who lent me several works, among which was that of Dr. Petetin of Lyons, whose cases Dr. Coindet had seen. The perusal of these works convinced me that there were many extraordinary facts, which it was the business of men of science to investigate; and from that time I continued to read all the works on Animal Magnetism I could find. But it was not for a long time that I was enabled to see any of the phenomena. I was under the erroneous impression that the power of producing them was confined to a few, and consequently did not myself try to do so. I took every opportunity, however, of seeing them, as produced by others, both in public and private; but for a long period these opportunities were few, and the higher phenomena did not occur. At length, I think about 1842 or 1843, when I resided in Aberdeen, I found that I could produce the magnetic sleep in persons in whom it had already been produced by others. In some instances, in which I tried to produce it for the first time myself, I failed, no doubt from want of perseverance, and thus I was still dependent on others for cases. But after a time, I found that I also, with the help of patience and perseverance, could produce the magnetic sleep, and many other phenomena. My professional engagements, however, prevented me from studying many cases, and it was only by slow degrees that I was enabled to see, in my own experience and in that of others, almost all the phenomena of Animal Magnetism. I now find that it is not difficult to produce the magnetic sleep, and that, if we only try a sufficient number of cases, we are sure to meet with some in which the higher phenomena appear. Had I been able to

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devote my whole time to the subject, instead of only an insignificant fraction of it, I should long ago have met with all those things which I have only seen by slow degrees.

But, in justice to those who have labored and written on the subject, I must here state, that, even while I was unable myself to see, or to produce, the higher phenomena, such as those of clairvoyance, I considered the published evidence as amply sufficient to establish the facts. I found it quite impossible to reject the consistent testimony of so many able men, in all parts of the world, as to the existence, in the magnetic sleep, of powers which in our ordinary state we do not possess. Many theories were broached, which appeared untenable ; but the facts were established by what appeared to me, before I had myself met with them, sufficient evidence. As there was no reason whatever to doubt the honesty or truth of the observers, any more than the great ability of many of them, I could not feel justified in rejecting their evidence, because I was not able to account for the facts, or because I had not seen them. My seeing them would not add to the real force of the evidence, if, as I thought, that evidence was of good quality. Accordingly, I admitted the facts before seeing them, as is done every day in other branches of science, on good evidence. That they were unaccountable, or appeared so, made no real difference, inasmuch as we cannot, truly and ultimately, account for the best known natural facts; and I was well convinced that we know but a small part of the secrets of Nature.

Accordingly, when in process of time I was enabled to see, and even myself to produce, these phenomena, I found

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that I could only confirm what had been stated, with most remarkable accuracy, by previous observers. And such has, I believe, been the uniform experience of all who have fairly investigated the matter for themselves. At least, every one among those whom I know, who has not contented himself with criticising the public experiments of others (always, for reasons I have elsewhere given, more or less unsatisfactory), but has patiently examined the subject in private, has ended by admitting the essential facts, as recorded by Mesmer and his successors, however strong his own prejudices may have been. It is a point of much importance, and worthy of especial notice, that the essential statements of the early writers have been confirmed by all who have really studied the subject.

It is true that some of these have only confirmed a part of those statements; but this is because they have as yet only been enabled to see a part of the facts. Thus, within a few weeks, many scientific and medical men in Edinburgh and elsewhere, have become entirely satisfied of the truth, and of the very important nature, of certain facts which have been abundantly exhibited, on persons beyond all suspicion, by Mr. Lewis and Dr. Darling. These facts, however, constitute but a very small part of the vast subject ; they consist, namely, of those which demonstrate the power of suggestion or control exercised by the operator over the muscular motions, sensations, perceptions, memory, or volition of susceptible subjects, when in a peculiar state, but not unconscious, nor in the magnetic sleep. On the contrary, these persons are thoroughly conscious, and will reason on their feelings, and try, but often in vain, to resist

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the influence of the operator. All this is now admitted, and nothing can be more extraordinary than these phenomena. But it is only a very short time since the whole of these very phenomena were denied and rejected. Nay, very recently, in a large city where Dr. Darling very often exhibited them, not one medical man of note did otherwise than reject them, and many even charged Dr. D. with imposture. Those who here saw and studied the phenomena, acted more rationally, and have found that the statements originally made were correct. Yet the evidence was really the same before these gentlemen saw the phenomena, and has acquired no real addition of force by their having seen them. Having often seen these phenomena in the sleep, and having studied the evidence of their occurrence in the conscious state, I was satisfied that it was good, and that the phenomena did exist, before I saw them. It now appears that I was right in this judgment. Now, I venture to apply this instance to that of the higher phenomena, which many persons, not having seen, deny, while they admit such as they have seen.

It must be observed, that they denied the latter also ; at least, to my certain knowledge, many did so before they saw them, when the real evidence was as good as now. And in regard to the higher phenomena, I would respectfully urge, that the evidence for these, if examined, will be found as good as we can have for any fact, short of ocular proof. Now, as they have just found that evidence confirmed, as to the lower phenomena, by what they have seen, the natural conclusion is, that they will also find it confirmed in regard to the higher phenomena, as soon as they

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have the means of studying these. It is the evidence, in most cases, of the very same persons, whose testimony has been confirmed by them in those points in which alone they have tested it ; and it is illogical to reject that evidence, in regard to certain facts, merely because we have not seen them, when we have found it correct in regard to those facts which we have been able to see.

I speak from experience, when I declare my conviction, that those scientific gentlemen who have lately seen and admitted certain beautiful and wonderful phenomena, will also, if they only examine for themselves, with patience and perseverance, see and admit all the essential phenomena which have not yet been presented to them. The truth is, that although good cases of the higher phenomena are not exactly rare, it is not easy to find cases in which we are allowed to exhibit these, even to a small number of persons; and, moreover, from the very nature of the facts, they cannot be exhibited to a large audience. The phenomena of suggestion, in the conscious state, admit, in good cases, of being shown in public; but those of the magnetic sleep, including clairvoyance, are not only unfit for public exhibition, inasmuch as only those who are close to the sleeper can see or hear what he does or speaks, but very few persons will agree to be put to sleep in a large company, and of these, still fewer retain their powers in these circumstances.

In regard to clairvoyance, I have never seen it satisfactorily exhibited, except quite in private; and I am bound to say, that in this point my experience has simply confirmed the statements made by the best observers. I feel 2

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confident that every one who chooses to devote some time and labor to the investigation, may meet with it, either in his own cases, or, in the event of his not producing this phenomenon, as sometimes occurs, in those of his friends.

In the following pages, I have first considered, generally, the objections commonly brought against the study of Animal Magnetism. I have next endeavored to describe the phenomena in an order which, although not strict, for I found a strict arrangement unattainable at present, appeared convenient; and in Part II. I have collected a considerable number of facts and cases, a considerable proportion of which have occurred in my own experience, and the remainder have been kindly communicated to me by various friends, in whose accuracy I know that the utmost confidence may be placed.

In Part I., after describing the phenomena, and briefly explaining certain useful applications of our knowledge on this subject, especially to medical purposes, and to the explanation of much that is obscure in what- is called Magic or Witchcraft, a great part of which appears to have rested on a knowledge of these phenomena, possessed by a few in an ignorant age, I have ventured to suggest, not as a fully developed theory, but simply as a conceivable idea, an explanation of the modus operandi in magnetic phenomena, especially in clairvoyance. I have endeavored to show, that if we admit the existence of that universally diffused power or influence, whatever be its true nature, the reality of which I conceive Reichenbach to have demonstrated, it then becomes possible to conceive the phenomena as resulting from the operation of natural causes. These speculations

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may be quite erroneous; but my sole object in putting them forth, is to show that we may hope some day to trace the natural relations of Animal Magnetism. That the phenomena depend on natural causes, cannot, I think, be doubted; and of all the known influences, that of odyle appears to offer the best prospect of success to the investigator. Whatever may be the essence of the influence which causes these phenomena, it is obvious, that it has analogies with heat, light, electricity, and ferro-magnetism;* and yet that it is not identical with any one of these. Such is precisely the case with odyle; but when we consider the effects produced on the human frame by odyle, we find the probability greatly increased, that Odyle and Animal Magnetism are one and the same. Still, it must be remembered, that even if this idea should be shown hereafter to be erroneous, the facts remain, and will one day find their proper place among the results of natural forces.

In short, my object has been to draw the attention of scientific men to the existence of these remarkable phenomena ;

* I must here correct a blunder in the Letters, in which I ascribe the term, ferro-magnetism to Dr. Faraday. I was led into this mistake by having heard, before I saw his recent researches, that he had proposed a new name for the magnetism of iron, nickel, cobalt, &c. He does indeed propose to include under the general term Magnetism, two forms of it; namely, Para-magnetism for that of the above metals, &c, and Dia-magnetism for the peculiar magnetism of most other bodies. It was the word Para-magnetism which, on hearing it, I supposed was Ferro-magnetism. The mistake is of little importance, however, as I understand by Ferro-magnetism almost the same as Dr. Faraday does by Para-magnetism ; and I use the term in contradistinction to Vital or Animal Magnetism, or rather Odyle, since, although analogous to Magnetism, it is not identical with it, as Reichenbach has shown.

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and, so far from regarding them as understood, or attaching any value to any attempts I have made to suggest explanations of them, my earnest desire is, that men of science should investigate Animal Magnetism, just as they would any other class of natural facts, feeling convinced that it is only in this way that they can ever be at all understood, and that if scientific men ignore their existence, and refuse to examine them, they will nevertheless continue to exist, and will be studied by others ; for they cannot now be safely neglected.

I have but briefly alluded to the history of Animal Magnetism, and to its relations with the Ancient Magic, Divination, and Oracles; because I understood that this interesting department of the subject was in far better hands, those, namely, of Mr. J. C. Colquhoun, the veteran author of "Isis Revelata," and other works. The student of Magnetism will anxiously look for Mr. C.'s work.

I cannot conclude without gratefully acknowledging my obligations to Earl Stanhope, to the Earl of Eglinton, to Sir Walter C. Trevelyan, to Major Buckley, to Dr. J. W. Haddock, to Dr. Macculloch, and to Mr. H. Gr. Atkinson, for the communications with which they have so kindly favored me. The reader will find, in the work recently published by Mr. Atkinson and Miss Martineau, many striking facts connected with Animal Magnetism, which is one of the subjects treated of. Mr. Atkinson's observations on the functions of different parts of the brain, as exhibited in the magnetic sleep, are of the highest value, from that gentleman's great experience, and intimate knowledge of the subject. I should have made use of them, but his

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work did not appear until the whole of the First Part of mine was written. The excellent letter of the Rev. A. Grilmour will speak for itself: and I have also to thank a large number of friends whose names do not appear.

I would here particularly point out, that in Part II. I have in general abstained from quoting published cases, and have only done so where it was necessary for illustration, or where I could refer to no unpublished cases of a similar kind. It is obvious, that if I had attempted to collect all the recorded and well-attested cases of the higher phenomena, although the evidence would have been infinitely strengthened, the work would have attained a most inconvenient bulk. I have therefore, by giving chiefly unpublished cases, endeavored to show that any one who chooses, may obtain evidence of the facts. And I must here repeat, that the evidence brought forward in this work, is as nothing to the prodigious mass of well-observed and well-attested cases, to be found in the various works and periodicals on the subject, from the time of Mesmer to the present day. Few people have studied that evidence, so as to have any accurate idea either of its amount or of its quality, and my object will be gained, if I can induce the reader to make himself in some degree acquainted with it. If this be done, it will be found impossible to retain the notion, so prevalent among such as have not attended either to the practice or to the literature of Animal Magnetism, that the alleged facts are the result of imposture or of delusion ; or to resist the conviction, which investigation will confirm, that the essential facts, however apparently marvellous, are yet true, and have been faithfully reported. Lastly, I would urge on the

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reader, the important consideration, which to me appears the turning point of the controversy, that all, even the most marvellous facts of Magnetism, have occurred spontaneously, without any magnetic process. This is precisely what we should expect, if the artificial phenomena be true, and depend on natural causes ; and, on the other hand, the undoubted occurrence of sleep-walking, sympathy, and clairvoyance, as spontaneous phenomena, naturally leads to the expectation that they may be produced by artificial means.

Letter II

Objection from Public Failures. Causes of Failure numerous. Influence of the Bystanders. Variety in the Phenomena. Absurd Conditions dictated by Sceptics. Public Tests unsatisfactory. Supposed Hostility of the Leaders of Science. Lower Phenomena Admitted ; higher Denied. Gradual Progress. The World's Opinion. Medical Men looked to, ... 38

Letter III

Objections founded on Religion and Morality; on the Abuses of Magnetism. Magnetism classed with Forbidden Arts. Said to lead to Materialism and Infidelity. Vagueness of the Charge of Materialism. Magnetism ascribed to Imagination. Said to be of no Practical Value. Magnetism must be Studied, - - - 54

Letter IV

Animal Magnetism. Names given to it. First Effects produced. Sensations. Process for causing Magnetic Sleep. The Sleep or Magnetic State. It occurs spontaneously in Sleep-walkers. Phenomena of the Sleep. Divided Consciousness. Senses Affected. Insensibility to Pain, 73

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Letter V

Control exercised by the Operator over the Subject in various Ways. Striking Expression of the Feelings in Look and Gesture. Effect of Music. Truthfulness of the Sleeper. Various Degrees of Susceptibility. Sleep caused by Silent Will; and at a Distance. Attraction towards the Operator. Effect in the Waking State of Commands given in the Sleep, 88

Letter VI

Sympathy. Community of Sensations : of Emotions. Danger of Rash Experiments. Public Exhibitions of Doubtful Advantage. Sympathy with the Bystanders. Though t-Reading. Sources of Error. Medical Intuition. Sympathetic Warnings. Sympathies and Antipathies. Existence of a Peculiar Force or Influence, -101

Letter VII

Direct Clairvoyance or Lucid Vision, without the Eyes. Vision of near Objects : through Opaque Bodies : at a Distance. Sympathy and Clairvoyance in regard to Absent Persons. Retrovision. Intro vision, - 116

Letter VIII

Lucid Prevision. Duration of Sleep, &c. predicted. Prediction of Changes in the Health or State of the Seer. Prediction of Accidents, and of Events affecting others. Spontaneous Clairvoyance. Striking Case of it. Spontaneous Retrovision and Prevision. Peculiarities of Speech and of Consciousness in Magnetized Persons. Transference of Senses and of Pain, 132

Letter IX

Animal Magnetism, Mesmerism, Electro-biology, Electro-Psychology, and Hypnotism, essentially the same. Phenomena of Suggestion in the Conscious or Waking State. Dr. Darling's Method and its Effects. Mr. Lewis's Method and its Results. The Impressible State. Control exercised by the Operator. Gazing. Mr. Braid's Hypnotism. The Author's Experience. Importance of Perseverance. The Subject must be Studied, ---------- 151

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Letter X

Trance, Natural and Accidental; Magnetic. Trance Produced at Will by the Subjects. Col. Townsend. Faquirs. Extasis. Extatics not all Impostors. Luminous Emanations. Extasis often Predicted. M. Cahagnet's Extatics. Visions of the Spiritual World, - - - - 168

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Phreno-magnetism. Progress of Phrenology. Effects of Touching the Head in the Sleep. Variety in the Phenomena. Suggestion. Sympathy. There are cases in which these act, and others in which they do not act. Phenomena Described. The lower Animals susceptible of Magnetism. Fascination among Animals. Instinct. Sympathy of Animals. Snail Telegraph founded on it, 179

Letter XII

Action of Magnets, Crystals, &c, on the Human Frame. Researches of Reichenbach. His Odyle is identical with the Magnetic Fluid of Mesmer, or with the Influence which causes the Magnetic Phenomena. Odylic or Magnetic Light. Aurora Borealis artificially Produced. Magnetised Water. Useful Applications of Magnetism, Physiological, Therapeutical, &c. Treatment of Insanity. Magic, Divination, Witchcraft, &c, explained by Animal Magnetism, and traced to Natural Causes. Apparitions. Second Sight is Waking Clairvoyance. Predictions of various kinds, - -192

Letter XIII

An Explanation of the Phenomena attempted or suggested. A Force (Odyle) universally diffused, certainly exists, and is probably the medium of Sympathy and Lucid Vision. Its Characters. Difficulties of the Subject. Effects of Odyle. Somnambulism. Suggestion. Sympathy. Thought-reading. Lucid Vision. Odylic Emanations. Odylic Traces followed up by Lucid Subjects. Magic and Witchcraft. The Magic Crystal, and Mirror, &c., induce Waking Clairvoyance. Universal Sympathy. Lucid Perception of the Future, - - - -218

Letter XIV

Concluding Remarks. Interest felt in the Subject by Men of Science. Due Limits of Scientific Caution. Practical Hints. Conditions of Success in Experiments. Cause of Failure. Magnetism a serious thing. Cautions to the Student. Opposition to be expected, - - 242

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PAGE

PAST II. — Facts and Cases ; with Observations.

Letter XV

Phenomena observed in the Conscious or Waking State. Effects of Suggestion on Persons in an Impressible State. Mr. Lewis's. Experiments with and without Suggestion. — Cases. Dr. Darling's Experiments. — Cases. Conscious or Waking Clairvoyance, produced by Passes, or by Concentration. Major Buckley's Method. — Cases. The Magic Crystal induces Waking Lucidity, when gazed at. — Cases. Magic Mirror. Magnetised Water. Egyptian Magic, 257

Letter XVI

Production of the Magnetic Sleep. — Cases. Eight out of nine Persons recently tried by the Author thrown into Magnetic Sleep. Sleep produced without the knowledge of the Subject. Suggestion in the Sleep. Phreno-Magnetism in the Sleep. Sympathetic Clairvoyance in the Sleep. — Cases. Perception of Time. — Cases ; Sir J. Franklin ; Major Buckley's case of Retro vision, - - - - - - - -281

LETTER I. My Dear Friend

It is with sincere pleasure that I agree to your request, and that I now undertake, in rny few moments of leisure, to give you some account of Animal Magnetism, and to explain to you why I attach so little importance, to the objections frequently urged, by men of all classes, against the results said to have been obtained by those who have investigated the subject, and, indeed, against the very study and investigation of the phenomena included under the name of Animal Magnetism.

As these phenomena are both numerous and varied in their character, the subject is one of considerable extent, and I shall avail myself of the convenient form of Letters, in which, as I may find opportunity to write them, I shall take up different parts of it in succession.

I repeat, that I do this with pleasure, because, in the conversations we have had on this matter, you have shown an ardent desire to ascertain the truth, along with a very laudable degree of caution in admitting facts of so startling a nature ; you have shown a rational incredulity, without any share of that irrational scepticism which is so often applied to this as well as to all other new investigations. Had I ever found in you the latter form of spirit, I should not, believe me, have thought it worth while to enter on the sub-

26 TIME THE BEST CURE

ject further. Unless men are not only actuated by the sincere love of truth for its own sake, hut are also agreed as to certain general laws, applicable to such matters, they cannot with profit or with satisfaction discuss them at all.

Time is the best, perhaps the only cure for that tone or state of mind, which would unhesitatingly reject facts, alleged on respectable testimony, for no other reason than that they appear absurd, incredible, or, in a vague sense, impossible ; or because the observer is utterly unable to account for them ; or because they seem, if admitted, to contradict the notions entertained by the sceptic on certain other scientific points ; or, finally, because they seem, at first sight, to lead to conclusions adverse to, or inconsistent with, the received interpretation of Holy Scripture, and to tend, in the opinion of the sceptic, to results unfavorable to morality. When we argue a question of physical fact with one who is persuaded that such objections, as applied to alleged facts, possess either logical consistency or cogency, no considerations that we can adduce have the slightest effect, so long as that fallacy prevails in the mind. And as far as my experience goes, I should say, that that fallacy, resting, as it does, on estimable feelings, but not arrived at by any sound logical or intellectual process, and therefore fortified by some of the strongest emotions of our nature, cannot be removed by mere argument.