When the writer was first reduced to a state of semi-unconsciousness by Dr. Cleaveland, in October, 1839, he probably was as sceptical as most medical students on matters which do not come within the curriculum of their University studies. When asked to be magnetized, the reply was: - "I have no objection to be submitted to the trial." On which certain conditions on the part of the subject or recipient were stated, as being necessary to be observed, in order to produce the effect 1. An absolutely quiet, or passive state. All influences tending to disturb or divert attention should be avoided.

2. The person to be operated on should be placed in a comfortable sitting position, in a subdued light.

3. The exercise of the will of the operator should be directed to the brain of the person operated on. Persons of robust constitution do not often yield to the nervous influence on the first trial; sometimes eight or even twelve efforts will bring about the nervous congestive state.

The writer was particularly informed, that if he resisted the influence, it would destroy the result; as, in that case, it was a mere antagonism of the nervous fluid of the two brains. The recipient must be in every sense negative, whilst the operator is positive. These conditions being no more than reasonable; as no results, no matter how simple, can take place except the necessary conditions are complied with.

The operator seated himself immediately in front of the recipient, took hold of both hands, and steadily gazed with great fixedness in the eyes of the recipient or person acted on. In the course of four or five minutes the extremities, that is, the hands and feet, felt cold and numb; then followed (in ten minutes) a drowsiness and disposition to sleep; in the course of thirty minutes from the commencement of the operation, the writer was unable to move, but consciousness still remained. He feels convinced that had not his attention been aroused by the whispering of some persons present, that the unconscious state would have been produced.

No further trial was made. Enough, however, had been effected to produce a powerful impression that there was truth in the subject. The best work, Deleuze, "On Animal Magnetism," was bought and read attentively.

Two weeks subsequent to this occurrence, a case quite unexpectedly presented itself. Narrating the fact of having been partially magnetized at an evening party, a lady said, "Can you magnetize me?" The writer, not even supposing that he possessed magnetic power, replied that he did not know, but would make an attempt. Accordingly the trial was made, and in less than five minutes the voluntary muscles were all paralysed, and the most profound coma supervened.

The first impression on the writer's mind was that the lady was feigning, in order that she might have a laugh at his expense. This impression was soon dismissed, from the extraordinary phenomena which followed. The entire absence of sensibility was demonstrated by passing a needle under the finger-nail. On opening the eye, the globe was found entirely under the control of the oblique or involuntary muscle, causing it to roll upwards and inwards.

The experiments which followed, showing the sensations of the operator, were also conveyed to the brain of the recipient. On taking a glass of wine, tasting salt, vinegar, pepper, or tobacco, they were at the instant recognised and described. But the most unlooked-for result followed on touching her head.

To use the words of Dr. Elliotson, in his address before the Phrenological Association of London, July 3rd, 1843 :"Dr. Collyer first discovered (and quite accidentally), in November, "1839, at Pittsfield, in North America, the possibility of exciting dis"tinct cerebral organs by contact with the corresponding portions of "the surface of the head.* The evidence of this date appears suffi"cient. At a party, when mesmerism was the topic of conversation, "he threw into the mesmeric sleep a young lady who had always "refused to allow him to examine her cerebral development. He took "this opportunity of examining it with his hands, and to his astonish"ment, as he touched over the organs of Self-Esteem, Combativeness, "Wit, etc., the respective faculties went into action. He was, how"ever, already so excited with the occurrence of clairvoyance, at this

* "Psychograpy." Philadelphia, 1848.

period, that he confesses he paid very little attention to the circum"stance. In Louisiana, the following spring, he produced the same "results."

In all my experience for over thirty years no case has surpassed this, my first. A more sensitive or refined person one rarely meets in life. The parents would not listen to a repetition of the experiment. No bad effects followed.

My next recipient was a negro boy of fourteen years. No difficulty whatever was experienced in reducing him to a state of unconsciousness. I also acted on the cerebral organs, which, with some successful experiments in tasting and smelling, was all that could be got out of this subject. It was nearly a year before another opportunity offered to mesmerize under favourable circumstances. Even then, beyond producing a state of unconsciousness, no phenomena were elicited.

In the early part of 1841 I met a medical gentleman in New York who had reduced to a state of the most profound unconsciousness an Irish boy, uneducated, of about fifteen years. When magnetized he was so stiff and insensible that had he been frozen his whole body would not have been more rigid. This boy offered a fine opportunity of investigating all the phenomena. It is true his speech was scarcely audible, but with a little practice he was understood. This case presented many peculiarities. The sympathies were perfect No matter what the writer tasted or smelt, he would recognise it at once; or if he received an impression, such as having his nostril tickled or his hair pulled, the recipient would not only manifest the dislike, but also mutter "Don't pull my hair," or "Don't tickle my nose." On one occasion it was discovered that "Frederick" saw everything that was passing in the room, though his eyes were firmly closed; and the occurrence to which he referred took place, so to speak, behind his head. His clairvoyant powers were, however, of very short duration; during the whole time he was with me, over eighteen months, they never lasted more than from three to five minutes, after which his answers partook of a kind of haphazard guesswork, sometimes partially true.