MESMERIC FACTS

REPORTED BY JAMES ESDAILE, M. D

To the Editor of the Englishman.

SIR,--Before proceeding to join the army, I have the pleasure to send you a "resume" of my mesmeric practice during the last eight months.

My experience has demonstrated the singular and beneficial influence exerted by Mesmerism over the constitution of the Natives of Bengal, and that painless surgical operations, with other advantages, are their natural birthright, of which they will no longer be deprived, I hope.

Duty calls me to another and more extensive field, where I hope to work out this curious and interesting subject in all its practical details, and to ascertain to what extent other varieties of mankind are capable of being benefitted by this natural curative power.

I am, your obedient servant,

Hooghly, 22d Jan., 1846.

JAMES ESDAILE, M. D.

A Return showing the Number of painless Surgical Operations performed at Hooghly, during the last eight months.

Great toe nails cut out by the roots

Seton introduced from ankle to knee

Large tumour on leg removed

Scrotal tumours, weighing from 8 lb. to 80 lb.,

removed 17, painless

Operations

*1

A Return of Medical Cases cured by Mesmerism, during the last

It will be perceived that the above cases are chiefly diseases of the nervous system. But as sleep and the absence of pain is the best condition of the body for promoting the resolution of inflammation by the powers of Nature, I have extinguished local inflammations by keeping the patients entranced till this was effected.

*By chronic treatment is meant daily mesmerising without the intention of entrancing the patient, which is not necessary.

I beg to state, for the satisfaction of those who have not yet a practical knowledge of the subject, that I have seen no bad consequences whatever arise from persons being operated on when in the mesmeric trance. Cases have occurred in which no pain has been felt subsequent to the operation even; the wounds healing in a few days by the first intention; and in the rest, I have seen no indications of any injury being done to the constitution. On the contrary, it appears to me to have been saved, and that less constitutional disturbance has followed than under ordinary circum

stances.

There has not been a death among the cases operated on. In my early operations, I availed myself of the first fit of insensibility, not knowing whether I could command it back again at pleasure.

But if the trance is not profound the first time, the surgeon may safely calculate on its being deeper the next, and when operating in public, it will be prudent to take the security of one or two preliminary trances. Flexibility of the limbs till moved, and their remaining rigid in any position we put them in, are characteristic of the trance but there are exceptions, and these are equally.diagnostic, and to be depended upon. It sometimes happens, that the limbs become rigid as they lie, and on bending them they have always a disposition to return to a state of spasmodic extension. At other times, there is a complete relaxation of the whole muscular system, and the limbs can be tossed about like those of a person just dead.

The eyes are usually closed, but the eyelids are sometimes seen a little separated, or half-open and tremulous, and the eye is even occasionally wide open, fixed, and insensible to the light. On one occasion, having ordered a man to be entranced, I returned after two hours, and was told by my assistant that the man was not affected. I went to see, and found him with half-open eyes, quivering eyelids, and trembling hands. I immediately said that he was ready, and, without further testing his condition, performed a most severe operation upon him, without his knowing any thing about it.

I also wish to remark that I have seen no symptom of congestion of blood on the brain; the circulation in the trance being usually quite natural, like that of a sleeping person. My patients ap