ground of observation and experiment; he admits no phenomenon as reality which he has not thoroughly tested; and is evidently more desirous to arrive at a correct understanding of Nature than to establish a system. We do not profess to have received the principles which he sets forth with so much plausibility; it has not been in our power to give them sufficient examination for that purpose; but they are sustained with so much strength and candor by their author, that we do not hesitate to bespeak for them a fair hearing before the tribunal of the public.

We wish only to draw attention to a very singular order of phenomena, which come to us authenticated by unexceptionable evidence. We do not pronounce on their character or claims. They may be classed among the numerous startling disclosures of modern science, on which the wise man prefers to suspend his judgment. We rejoice that they are in the hands of one who is so well qualified as the editor of this Journal to do them justice, both by his indomitable spirit of research, his cautions analysis of facts, and his power of exact and vigorous expression."

MISS BLACKWELL, formerly of Cincinnati, where her friends still reside, and who graduated an M. D. at the Geneva (N. Y.) Medical College, is still pursuing her professional studies in Paris. A letter from Paris says:

"The medical community of Paris has been set a-talking by the arrival of the celebrated American Doctor, Miss Blackwell. The lady has quite bewildered the faculty by her diploma, all in due form, authorizing her to dose and bleed and amputate with the best of them. Some of them are certain that Miss Blackwell is a Socialist of the most furious class, and that her undertaking is the entering wedge to a systematic attack on society by the fair sex. Others who have seen her, say that there is nothing very alarming in her manner; that, on the contrary, she appears modest and unassuming, and talks reasonably on other subjects. The ladies attack her in their turn. One of them said to me the other day, 'Oh, it is too horrid; I'm sure I never could touch her hand! Only to think that those long fingers of hers had been cutting up people! I have seen the doctor in question, and must say, in fairness, that her appearance is quite prepossessing. She is young and rather good looking; her manner indicates great energy of character; and she seems to have entered on her singular career from motives of duty, and encouraged by respectable ladies at Cincinnati. After about ten days' hesitation on the part of the Hospital of Maternity, she has at last received the permission to enter that institution as a pupil."

MESMERIC INSTITUTE.-The people of Bristol, England, have founded a Mesmeric Institute, of which Earl Ducie has become President. Many of the English nobility are believers in and advocates of the system.

PERCEPTIVE

4.

Fig. 5.

Fig.3.

BUCHANAN'S

JOURNAL OF MAN.

Vol. I, No. 8.- OCTOBER, 1849.

ART. I.-SYMPATHETIC IMPRESSIBILITY.

THERE are obviously but these three agencies to affect us: the material substances around us, which affect our Physical Impressibility; the relations of things, which, as motives, affect our Mental Impressibility; and the physiological life and power, which affect our own constitution sympathetically.

From Mental Impressibility arise the sciences of Education and Government. From Physical Impressibility arise the sciences of Medicine and Hygiene. From Sympathetic Impressibility arise a true Anthropology, and a comprehensive philosophy of man and

nature.

Sympathetic Impressibility is exhibited in all the phenomena of animal magnetism, in contagion, and in a large portion of the phenomena of education and social intercourse. It furnishes the most important means for the study of the constitution of man. For, as the constitution and laws of inorganic matter are best ascertained by the influence and reaction of other inorganic matter (for example, by the use of acids, crucibles, and mechanical instruments), so the constitution and laws of man, as a physiological and mental being, are best ascertained by the influence and reaction of other physiological and mental beings with whom he may be brought into contact.

Comparatively few scientific men of the present day are willing to recognize cordially and fully the fact, that the physiological phenomena of one being are capable of affecting those of another, either in contact or proximity. But the phenomena of contagious diseases are so frequent, so appalling, and so indisputable, that no intelligent man ventures to deny them. The transmission of small

pox, itch, and a few other contagious diseases, is so speedy and sure in the majority of cases of contact, that the hardiest skepticism is compelled to admit and fear the power of contagion. Yet, in respect to diseases which have a less potent miasm or influence, medical men are generally disposed to deny the fact of contagion in all cases, unless it occurs with great frequency and facility.

While Sympathetic Impressibility in the pathological mode is thus reluctantly admitted to a slight extent, the physiological Sympathetic Impressibility is almost entirely overlooked by physiological authors, or ridiculed as an absurd delusion. In the treatises upon animal magnetism alone can we find a distinct recognition of its existence.

Impressibility of all kinds is proportioned principally to the development of sensibility. It is obvions that we cannot be affected by any impression, unless we have a sensitive organ or sensibility adapted to its reception. In proportion as the sensibility is increased the impression produced by any agent becomes more powerful-in proportion as the sensibility is reduced, it ceases to affect us at all. Hence, those in whom the organ, or rather organs, of sensibility are large and predominant, are universally impressible; while those in whom the organs of sensibility are small, are generally unimpressible. The organ, or organs, of Sensibility may be found in the temples, between the ear and the external angle of the eye, near the upper margin of the cheek bone. In this region we find all forms of sensibility. The sense of hearing occupies the most anterior location-next comes the sensibility to various imponderable agencies, caloric, electricity, galvanism, magnetism, etc., while the grosser sensibilities to pain, fatigue, hunger, and thirst, extend backward to the cavity of the ear.

Each percipient faculty renders us impressible to its object in proportion to its development. The sense which recognizes light, enables us to derive pleasure and stimulus from the sunshine. The sense which recognizes the electric fluid, enables us to be powerfully affected by its shock, or even to feel the influence of the passing clouds. The sense of hearing, which recognizes sound, enables us to be ravished by music and pained by discordant noise. That most subtile sense which enables us to perceive the human nervous emanations (located in the most superior portion of the organ of Sensibility), is the means of our being affected by them; and as we are affected by them, our own nervous action is modified or controlled. The nervaura of another constitution modifies the action of our own. The power of being thus affected through the nervauric sense, is what we technically denominate impressibility when speaking of experiments upon the brain.

In those who possess a high degree of this impressibility, the application of our hand to any part of the head will produce an effect upon the brain, changing the action of the organs, and modifying the character. Applied to the forehead, it renders the mind more active and clear; to the most lateral portion of the occiput, dull