Neurypnology PART II

Neurypnology PART II

Having in the former part so far explained the mode of inducing the phenomena, I now proceed to detail the cases in which I have successfully applied this process in the cure of disease. I shall endeavour to explain my modes of operating in different affections, so as to enable others to apply with advantage in their practice, what I have found so eminently useful in my own. When the artificial state of somnolence his been induced in the manner already pointed out, pp. 27-29, the manipulations must be varied according to the peculiar object we have in view. If the force of the circulation in a limb is wished to be diminished, and the sensibility also to be reduced, call the muscles of that member into activity, leaving the other extremities limber. On the other hand, if the force of the circulation and sensibility are wished to be increased in a limb, keep it limber, and call the others into activity, by elevating and extending them, and the desired result will follow. If general depression is wanted, after one or two limbs have been extended for a short time, cautiously reduce them, and leave the whole body limber and quiet. If general excitement of the system is wanted, extend the whole limbs, causing the patient to call the muscles into strong action, and very speedily they will become rigidly fixed, and the force and frequency of the heart's action, and determination to the brain, as evinced by the action of the carotids, distended jugulars, flushed face, and injected eyes, will speedily become apparent. By applying the ear over the region of the heart, it will be apparent that the force and frequency of the heart's action becomes prodigiously increased in a very short time after extending the limbs. It will also be found, they may be very speedily altered and brought down by reducing the rigidity of the limbs. The difference of rise in the pulse when extending the limbs during hypnotism, from what happens in the natural state, is one of the strongest proofs of the patient being in the hypnotic condition. It has appeared to me, that we have thus the power of subjecting the brain and spinal cord, and whole ganglionic system, to a high state of excitement, as the pulse may speedily be raised to double its natural velocity, in most cases, and still more speedily reduced to the natural standard again. Its volume and tension may also be equally rapidly increased or diminished. It is therefore naturally to be expected, that the functions must be greatly influenced by such transitions. Every medical man knows that chronic nervous disorders of the most painful nature may have resisted every known remedy for weeks, or months, or years, but have speedily vanished on the accession of some acute attack. Now, my views were, in such cases, to induce an intense state of excitement for a short time, to be terminated abruptly, with the hope of changing the former action, and thus terminating the disorder; and assuredly, in many instances the most obstinate chronic functional disorder is gone, or greatly meliorated, by a few such operations. Then, again, by keeping any particular organ awake or active, whilst the others were asleep, I considered there would be a great increase of activity induced, by the whole nervous energy, or sensorial power, being directed to that point; or by keeping all the other organs active, whilst one which had been too active was allowed to remain, in the torpid state, that inordinate activity would be reduced in intensity, and that probably permanently, - that the inordinate stimulus, in one case, would remove the susceptibility to lower impressions, which were frequently exciting, or habitually keeping up morbid feeling or action; and in the other cases, that by suspending the morbid sensibility of a part for a time, and rousing antagonist functions, such condition might be permanently improved. Whether I have been right or wrong in my theoretical views, there can be no doubt of the fact that in many instances I have been successful in the application of Hypnotism as a curative agent; and the beneficial results of the operations have been so immediate and decided, as to leave no doubt that they stand in the relation of cause and effect. However, that much of the success depends on the impression arising from the altered condition of circulation, seems to me to be proved by the fact, that in cases where the sleep was induced without the rise in the force and frequency in the heart's action, by insuring this condition, the beneficial result has instantly followed, where there has been no previous improvement with the low pulse. The following is a remarkable instance of this: - Nodan, deaf mute, twenty-four years of age, was considered never to have heard sound excepting the report of a gun or thunder, when there was succussion of the air sufficient to induce feeling rather than hearing, properly so called. The mother told me Mr Vaughan, head master of the Deaf and Dumb Institution when Nolan was at school, considered any indication of hearing referred to was feeling, and not hearing, properly so called. At the first operation there was very little rise of pulse, and afterwards I could not discern he had any sense of hearing whatever. At next trial the pulse was excited, and so remarkable was the effect, that in going home he was so much annoyed with the noise of the carts and carriages, that he would not allow himself to be operated on again for some time. He has only been operated on a few times, and the result is, that although he lives in a back street, he can now hear a band of music coming along the front street, and will run out to meet it. I shall first illustrate the efficacy of hypnotism on the various senses, and also on the mental condition. And first, of sight. The mode of operating in chronic cases, is first to induce the sleep, then extend the extremities, and keep the eyes from getting into the torpid state, by fanning them, or passing a current of air over them occasionally. The length of time required to keep such patient in this condition may vary from six to twelve minutes, according to the state of the circulation. The following cases will illustrate the affections of the eyes in which I have applied this mode of treatment with advantage.

Case I Mrs Roiley applied to me on the 6th April, 1842. She stated she was 54 years of age; that for the last sixteen years she had been a great sufferer from an affection of the head, attended with pain in the eyes and weakness of sight; that it was now become so bad, that she could not continue to read for more than a few minutes at a time, even with the aid of glasses. She had undergone the most active treatment under first rate medical men, including bleeding general and local, blistering - on one occasion, she was twice bled with leeches, and had five blisters to her head in one month - and almost every variety of internal medicine which could be suggested for such a case; but still without improving her sight. For years she had required to have her head shaved every few weeks, and cold affusions and spirituous lotions frequently applied to it, to reduce the excessive heat and other uncomfortable feelings. The skin of the palms of the hands was so hard, dry, and irritable, as to render it liable to chap whenever she attempted to open the hands fully. The pain during the day, and general irritability, had rendered it necessary for her to take a composing pill three times in twenty-four hours, for some time; still her rest was so bad as to force her to rise and walk about the room several times during the night; and her memory had become so much impaired, that she often required to go up stairs and then down again several times before she could remember what she went up for. About three years before consulting me, she had a paralytic attack, which deprived her of power of the muscles of the right side of the face for a few days. Such had been the general state of her health before consulting me, and the state of her sight, and the result of my operation will be understood by the following document, which is attested by herself and others, who were present when I first operated on her: - "Mrs Roiley, (aged 54,) Chapel Street, Salford, formerly of South Windsor Street, Toxteth Park, Liverpool, as Miss Robinson, (four years ago,) has been gradually losing sight since thirty-eight years of age. Called on me for the first time, 6th April, 1842. Could not read the heading of the newspaper, excepting the words, 'Macclesfield Courier;' after being hypnotized for eight minutes, she could distinctly read 'and Herald,' and in a few minutes more the whole of the smaller line, 'Congleton Gazette, Stockport Express, and Cheshire Advertiser,' also the day, month, and date of the paper. That the above is a correct report, is attested by the patient herself and other three patients, who were present the whole time. (Signed) ALICE ROILEY. M. A. STOWIE. ANN STOWIE. HENRY GAGGS." When Mrs Roiley called on me two days after, she gave me the following report. After leaving my house on the 6th, she was much gratified to find her sight so much improved, which induced her to go and test it by looking it articles displayed in shop windows, and in particular remarked that she had walked up to Mr Agnew's shop window, and was able to see distinctly the features of a portrait of Sir Robert Peel, and to read under it, "Sir Robert Peel, Bart.," without her glasses, neither of which she could have done for long before. She also stated, that after being at home, she took up the small diamond Polyglot Bible, and with the aid of her glasses, was agreeably surprised to find she was enabled to read the 118th Psalm, (29 verses,) although this had been, as she expressed it, a sealed book to her for years. The following is the report which was recorded and attested by her on the 12th April, 1842: - "Mrs Roiley was able to read a Psalm with the aid of her glasses in the smallest sized Polyglot Bible same afternoon she was first hypnotized. Two days after, (8th April,) was hypnotized a second time. Next day, made a net handkerchief with the aid of her glasses. April 12, has gone on improving, and in my own presence and several others, with the aid of her glasses, read the Polyglot Bible with ease and correctness, which she said, had been a sealed book to her for years before I operated on her. (Signed) ALICE ROILEY. M. A. STOWIE. Wm. HALLDAY." It is gratifying to be able to add, that the improvement of the sight has been permanent; and not only so, but that the whole painful catalogue of complaints with which she had been afflicted speedily disappeared, namely, pain of the chest, head, and eyes, loss of memory, disturbed sleep, irregularity of the secreting and digestive functions, and instead of the arid skin, regular action of it, so that the palms of the hands, which were so harsh and arid that she could not extend them without lacerating the skin, causing great pain and annoyance, were very soon as soft as a piece of chamois leather. [Footnote: Very lately, a lady about 25 years of age was hypnotized by me. On being roused, she expressed her surprise to find her hands bathed in perspiration, as she observed she was never known to have the slightest moisture on her hands till that moment.] The whole of this improvement was accomplished entirely by this agency, as she had no medicine whatever during her attendance on me; nor has she required any up to this date, 20th February, 1843, when I read this report to her, and when she remarked it was much under drawn; that with great truth I might have represented her as having been a greater sufferer. Mrs Roiley is a very intelligent person, and one whose Christian profession and principles place her statements above all suspicion. She has been seen by many eminent professional and scientific gentlemen, who can bear testimony that they have had from her own lips the same statements as I have recorded above. It appears to me that it would be impossible to adduce a more striking proof than this case affords, of the great and undoubted benefit resulting from the application of any remedial measure. The improvement was so remarkable, as to admit of no doubt as to its reality, and so immediate after the hypnotizing, as to prove they stood in the relation of cause and effect, no other remedy being in operation; and whatever may be supposed capable of being achieved through the mere power of imagination, as regards certain functions, the sense of sight could scarcely be supposed capable of being so much meliorated directly through that influence.

Case II is that of Mrs M. A. Stowe. This lady was present when I first operated on Mrs Roiley, and was so much gratified by the effects she witnessed in that case, as to induce her to consult me as to the state of her own eyes, and the probability of benefiting them by a similar operation. Mrs. Stowe was 44 years of age, and had experienced such weakness of sight as to require the aid of glasses for the last twenty-two years, to enable her to sew, read, or write, and, for some years past, she required them to enable her to transact her most ordinary household duties. The following is the statement of her condition, which I noted at the time, and is attested by her own signature, and that of others then present:- Mrs. Stowe, aged 44, 1, Bank Place, Red Bank, Manchester, his been troubled with weakness of sight for twenty-two years, so as to require glasses to enable her to read or sew. When tested to-day, 8th April, 1842, without her glasses, could not distinguish the large (capital) letters of advertisements in a news-paper, nor large heading of the paper. After being hypnotized for eight minutes, she could distinctly read both the large and small heading, and day, month, and date of the paper. (Signed) M. A. STOWE. She has also been able to sign her name to attest the accuracy of the above statement, before her daughter, and another patient. (Signed) ANN STOWE. 10th, Called on me, and informed me she had been able to make herself a blonde cap, and to thread her needle without spectacles, [Footnote: I have myself seen her thread a No. 8 needle on several occasions.] which she could not do before for twenty-two years. 12th, Continued improving; told one she had been able to write up her accounts without glasses. (Signed) STOWE. Wm. HALLIDAY. ALICE ROILEY. ANN STOWE. This patient has retained the improvement of her sight. She has also informed me, that she was agreeably surprised, after she left my house, the first day she was operated on, to find, as she went along the streets, that she could read the sign-boards, which she could not do for years before. She has also named to many others, as well as myself, a very convincing proof of her great improvement in this respect. Before being operated on by me, on the 8th April, 1842, if she went a-shopping, without her glasses, she was sure to make some mistake as to the quality of goods purchased, and have the trouble of going back to have them exchanged, but now she never requires to take her glasses with her, as can be testified by the shop-men where she makes her purchases. Her memory and general health have also been greatly improved by the same operations.

Case III Miss Stowe, daughter of the former patient, 22 years of age, "was under the necessity of reading, and doing any particular work, with the aid of glasses, for the last two years, but has never required them since she was first hypnotized, and can now read the small Polyglot Bible." This is attested by her mother, herself, and Mr William Halliday, and Mrs Roiley. The improvement has been permanent, and she has threaded a No. 12 needle in my presence, eight months after I first operated on her.

Case IV Mr J. A. Walker, 22 years of age, had always had very weak sight, but since being hypnotized has been greatly improved in his sight, as well as in his memory and general health.

Case V Mrs C., aged 83, had, from her age, required the use of glasses for many years, to enable her to sew or read. Last August I hypnotized her for deafness, with very decided advantage, and I told her I also expected to improve her sight at the same time. She was very incredulous, but was agreeably surprised to find, that after a second operation she was not only able to hear much better, but also to sew some flannel, threading her needle without her glasses. She had been thus occupied for several hours, when I called to see her, after the second operation. There have been cases in which I have tried this method without success, but this proves only that we must never expect to obtain possession of a universal remedy. Cases of confirmed amaurosis, which had resisted every other known remedy, and which were only undertaken by me at the desire of the patients, and sometimes of medical men also, as a forlorn hope, have, as in most cases was suspected might be the result, proved unsuccessful, and, through these, attempts have been most ungenerously and unwarrantably made to throw discredit on the power of hypnotism altogether. It has proved successful in too many instances, however, to be borne down by such paltry and pitiful misrepresentation. I could easily adduce many more successful cases, did I deem it necessary, but shall only give two more.

Case V Mr J-- has always had imperfect vision, is near-sighted, has strabismus of right eye, and the sight so dull, that it was with great difficulty he could, without glasses, see the large letters (on white paper) in the title page of the "Medical Gazette." After the first operation he could see better, and after it had been repeated a few times he could, without glasses, read a few words of the leading article of that work, and after a few more operations, could read the type in which the lectures, at the beginning of the work, are printed.

Case VI Mrs S., one of my own near relatives, had a severe rheumatic fever in January, 1839. During the course of this disease the left eye became implicated, involving both the internal and external structures of the organ. She had the benefit of the advice of one of the first-rate oculists in Edinburgh. She was under his care till the August following, when he considered farther attendance unnecessary, but gave such instructions as he deemed expedient for her future management of it, and which had been duly attended to till the period when I first saw her, in June, 1842. At that time she came on a visit to my house. The eye was free from pain, but was of no service as an organ of vision. There was an opacity over more than one half of the cornea, sufficient to prevent distinct perception of any object placed opposite the temporal half of the eye, all being seen through a dense haze; and objects placed towards the opposite side were seen very imperfectly, owing to the injury the choroid and retina had sustained in the points on which the images of such objects were reflected. The opacity of the cornea was not only an obstacle to distinct vision, but was also a source of annoyance, from its disfigurement, being obvious even to those at a considerable distance. Notwithstanding the great advantage I had seen other patients, afflicted with affection of the eyes, derive from hypnotism, it never occurred to me that such a case as that of Mrs S. was likely to be benefited by such an operation. I had, however, recommended it to her for a severe rheumatic affection of the right shoulder and arm. She had been in my house about three months before she could make up her mind to undergo the operation, but at length, the violence of the pain impelled her to try it, or any thing else I should recommend. I of course hypnotized her, which immediately relieved her pain so much, that after the first operation, she could move the arm freely. The operation was repeated the following day, with complete relief as regarded the arm; and to the surprise and delight of the patient, myself, and others present, she found her sight so much improved as to be able to see every thing in the room, and to name different flowers, and distinguish their colours, whilst the right eye was shut, which she had not been able to do for more than three years and a half previously. I consequently now repeated the operation daily, and, in a very short time, had the satisfaction of seeing the cornea so transparent, that it requires close inspection to observe where tiny opacity remains. Neither external nor internal means were used during this improvement, nothing but the hypnotizing was had recourse to; and during the three months I had an opportunity of watching it prior to these operations, there was no visible change in the condition of the organ. I should observe, that after the first operation, there was considerable smarting in the eye, which continued all night, and, in a less degree, after future operations, which, no doubt, roused the absorbents, and effected the removal of the opacity of the cornea. Stimulating the optic nerve to greater activity, however, must have been the chief cause of the very rapid improvement, which enabled her to see objects after second operation. I should remark, that the sight, with regard to objects seen from the temporal side of the eye, is much more distinct than from the nasal side, owing to the retina and choroid having sustained irreparable damage during the inflammatory stage at the commencement of the attack in 1839.

Case VII Mr Holditch, 39 years of age, had been partially paralytic for ten years, which came on some time after a fall. Shortly after the fall, he experienced an attack of double vision, which went off after bleeding, blistering, and the usual treatment, but was followed by paralysis of the lower limbs, which induced him to consult me on the 18th February, 1843. See Case XXVII. p. 217. He was very much surprised, when I told him he had defective vision of the right eye, said he was not aware of it, and would not believe that I was not mistaken, till I tested him, when he found he could barely see the capitals of the words, "Medical Gazette," as heading of the leading article of that work, whilst he could read the ordinary size print of the page with the other eye. After being hypnotized, I tested him in the same position, and with the same degree of light, and he could then read the same sized print with it, and it has continued so ever since. He could also walk across the room without crutch or stick, which he could not do before, at which he was very much surprised, as he was quite conscious the whole time, and therefore could not believe any good could have resulted to him from what as done, till he had the positive evidence of it in being able to see and walk. Here, then, we have seen three cases of improved vision consequent on hypnotizing for other affections, and where, consequently, the improvement could not at all be attributable to imagination, but to the altered condition in the capillary circulation and distribution of the vis nervosa. In cases of active inflammation of the eyes, either external or internal, I have never tried hypnotism. By the mode calculated to excite the circulation, of course it would be quite inadmissible; and it could only be speculation for me to hazard an opinion as to its probable result by the other mode. The extraordinary excitement of the auditory organ, which I had observed in the course of my early experiments, and the fact that hearing was the last sense to disappear during this artificial sleep, (unless we except that of the sensibility to a current of air,) led me to anticipate most satisfactory results from this process in the treatment of deafness, arising from torpor of the auditory nerves. I consequently tried it in such eases, and where there has not been destruction, or irreparable organic injury to the auditory apparatus, I can confidently say, I know of no means equal to hypnotism, for benefiting such cases. Of course, it cannot suit all cases, but I am satisfied it will succeed in a numerous class of cases, and in some which bid defiance to all other known modes of treatment. I am enabled to state this confidently, not only from my own personal success, but also from that of others who have fairly tried it. One professional friend, Mr Gardom, introduced to me two patients whom he had improved so much by hypnotism only, that they were enabled to hear the sermons of their respective pastors, which they could not do before, in consequence of which one of them had to leave her favourite minister, and go to another church; but, after being hypnotized, has been able to hear so much better, that she has been thus induced to return to her former pastor. The great success which I had experienced from hypnotism, in improving those who were deaf through disease, led me to hope it might be of service to some of those who were born deaf and dumb, and I therefore tried it in such cases with a considerable degree o success, ultimately with a success beyond my most sanguine expectations. In consequence of what had been done and exhibited at my lectures, the medical profession of Liverpool, to their credit be it recorded, recommended to the governors of the Deaf and Dumb Institution there, to permit in experimental trial to be made at their Institution. The governors refused their assent to this within the walls of the Institution, but agreed to permit a trial to be made with such out-door pupils as could be induced to submit to it elsewhere, the consent of the parents having been obtained. In consequence of this, a committee of the governors and the medical faculty was appointed to superintend the said investigation, and I was invited to go over and conduct the experiments in their presence, and it was proposed a report of the results should be published in the Medical Journals, at the termination of our labours. The difficulty of getting the pupils and their parents to attend, induced us to abandon the proceedings after two trials had been made, so that it would be quite inconsistent with the conditions stipulated, at the commencement of said investigation, to publish any report of the result of this partial investigation. However, I think I cannot better illustrate the extent of my expectations, in reference to such cases, than by transcribing an extract from my address to the said committee, prior to commencing our experimental trial. "Hitherto, these patients have been considered beyond the pale of human aid, so decidedly have they resisted all means tried for their relief; and the morbid condition of the organs, as ascertained by dissection, was sufficient to warrant the inference that it was improbable any remedy could ever be discovered for such cases. Fully aware of this pathological difficulty, I was nevertheless inclined to try the effect of neuro-hypnotism with congenital deaf mutes, knowing it could be done with perfect safety, and without pain or inconvenience to the patients. Moreover, from having witnessed its extraordinary power of rousing the excitability of the auditory nerves, I entertained the hope that it might thus be capable of exciting some degree of hearing, from the increased sensibility of the nerves compensating for the imperfection of the organ. I was not, and am not even now, so visionary, as to expect perfection of function, when there is great imperfection of the organ. Perfection of organization and function must be co-existent; at least the function cannot be perfectly performed when the organization is much impaired. The result of my first trial was beyond my most sanguine expectations, which induced me to persevere, and the result his been, that I have scarcely met with a case of congenital deaf mute, where I have not succeeded in making the patient hear in some degree. Many may never hear so well as to make it available to holding conversation by its aid; but still it is most interesting in a physiological point of view, to know the fact, that by this means the imperfect organ can be roused to any degree of sensibility to sound, as even this must tend to the improvement of the general functions of the brain, rather than being entirely deprived of one source of its appropriate stimuli. I have no doubt, moreover, that many cases will, by this means, be restored to such degree of hearing as will be available for colloquial intercourse in society, which never could have been accomplished by any other means hitherto tried. If my success with the cases assembled here is at all equal to what it has been with others elsewhere, I think it cannot be otherwise than gratifying to you to find that our art has acquired a new and important power in this agency. I must not, however, omit to add, that many cases may shew no improvement at a first or second trial, and yet be very satisfactory after a few trials. According to my experience, there is much greater chance of benefiting congenital deaf mutes, than those who have become so from disease or accident, to the extent of total toss of hearing. "In testing patients as to their power of hearing, I consider it quite necessary to adopt a different plan for those who are congenital deaf mutes, from what we do with those who have known what perfect hearing was at some former period of their lives. It is quite true that the latter class may be unable to hear a musical box, or the tick of a watch, when held at a little distance from the ears, but can hear it when pressed against the ear, or the mastoid process, or greater conducting power of the bony structure. There are patients of this class, however, who declare they have no sense of sound when so tested, because their previous knowledge of the sense enables them to distinguish betwixt hearing, properly so called, and common feeling. In testing congenital deaf mutes, from their want of this previous knowledge, they will all signify they hear, if any sonorous or vibrating body is pressed against the ear. This, however, I do not consider we have any proof of being hearing, but feeling; because they had no previous knowledge to direct them as to the peculiar sensation of correct hearing; and they will give the same indication if the sonorous body is placed on any other solid part of the body, according to its respective degree of sensibility. In applying tests to congenital deaf mutes, therefore, I consider they have no sense of hearing, if they cannot hear the sound of a musical box held close to, but not touching the ears, or any other sonorous body whose vibrations do not excite such oscillation in the air as is sufficient to be recognized by common feeling. It ought also to be borne in mind that the common feeling of the deaf and blind is generally much more acute than in those who have not been deprived of those senses. At all events we cannot err in taking this as our, standard, because, if those who did not hear on the application of such a test before the operation, do not hear it also after the operation, we shall consider there is no improvement; and if those who hear it at a certain distance before the operation, cannot after the operation hear it at a greater distance, it must also be considered no improvement has been made. But if the former can, after the operation, hear without the box touching the ear, and the latter can hear at a greater distance, then of course we are entitled to say an improvement has resulted from the operation." These extracts should be sufficient to explain what the extent of my expectations were as to meliorating the condition of congenital deaf and dumb patients, the principles upon which these expectations were based, and my mode of testing the original and subsequent condition of such patients. The following cases will prove that my anticipations have been so far realized in one case to an extent I never calculated on. The mode of operating is, hypnotize the patient, extend the limbs, and gently fan the ears.

Case VIII The case of Nodan has already been referred to at page l64, and I shall therefore merely add here, that he was 24 years old, was never considered to have had the power of hearing, properly so called, according to the opinion of the head master of the Deaf and Dumb Institution, where he was a pupil; that after the first operation I satisfied myself he had no sense of hearing, but after the second, which I carried still farther, he could hear, and was so annoyed by the noise of the carts and carriages when going home, after that operation, that he could not be induced to call on me again for some time. He has been operated on only a few times, and has been so much improved, that although he lives in aback street, he can now hear a band of music coming along the front street, and will go out to meet it. I lately tested him, and found he could hear in his room on the second floor a gentle knock on the bottom stair. His improvement, therefore, has been both decided and permanent, and is entirely attributable to hypnotism, as no other means were adopted in his case.

Case IX "Mr John Wright, Pendleton, 19 years of age. Congenital deaf mute. Was four years at the asylum under Mr Vaughan. Never heard sound. On testing, could not discern the tick of a watch pressed against the ears, nor a musical box, unless when pressed against the ears, which was evidently feeling, and not hearing, its he evinced the same expressions when it was applied to the shoulder, chest, or back of the hand. After being hypnotized for eight minutes, he could hear the musical box held more than an inch from the left ear, but not at all with the right, if not pressed against it, which was of course only feeling. Certified as correct by the father of the patient. (Signed) JOHN WRIGHT." " MANCHESTER, 8th April, 1842." " After writing the above statement, he was again tested, and could hear the box half an inch from the right ear. (Signed) JOHN WRIGHT." The latter fact, of hearing better after being roused than at the very moment they are roused, occurs in cases generally. This patient attended daily for a short time, and made considerable progress in the power of hearing, but like too many others he had not patience to persevere, which his father, who is a very respectable and intelligent man, wished him to do. Unfortunately the deaf and dumb are not aware of the extent of their privation, or of the real advantage they would obtain by persevering, and their expectation, and that of their friends, in most cases seems to be, that the moment they have the power of hearing restored in some degree, they should, as by a miracle, also be immediately inspired with the gift of tongues, and be able to speak and understand language without study, toil, or trouble. This has been so well expressed by John Harrison Curtis, Esq. that I shall quote a paragraph from his pen on the subject. "Kramer condemns the cases recorded as cures by Itard, Deleau, and others, because, when published, the patients had not acquired a facility of speech equal to that evinced by other people of the same age; forgetting, that when the deafness his been cured, the individual is placed precisely in the position of a child that has to acquire the faculty of speech, and not infrequently the power of thought; while, at the same time, if he have approached the age of puberty, he has to contend with false impressions created by the erroneous perceptions which affected him while unable, from his infirmity, to impart his feelings and ideas to his fellow-creatures; in fact, he is placed in the same position in regard to hearing as Cheselden's patient was with respect to vision. The organ, when the cophosis is removed, requires to be carefully educated to perceive, understand, and distinguish the variety of sounds which will impinge upon the auditory nerve, a task requiring much time for its accomplishment. The cure of congenital deafness, consequently, may be effected, and yet rendered efféte, for want of this necessary subsequent education." After remarking that many cases of deaf dumbness arise from disease, and are only partially deaf, he added, "Many of these cases admit of amelioration, some of cure; and I hold, that wherever there is a chance only of doing good, it ought not to be neglected; it may certainly raise hopes which may be nullified hereafter, but not in the patient, who cannot comprehend the motives of the proceeding; nor would the friends be much annoyed thereat, if the surgeon has performed his duty properly, by shewing, that although there is a chance of success, it is after all only a chance." - "It does not occasion a loss of valuable time, worthy to be put in competition with the prospect of restoring even one individual to the enjoyment of the society and converse of his fellows." - "Many would be rendered (by proper treatment) useful members of society, who, under the present system, remain hopeless objects of commiseration as long as they live," Mr Curtis farther adds, " I perfectly agree with Dr Willams, who says, a cure ought always to be attempted, and that at the earliest moment at which deafness is detected; and children so affected should mix with others not deaf, and no symbolical education should take place until all chances of cure are gone." Medical Gazette, 23d September,1842. These remarks are so judicious and important as to require no comment by way of enforcing them on any intelligent and candid reader. The following case having been the cause of much controversy I shall give it in detail. Before operating on the boy, in the presence of the gentleman who brought him to me, I asked the lad, in writing, if he ever heard, to which he returned answer, (also in writing,) "No." I then proceeded to operate on him, and the following is a report of his ease from my note-book.

Case X "James Sheldmerdine, Mr Barker's, 83 High Street, Manchester, aged fourteen years and a half, was born deaf and dumb, and educated at the Manchester Deaf and Dumb Asylum, and came out last June, in consequence of his age. 4th January, 1842, I subjected him to the mesmeric influence, by causing him look at my glass rod, and in thirteen minutes aroused him by a clap of the hands, when he could hear the tick of my watch applied to the right ear, but only very slightly so when applied to the left. Could hear me speak loudly, but could not tell what I said to him. This took place in presence of his master, who brought him to me, and now attests the correctness of the above. The boy has other two brothers deaf and dumb. ( Signed) MATTHEW BARKER." [Footnote: Mr Barker was not the boy's master, but employed some of his friends, as was afterwards explained to me. ] 5th January. Again subjected him to the operation. In twelve minutes he could hear my watch at nine inches from right ear, and at six from left. 7th January. Called upon me, and could hear with the right ear at four and a half inches, and one inch from left ear. After being hypnotized for ten minutes, he could hear the watch at seven inches from right, and at four inches from left ear. 17th January. After operation could hear six and a half inches with left, and seven and a half with right. 20th. Could, after being roused, hear my watch at seven and a half inches from left ear, and at nine inches from right." The boy was now tested by competent judges, and pronounced capable of imitating articulate sound without seeing the motion of the lips. To render this the more certain he was tried with a word requiring no motion of the lips and spoken near his ear, which he distinctly imitated. I now commenced to teach him to speak a few simple words which he got on very well; and that he could do so very satisfactorily, I considered there was ample proof by what he accomplished at my lectures. There were some who could not believe he could have been born entirely deaf and dumb, when they heard how well he imitated articulate sounds when the motions of the lips were concealed. This was particularly and warmly disputed at a lecture I gave at Liverpool, on the 1st of April, 1842. The boy was asked, without my knowledge, by Mr Rhind, head master of the Deaf and Dumb Institution of Liverpool, if he ever heard before being operated on by me, to which he answered, "No." Next day, in the presence of several friends, I again questioned him in writing as to his original condition, when he gave the following answers, which he certified by his signature as being correct. Fortunately, this document, by the merest accident, (having been written on the back of a letter belonging to another gentleman,) has been preserved, and I shall here transcribe it verbatim. "'Could you ever hear before I operated on you?'- 'No,' 'How did the master of the school teach you to say, papa, mamma?' - 'Few days.' 'How did he do it?' - 'Ba, be, bi, bo, bu.' 'Did the master ask you to watch the motions of his lips?' -' Yes.' 'Did he try to teach you to speak by applying his mouth to your ear?' - 'No.' 'Did you ever say what you did to me before?' - 'No.' 'Did you ever read it, so far as you remember?'-' No.' (Signed) JAMES SHELMERDINE." Hitherto the boy and only been taught single words The last two questions refer to part of the "Lord's Prayer," in English which I had been teaching him to speak by means of hearing; and although he speedily made a good attempt at repeating part of it, the effect was so different from that of the mode adopted at school, or that conveyed to his mind through the organ of sight, when reading it, as he must have been accustomed to do, that he did not know what it was I had been teaching him to speak. Could a stronger proof than this be adduced that the boy did not learn to speak by earing before he was under my treatment? I also, on the same day, taught this boy to repeat part of the Lord's Prayer in Latin, to do away with all ground of cavil as to what he might have learned it the Institution; and at my next lecture at Liverpool, the week after, he was heard to be able to repeat it when spoken to him in a moderate tone of voice whilst the motions of the lips were concealed, and that taking the words in any order, so that there ould be no ground of mistake as to his hearing what he repeated. Various surmises having now got out, that this boy, James Shelmerdine, might have had, or must have had, the sense of hearing originally, and that his present condition could not possibly be the result of hypnotism, I addressed a letter to Mr Bingham, who was head master of the Asylum during the five years this boy was at school, requesting him to favour me with information as to James Shelmerdine's real condition up to the time when he left school. The following is his reply, and I may add, I am not personally acquainted with Mr Bingham. After describing the partial hearing of this boy, which varied greatly, Mr Bingham adds, - "I never considered his hearing sufficient to distinguish one sound from another in conversation, and consequently, never attempted to teach him to speak in any other way than that which I use with all children born deaf. If hypnotism, or mesmerism, has enabled him to imitate the sounds you wished to communicate to him without his observing the lips, I do not hesitate to say that you have achieved that which I never could have expected; and, under such circumstances, I think every encouragement ought to be given to yout plan, You would greatly oblige me by saying if this has been accomplished, as the boy was quite incapable of distinguishing one word from another when he left me, if spoken behind his back." Fortunately I had no difficulty in satisfactorily substantiating this, for, besides having been so repeatedly proved in the public lecture-room, here and elsewhere he had also been tested before a number of the must distinguished members of the British Association last June, and, more recently, before a dozen witnesses, including the present head master of the Deaf and Dumb Institution of this town. I instituted this investigation in consequence of some gross attempts which had been made to misrepresent my conduct in reference to this case. The following is an extract from the report of his condition on the 25th July last, (1842,) and is attested by Mr A. Patterson, head master of our Deaf and Dumb School, and twelve more witnesses; - "James Shelmerdine was examined at Mr Braid's before the undersigned, in reference to his hearing, and he readily repeated part of the Lord's Prayer, both in English and Latin, both backwards and forwards, after Mr Braid repeating the words in a moderate tone of voice, without being able to see the movement of the lips." I had not seen the boy for about a month before this investigation, and I would ask, did he not here manifest a decided improvement from the state he was in when be left school, when, as borne testimony to by Mr Bingham, "he was quite incapable of distinguishing one word from another," if spoken so that he could not see the motion of the lips? and I am quite certain this was his condition immediately after the first operation. As has been already stated, he could not then distinguish one word from another, however loudly spoken close to his ear. After communicating these statements of what the Boy could do, as recorded at the investigation on the 25th July, Mr Bingham favoured me with a second letter, from which I make the following extract: - "James Shelmerdine's performance in repeating the Lord's Prayer, in Latin and English, when the motions of the lips were concealed from him, is a convincing proof that he must have benefited greatly by it (hypnotism,) as he could not distinguish one sound from another by oral communication." The following fact also proves the great improvement in the boy's hearing. One afternoon he was in my hall, when a lady was playing the piano, and singing, in a room up stairs. He seemed so much pleased with the music that I gave him permission to go and hear it. He instantly went up stairs, and into the drawing-room by himself, and seemed quite delighted with the sound of the music, as several who saw him can testify. This, I am quite certain, he could not have done for some time after he came under my care. In fine, I feel confident, that had this boy persevered with the operations and been taken pains with by his parents, to teach him to speak, and understand the meaning of what he spoke, he would, long ere now, have been able to hold oral communication with others with less trouble, and in a more moderate tone of voice than we must resort to with many whom we meet with, who have become hard of hearing from age or disease. It is, however, so much more trouble, at first, for the friends to teach them language, than to hold intercourse with them by signs, that they will not bestow it, and the patients, from not knowing the extent of their privation, can be less expected to exert themselves for acquiring the good they know not; and therefore, I feel assured there will never be much achieved for the poor in this way, unless within the walls of some public institution; but, that there are many who might be permanently benefited in such situations I have no doubt. In the paper by Mr Curtis, to which I have already referred, he writes thus in reference to the pathological condition of the organ in those born deaf and dumb: - "I am of the same opinion as Itard in this respect, that structural disease does not occasion more than one case in five, leaving, consequently, many cases in which medical assistance may prove of service; and I do not acknowledge that the 'weakness of the nerve, approaching to paralysis, or an actual paralysis of the nerve,' which Dr Kramer assumes to exist in those cases where congenital cophosis is present, and no structural derangement, must necessarily be as incurable as structural deficiency. We are not apt to abandon incipient palsy of a verve of sense or motion, in other parts of the system, without an attempt at relief; and I see no reason why the unfortunate being afflicted with deaf dumbness, should be surrendered to his fate, without a well directed attempt being previously made to redeem him therefrom." This, together with the statement of his experience, ought to encourage farther trials, and especially now that we have got a new and more powerful agent to operate with than any hitherto brought into operation in such cases. The results of the following case have far more than realized my most sanguine expectations. It clearly proves, that persons with perfect organization may have been deaf and dumb from birth, and continue so merely for want of a sufficient stimulus to set the machinery in motion. In consequence of the remarkable improvement; if hearing, through hypnotism, evinced in the case of Mrs. C., (Case IV. already recorded,) I was asked to give my opinion as to the probability of a similar operation benefiting a girl who had been deaf and dumb from birth, and who was sister to a servant in the family I was then visiting. I told them what my experience had been in respect to such cases, and it was accordingly arranged that I should see the patient, and try what could be done for her, the following day.

Case X 9th August, 1843. The girl, Sara h Taylor, was nine and a-half years of age, very small for her age, and very stupid looking. The following is the history of the case, as stated by father, mother, and elder sister. She was a seven months' child, remarkably small, the head large for the size of the body, and soft, (" like a bladder full of water,") and it was long before they expected to be able to rear the child. As she grew up they were much annoyed with her not speaking, and by her paying no attention to what was said to her. At last they found that this was not obstinacy, to which it had been at first attributed. They now came to the painful conviction that she was deaf and dumb. The father has assured myself, and many others, that in his anxiety to obtain proof of her having any degree of hearing, he has "often stood behind her, and shouted (as he expressed himself) till he was hoarse again," without her evincing any sign of hearing; and that when she was out of sight they were in continual terror she would be run over by carts or carriages, as she could not hear their approach. The testimony of the mother and sister was to the same effect, that they never could make her hear, or pay any attention by calling her, when her back was towards them. In such position they could only make her observe them by touching her. They all agree, also, in stating, that she never could speak so as to be understood, till after being operated on by me, excepting two or three words, - father, mother, sister, which she had learned from watching the motions of their lips. I regret not having had her tested by a musical box before I operated on her; but I am quite certain, that after the first operation she could not distinguish one word from another; and I afterwards had the best possible proof of her never having heard for any useful purpose, as she was quite ignorant of the name of any part of her own body, or of any person place, or thing, as is well known to many who saw her after I had operated on her. After the third and fourth operation I could manage to make her speak a few simple words, and also to make a tolerable attempt at following me when singing the musical scale. Ten days after the fourth trial, she was tested and proved able to do this before fifty or sixty highly respectable witnesses, including many professional gentlemen. For months past she has been attending the Scotch Session School, and is making very good progress in learning, and I have no doubt, will prove to be a clever girl; she hears so correctly now, as not only to be able to imitate speaking, but also singing. Mr E. Tay1or, Gresham Professor of Music, lately afforded a number of my professional and scientific friends a good proof of this, as he composed an extemporary tune which she and other two patients sang correctly, whist in the state of neuro-hypnotic sleep. She could have done the same whilst awake, and hundreds have witnessed her speak and sing, both when asleep and when awake. It is curious, that in some who have a very incorrect musical ear, so that they could not be taught to sing the most simple air correctly when awake, can nevertheless be made to do so, when in this peculiar sleep. This was remarkably exemplified in a young lady, whom I wished to be taught a simple air which she might sing by way of exemplification, at some lectures I was to give at a distance, but it could not be accomplished; she could not follow in tune more than a note or two together; but when asleep, she can sing any air correctly which I have tried her with. Still, when awake, she cannot do so. For an example of the same sort during natural somnambulism, see pages 296-298, and 309, of Dr Abercrombie's work on the Intellectual Powers. Of one it is noted, "She often sung, both sacred and common pieces, incomparably better, Dr Dyce affirms, than she could do in the waking state." Of the other, "she was, when awake, a dull awkward girl, very dull in receiving any kind of instruction, though much care was bestowed upon her, and, in point of intellect, she was much inferior to the other servants of the family. In particular, she shewed no kind of turn for music, and she did not appear to have any recollection of what passed during her sleep." During somnambulism, she sang beautifully, and exhibited great intellectual powers. I shall conclude this department by recording the following case from my note book. The inability of this patient to sing in tune may have been partly owing to a defect in the organ of hearing, and partly to a state of nervousness affecting the vocal organs. The experiment was undertaken merely to gratify the particular desire of the patient, as at that time I had had no similar case, and was not prepared to say, whether it was likely or not to be successful. However, I felt assured it would do him no harm, and made the trial accordingly, and assuredly nothing could have proved more successful or more gratifying than the result.

Case XI 7th July, 1842, I was consulted by Alexander M'Roberts, 29 years of age, residing with Mr Hannay, of 42, Thomas Street, Manchester. He said, he had never been able to join in tune, although he had frequently attempted to do so. After being hypnotized for some time, (about ten minutes,) I roused him, and desired him to walk into the dining- room, and after hypnotizing him once more, a friend played the organ, and I directed (or led) him to sing the scale, beginning with D, as he could not sing C, owing to the natural pitch of his voice. He very soon managed to sing the scale quite correctly, upwards and then downwards. I now roused him, and made him sing it when awake, which he did remarkably well. I now tried him with the first part of "Robin Adair," which he followed in correct tune several times. This took place in presence of Mr James Reynolds, Mr Daniels, Mr James Braid, my nephew, and myself. In the evening of that day, after being again hypnotized, he sung the first part of "Robin Adair" very correctly several times, and also Pleyel's German Hymn, and the old Hundred Psalm, quite correctly. Pleyel's German Hymn he never heard before. This took place in presence of four gentlemen. His inability to sing prior to these operations was borne testimony to by several of his friends, one of whom had a good knowledge of music, but despaired of ever seeing Mr Roberts able to sing, and he was exceedingly surprised at the result. This patient was operated on several times afterwards, and when I last saw him, could sing a considerable number of tunes, and follow any simple air with ease and correctness. The next sense I shall refer to is that of smell. Having put the patient into the hypnotic state, he ought to be kept in it a longer or shorter time, according to the object had in view. If to excite or quicken the sense, the limbs should be extended and a gentle current of air should be passed against the nostrils occasionally; but if to diminish the sense, this ought not to be done.

Case XII is in interesting example of restoration of the sense of smell by hypnotizing. A young lady was subjected to this operation for a different complaint. On being aroused, and after I left the room, she made inquiries as to the cause of the great noise she heard in the house, and expressed her surprise at the noisy manner in which the various duties of the apartment where she was were performed. They assured her there was nothing going on in the room where she was, different from what was usually the case, nor was there any thing to account for the noise she complained of, and they therefore held her complaints to be only imaginary. She persisted they were real. The fact was, she had been for a length of time dull of hearing, and the improvement of this sense consequent on the hypnotizing, had so quickened the faculty as to account for the difference she experienced. Moreover, she had for a considerable time previously lost the sense of smell, and it was now ascertained that this sense had also been restored, though the same operation. Another patient who had lost the sense of smell for nine years, had it restored after being twice hypnotized. For a beautiful illustration of the extent to which this sense is aroused during the hypnotic sleep, see footnote, extracted from a report of my conversazione to the Members of the British Association, as recorded by the "Manchester Times."[Footbote:"A beautifully contrived experiment was here put in practice by Mr Clarke, and Mr Townend, to test the truth of the phenomena. Mr Braid had drawn their attention to the wonderful exaltation of the sense of smell. A rose had been held before the patient, the scent of which she had followed about the platform in every direction with the most excessive eagerness - now standing on tiptoe to reach it when held aloft, anon bending herself forward with the most graceful ease, till her face came almost in contact with the floor - now darting after it across the platform (notwithstanding that her eyes were bandaged) with unerring aim as to the direction in which it was moved - or throwing herself into the most fantastic attitudes, but always with surprising ease, to catch its fragrance when moved merely round her person in tantalizing play. At length she no longer followed it, and Mr Braid now explained that the sense of smell had entirely gone, and could only be renewed by a current of air across the nostrils. Mr Clarke here motioned Mr Townend to go across the platform, which he did very softly, and Mr Clarke then threw the rose to him, a distance probably of from four to five yards. Mr Clarke having thus taken the precaution to guard against the suspicion of collusion or trick, himself passed a current of air, across the nostrils of the patient, so as to again exalt the sensibility of the organ. She now moved forward as though in search of some object that had escaped her, and was advancing in front of the stage, which was not exactly in the direction the rose was thrown, when suddenly her limbs and entire body shook with a tremulous motion, and she stooped slightly, and evinced the utmost terror. Mr Braid explained that this was occasioned by the rattling of a cartridge over the pavement under the window partly, and partly by a feeling of insecurity, arising from the boards on which she stood being limber and yielding considerably to the foot. When the noise of the carriage had ceased, she turned her face about till it pointed in the direction where Mr Townend stood, when, though he held the rose at a distance of three yards from her, she evidently caught the scent, and darted towards it with unerring precision, and appeared almost to revel with delight in its fragrance. A sudden burst of applause from the audience, quick as thought, dissipated the charm; and she stood aghast, apparently in an agony of terror. Mr --- laughed, and attempted to convey to a small circle around him the impression that all this was feigned, but the attempt was disregarded. In the very front of the company, and amongst those most narrowly watching the experiments, were the Dean of Manchester, the Rev C. D. Wray, the Rev A. W. Gibson, the Rev H. Ethelston, Colonel Wemyss, and a number of others whom we might mention, including several surgeons, who were capable of forming an opinion of their own, and we heard from several of them expressions at once of surprise at the phenomena, and of conviction that they were real. In fact, it was the conviction of common sense, since it would have been far more wonderful as a piece of trickery than as Mr Braid accounts for it. Every one must have felt that it was impossible for any person in a natural state to follow a flower about the stage blindfolded, (supposing the patient was awake,) passed about as it was from hand to hand backwards and forwards, with such ease, certainty, and rapidity; but taking Mr Braid's solution of the difficulty, that the senses are unnaturally exalted, the mystery is at an end. The only thing extraordinary that then remains is, that such an agency should not before have been discovered."] The next senses I shall refer to, are touch and resistance; under which I shall adduce examples of the beneficial results of this agency, in the cure of abnormal exaltation or depression of these functions. There are few diseases more striking in their manifestations, or more important in their character and tendency, than those included in this class, namely, paralysis of sense or motion, or both; or the reverse, exalted feeling, and tonic or clonic spasm. Tic doloureux is well known to be one of the most agonizing affections to which the human frame is liable. It may arise from a functional disorder of the nervous system, of a local or more general character, or from an organic cause. The symptoms are much the same in both varieties, but the chances of effecting a cure are very different. In the former variety, a cure may be effected, and by no means I know, so speedily and certainly as by hypnotism; but in the latter, the chances of success are very different, either from this or any other known remedy. I have repeatedly applied it in the one case, without any apparent effect, either good or bad, but, in the other, with the most immediate and striking advantage. I give a few cases in illustration of this success in functional disorder.

Case III W. M'Leod had been suffering for two months from a violent attack of tic of the head and face, which had resisted the treatment prescribed by his surgeon. He had been taking carbonate of iron in ample quantity. After eleven minutes' hypnotism, he was aroused quite free from pain, and it never returned in the same degree of violence, and by a few repetitions of the same process, he was completely cured, and has remained well for about a year. The general state of his health required the aid of other means, but the violence of the tic was overcome before he took a single dose of medicine from me.

Case XIV A young lady was suffering from a most violent attack of tic doloureux, so much so, that I heard her screams before entering the house. The paroxysms came on so frequently that she was roused before I could succeed in hypnotizing her at first trial. I now administered thirty drops of laudanum, in a little water, sprinkled some over the poultice on her face, and instantly commenced hypnotizing her again. In five minutes she seemed to be in a comfortable sleep, the features perfectly placid, the respiration calm, not a muscle seemed to move during the time I remained in the room, (which was a quarter of an hour,) whereas she had a violent paroxysm every three minutes previously, contorting her whole body, and when I examined her, after having been down stairs a considerable time, she was lying in exactly the same posture as when I left her, with the same appearance of placid sleep. When I called next morning I was told she had slept for five hours and a half, and had had no return of tic after awaking. As she was in the somnolent state, and the paroxysms of pain suspended within five minutes, it is quite clear this could not be due to the few drops of laudanum, as they could not have been adequate to arrest such a violent complaint, at all events, not in the course of five minutes. [Footnote: The following is the statement of the above case, attested by Mr. Mallard, druggist, who had been called to visit this patient before my arrival, which I give because of some very unwarrantable interference by other medical men, - " I was present with Miss G. when Mr. Braid visited her, in consequence of a violent pain in the face, coming on in severe paroxysms, as occur in tic doloureux. I had applied poultices, and had other means in readiness, but owing to the violence of the pain, Mr. Braid, the usual medical attendant of the family, was sent for. Her screams were heard in my house, during the paroxysms, and they recurred about every minute, and lasted nearly a minute and a half, as nearly as I can recollect. Mr. B. had an opportunity of hearing her on coming into the house; and shortly after being in her bedroom she had a second attack. Mr. B. now tried to hypnotize her in his usual way, but she was roused by the violence of the pain. He now gave her a few drops in water, and sprinkled a few over the poultice, and applied it to the cheek again, and immediately repeated his operation, after which she seemed to be in a sound sleep, and gave no farther indication of pain in less than five minutes. Mr. Braid, as well as myself, remained a considerable time, at least three quarters of an hour, and both left convinced she was comfortably asleep, and next morning I heard she had passed a good night, having slept about five and a half hours, and that the tic had not returned since we left. Every word of this has been carefully read and considered before being signed. (Signed) A. T. MULLARD." 21st June, 1842. ]

Case XV Miss --- had been suffering severely from tic for several weeks, and had several teeth extracted without relief. During a violent paroxysm, I succeeded in hypnotizing her, and when aroused, it was quite gone, and has never returned. In the affection to which these cases belong, there is frequently such irritability of the skin, that a slight touch over the affected nerve is quite sufficient to excite a paroxysm of pain. I shall now adduce some cases illustrative of the opposite condition, when there was deficiency or entire loss of feeling; and which have nevertheless been greatly benefited, or entirely cured by hypnotism. 'The following case is illustrative of its successful application where there was paralysis both of sense and motion.

Case XVI Mrs Slater, 33 years of age, in the autumn of 1841, had suffered a good deal during her pregnancy, and in December of that year was delivered of a seven months' child. From this period, her legs, which had been very weak for some time previously became very much worse, and in a short time she lost all voluntary power over them, together with loss of natural feeling. She had been under the care of three professional gentlemen, but as she became worse instead of better, notwithstanding the means used, the case had been considered hopeless, and left to itself, for some time previous to my being consulted, which was on the 22d April, 1842. I found she had not only lost feeling and voluntary motion of her legs and feet, but that the knees were rigidly flexed, the heels drawn up, the toes flexed, and the feet incurvated, and fixed in the position of slight club foot (varus.) She had not menstruated since her confinement, but there was no other function as regarded the secretions or excretions, which appeared to be at fault. Her speech was imperfect and her memory impaired. I hypnotized her, and endeavoureds, whilst in that condition, to regulate the morbid action of the muscles, and malposition of the feet and legs. In five minutes I roused her, when she thanked God she now felt she had feet, could feel the floor with them, and could move her toes. I now raised her on her feet, and with the assistance of her husband supporting her by the one arm, and myself by the other, she went across the room and back again to the sofa, moving her legs and supporting half the weight of her body on them. I operated on her again the same evening, after which she was able to support herself standing with the soles of her feet on the floor. She required merely to be steadied by placing the points of the fingers of one of my hands against her back. Before being operated on, the heels were drawn up, and the feet twisted so that she could only have touched the floor with a small portion of the outer edge of the feet, near the root of the little toes. I hypnotized her in the same manner daily for some time with increasing improvement, so that in a week she was able to walk into her shop alone, merely requiring to steady herself by the wall, and in two weeks more she could walk into it without any assistance whatever. Two months front my first seeing her, she went to Liverpool, and was able to walk several miles in a day. She could walk from the middle of the town where she lodged, to the pier head and back, and from her lodgings to Everton and back, all in the same day, which was several miles partly on very steep acclivities. She had no relapse, and has continued well ever since. In a very few days after I first operated on this patient, the catamenial discharge appeared for the first time since her confinement. She had no internal medicine, nor external application whatever to her legs for several days after I first saw her. Her extraordinary improvement, therefore, resulted entirely from the effects of the operations. After I had attended her some days, she required same simple aperient medicine, and I afterwards prescribed a diuretic, which I hoped might expedite the cure. The feeling and power of her legs and feet were greatly restored, her speech perfect, and her memory much improved, before she had a single dose of medicine from me. Her improvement therefore was strictly the result of hypnotism only. The extraordinary effects manifested in this case, as well as in many others, after a few minutes' operation - so different from what is realized in the application of ordinary means - may appear startling to those unacquainted with the powers of hypnotism. On this account, I have been advised to conceal the facts, as many may consider it impossible, and reject the less startling, although not more true reports of its beneficial action in other cases. In recording cases, however, I consider it my duty to report facts as I have found them, and to make no compromise for the sake of accommodating them to the preconceived notions or prejudices of any one.

Case XVII Samuel Evans, 45 years of age, had suffered much from pain in the spine, and also been afflicted with impaired feeling as well as power of the superior extremities for four years. He suffered also occasionally in the head, for which he had undergone every variety of treatment usual in such cases, under many medical men, myself included, but with so little success that he had not been able to dress him- self for five years: he could not lift the left arm, and natural feeling was almost entirely gone from it. The right arm was also affected, but in a less degree, when he applied to me on the 25th April, 1842. I hypnotized him and he was so fully satisfied with the improvement he experienced, as to induce him to come to Manchester to be operated on daily. In a very short time his improvement, both as regarded strength and feeling, was most decided, as he could lift a heavy chair with the worst arm and could feel a small object such as a pin, which could not have been distinguished by him with that hand when I first saw him. The pain in his back was also speedily much relieved. He was exhibited at my conversazione to the British Association, 29th June, 1842, in this improved state, and has made still farther progress since, although not yet able to follow his usual avocation. I should not omit to add, that this patient was under my own care for some time in 1841, when, although he derived benefit from the means used, he was not nearly so much or so rapidly relieved, as by my present mode of treatment by hypnotism.

Case XVIII Mr ---- 58 years of age, consulted me in consequence of a paralytic affection of two and a-half years' standing. Stated by his friends that he had had an apoplectic seizure two years and a-half before, which was at first accompanied with total loss of consciousness, and of sense and motion of the right side for six weeks. He then gradually recovered, so as to be able to walk a little in the course of four or five months. When he called on me 3d June, 1842, his gait was very feeble and insecure, always advancing the right side foremost, his arm had always been supported in a sling, he could raise it with an effort as high as the breast, had not the power of opening the hand, the thumb was much and rigidly flexed. Had little or no feeling in that hand. After being hypnotized for five minutes, feeling was restored, he could open the hand and grasp much firmer, and raise it to his forehead. His speech, which had been very imperfect, was also much improved. This patient was operated on for some time with partial improvement, so that he could manage his arm without a sling, and the feeling continued improved, and there was also slight improvement in his gait, but I was of opinion, that there was organic mischief in the brain which would prevent a perfect restoration, and therefore discontinued farther trials. Case XIX. Miss Sarah Melior had been under my care for nine months, for an affection of the lower part of the spine, accompanied with pain and weakness of the lower limbs, and with contraction of the knees, so that she had been unable to stand or walk without crutches during that period. I had used every means usually adopted in such cases, but instead of improving, she was getting worse in every respect, till I tried hypnotism, the satisfactory results of which were too immediate and apparent to admit of the slightest doubt of its great value on this occasion. The following is a statement attested by the patient:- " Had suffered severe pain in my ankles, with contraction of the knees, and pain at the bottom of my back, so that I had been unable to walk without a pair of crutches for nine months. During this period, I had taken medicines internally, used liniments to the legs and spine, been leeched and blistered over the lower part of the spine, but still, instead of improving, I was getting worse, both as regarded the pain and contraction, so that I was becoming quite deformed, from the legs being bent on the thighs, and they on the body. I was thus about nine or ten inches less in stature than formerly, and than I am now. About the beginning of last March (1842) I came to Mr Braid, who had prescribed the other means to me without benefit, when he said he would try his new method with me. After being hypnotized three times, I was able to walk front my lodgings to the house of a friend who lived a few houses distant in the same street WITHOUT MY CRUTCHES, and in two days after, from that house to Mr Braid's WITHOUT CRUTCHES. I was operated on almost daily for three weeks, when I returned home, and at that time I was able to walk half a mile without crutches. After being at home five weeks, I returned to Manchester, and have been attended by Mr Braid for two months, and always found myself better after the operations. I look no medicine during my first stay in Manchester; and on this occasion having only done so when required for a violent cold on two occasions, from imprudent exposure. Since I came to Manchester last, one day I walked to Grosvenor Street, Piccadilly, and back again to my lodgings in Lower Mostly Street, fully a mile and a half, without inconvenience; on another occasion to Hulme and back again, fully two miles. I was quite sensible, and could hear all that was said or done during all the operations. (Signed) SARAH ANN MELLOR. JANE LIVESEY, Witness. C. WILSON, Witness." MANCHESTER, 12th July, 1842. This patient was exhibited at my conversazione 19th June, 1842. After returning home, she had the misfortune to get entangled by one of the feet in a cart rut, in a lane, which threw her back, but having returned and been hypnotized, I was enabled to send her home much improved, and when she called on me lately, she continued so.

Case XX Mrs. J. 29 years of age, requested my attendance, 17th February, 1842. Had been attacked in the autumn of 1840, with slight degree of weakness of left side, and difficulty of speech, neither of which had ever been entirely removed. Three months after she was delivered of a still-born child, and had been affected with convulsions ten days prior to delivery, for which she seemed to have been treated in the usual manner. In about a month after delivery, 3lst January, 1841, she had an apoplectic attack, attended with total loss of consciousness, and paralysis of the left side, for which her medical attendant had prescribed the usual treatment. I was called to attend her on the 17th February, and continued to do so for five weeks, when, as there was no particular improvement manifested, she passed into other hands, and after being under treatment with them for ten weeks, without improving, she was sent into the country, where she remained for about thirteen months, when she was brought back to town to be placed under my care, 15th June, 1842. The following was her condition at this period. Her mouth very much drawn to the right side; her speech very imperfect; and her mind confused. The left hand and arm were quite powerless, and rigidly fixed to the side, the hand clenched, the fingers and thumb being rigidly and permanently flexed. The left leg very rigid, the heel drawn up, and the foot twisted so that it could only approach the ground By resting on the outer edge near the root of the little toe; she could move this leg a little, but had never been able to stand, or walk a step, or support any weight on it. I hypnotized her, though owing to her mind being so confused, I experienced considerable difficulty in getting her to attend to the necessary instructions for producing the condition. However, I at length succeeded, and after the first operation - I kept her in the hypnotic state for ten minutes - she could hold her mouth much straighter, could move the fingers a little, and lift the hand and arm four inches, and, with the assistance of her mother-in-law and myself supporting her by the arms, she was able to support half the weight of her body in walking across the room and back again. Her speech was also improved, and she evinced less confusion of mind. Next day I found the improvement was permanent, and hypnotized her again with advantage. 17th, Found her improved, and still more so after being again operated on. She could now, on merely steadying herself by laying hold of her mother-in-law's shoulder, stand supporting herself on the left leg, when the right foot was lifted clear from the floor. Her speech was still more improved, and mind more collected, so that I had very little difficulty in hypnotizing her now. She was operated on daily, with advantage, till the end of that month, and the results shewn to some of the most eminent professional and scientific gentlemen in this town. During the next two months she was operated on at times only, being so much better. In a few weeks she could walk to the door, steadying herself against the wall, and in a few weeks was able to walk into the street with the aid of a crutch. She had no medicine during this attendance. I only saw her occasionally now, and on the 1lth September, when I had not seen her for nine days before, whilst taking her usual airing in the street, she was seized with apoplexy, from which she died within sixteen hours. On inspection, the whole of the superior and anterior lobes of the right side of the brain were found to be in a state of atrophy; only a thin layer, and that in a state of ramolissement, covering the ventricle, which was filled with serum, as was also the space between the pia mater and arachnoid, to make up the space vacated by the wasting of the cerebral substance. There was no effusion of blood. It is not at all surprising that such a case should have resisted former treatment, or proved fatal at last; but it seems surprising that, with such a state of brain, hypnotism should have had the power of producing so much improvement is it did. [Yes indeed! - DM]

Case XXI 14th Jane, 1842, Mr Thomas Morris, 42 years of age, consulted me. He had had a paralytic stroke fifteen years previously, which deprived him entirely of the use of the right leg, and rendered the left weak and numb. In six weeks was able to walk a little, but never recovered entirely, being always weak and lame. Fifteen months ago had a second attack, with total loss of consciousness for a week, and also complete loss of voluntary power of the whole body. For several weeks required the urine to be drawn off by catheter. He has lately had the urine passing involuntarily sometimes, at other times voided with great difficulty. He has never regained the power of his legs so as to enable him to stand or walk without assistance; and has been, for the last six months, growing worse. The arms very weak, being unable to raise the right higher than the head, and even that accomplished with great difficulty. Speech also very imperfect, and his ideas so confused that he could make himself nderstood with great difficulty. Hypnotized him for five minutes, when he could speak much better; could raise his arm and hold an umbrella perpendicularly, or horizontally, with his body, with perfect ease, and could walk across the room WITHOUT ASSISTANCE, for the first time since last seizure. (Signed) THOS. MORRIS.. Witnessed by JOHN SHIPLEY. Duncan Street, Strangeways. C. C. MORRIS. JOHN W. PACEY. JAMES BRAID, Junior. 15th, Had the pleasure of finding the improvement noted above was permanent, and also, that he had been able to retain his urine and void it at pleasure, whereas it had been passing involuntarily, both by night and day, immediately before being hypnotized. He was again hypnotized to-day with additional advantage. 17th, Found him still better, having been able to walk in the street with one stick for the first time for last five years. Repeated the operation. 18th, Still better, so that, with the aid of his two sticks, he had walked into Ducie Street by himself. Operation repeated. This patient went on improving, and on the 29th June was exhibited at my conversazione. His speech was greatly better immediately after first operation, and his ideas seemed more vivid and clear. He was also able to sign his name, and which he did very well, for the first time since his last seizure. Nor should I omit to add, that he had regained power over the rectum, which he had not previously; and in about ten days he had got sufficient power of his hands to enable him to work. After he was considerably recovered he had the misfortune to fall, and injured the lower part of the back very much, which impaired the recently acquired power of the legs. They are somewhat better, but not nearly so well as they were a few weeks after he had been under my are. His arms, however, still retain their increased power, as I saw him lately lift a bed-room chair with the right. arm, and hold it up nearly at full arm's length; and the mind keeps pretty clear, much more so than before being hypnotized, notwithstanding he has had a severe attack of bowel complaint, from which he has been liable to suffer occasionally. It would be difficult to adduce a more striking proof than the above, of the extraordinary power of hypnotism, there having been so many points at fault, all of which were immediately meliorated, and some of them permanently so.

Case XXI Mr John W., 21 years of age, called to consult me, 18th April, 1842, for a paralytic state of the left side of the face, of thirteen days' standing. He had no power of the muscles of the left side of the face, consequently the mouth was drawn to the right, and he had no power of closing the left eyelid. In ten minutes after being hypnotized, and friction used, he could open and close the eyelid with facility, and had the power of retracting his mouth to the left of the mesial plane.

Case XXIII 11th July, was consulted by Samuel Edwards, who had been unable to work for six weeks, in consequence of a paralytic state of the extensor muscles of the wrist, and a semi-paralytic state of the flexor and extensor muscles of the fingers. He had injured the arm by a heavy lift, and by a blow about two years before. The paralytic state came on suddenly about six weeks previously to my seeing him, accompanied by a tingling or prickling feeling in the fingers. I hypnotized him, calling into action the weak and entirely paralytic muscles in the best way I could In consequence of this, he acquired the power of flexing and extending the wrist, when the arm was held horizontally with the ulna downwards, and of grasping pretty firmly with the fingers, immediately after the first operation, which he could not do before, as witnessed by several highly respectable individuals who were present the whole time. On the evening of the following day, he was able to milk a cow with this hand, and when he called on me two days after, I found him greatly improved. I operated on him again with additional advantage, and found him able to grasp so firmly that he could hold a single finger fast enough to enable him to be thus pulled from his eat without losing his hold. He had undergone various treatment, including blistering, under two surgeons before I saw him. 17th July, 1842, he called on me, and had still greater power of the hand. After being again hypnotized, he could readily lift the one side of a heavy library table with the hand, which was quite powerless when I first saw him six days before. He stated, he had been able to work with it constantly from the time I saw him, on the 14th. 31st, He called on me, stated he had been improving. Was hypnotized once more. August 7th, he called on me, and the first thing he did was to hold out his arm at full length, and shew me he could bend and extend the wrist, whilst the arm owns in the state of pronation. He had been able to do so for same days. Had been able to milk five cows the day previous, Hypnotized him again, after which he had still more power. He has not required to call on me since, being nine months ago. This patient must have continued well, as I have heard nothing more of him, which I was to do if he had any relapse. I could easily multiply cases of successful practice in the treatment of paralysis by hypnotism, were it not for occupying too much space, I shall, therefore, condense a few.

Case XXIV A gentleman sixty years of age had a paralytic stroke two years and a half before consulting me, which deprived him entirely of the use of the right arm, and enfeebled the right side and leg. When he called on me, he walked very feebly, could scarcely close the fingers and thumb, and could not extend them fully. He could with great difficulty raise the hand as high as the pit of the stomach, the pupil of the right eye was considerably larger than the left, and not quite circular; speech very imperfect. After being hypnotized for five minutes, he was able to open and close the hand freely, and to raise the hand above the head, and pass it to the back of the head, and he could also walk and speak much better. Pulse regular, - before operation, his pulse was very irregular. When he called on me next morning, I found the improvement had been permanent. I hypnotized him once more with advantage, and again on the two following days; seven weeks afterwards he called on me, when I found the improvement was permanent. He could speak and walk much better, could raise the arm, and move the fingers and hand freely, could pass the hand above and over the head, and take off his hat with it. The right pupil also was quite circular now, and nearly the same size as the other.

Case XXV 4th June, 1842, Mr J. H., 67 years of age, had a paralytic strike, 19 months previously which deprived him entirely of speech, and of motion of right leg and arm, when he called on me, his speech was very imperfect, his hearing dull, and he had very little power in closing the hand, could raise the hand to the mouth, said he could sometimes raise it a little higher, but never so high as his head. After being hypnotized for five minutes, he could speak and hear much better, could grasp much stronger, and would raise the hand a foot above the head, and put his coat on without assistance, passing it over his head. His walking was also much firmer. He seemed greatly pleased with being able to put his coat on, as it was the first time since his seizure. He was also able to sign his name for the first time, to attest the accuracy of my report of his case, which he did before two witnesses who had been present during the operation. He called on me twice after this, the last time two weeks from his first visit, when I found the improvement was permanent.

Case XXVI Thomas Johnstone, 36 years of age, had a paralytic seizure 13th February, 1842, which deprived him of feeling and motion of left arm and hand. Had partially recovered motion so as to be able occasionally to move the fingers a little, and to raise the arm nearly to the horizontal position, but frequently was suddenly struck with pain and total loss of power of the arm, and hand, and fingers, for four or five hours after. Had been struck in this way just before I saw him, and he was quite powerless, as above described, or rather the arm was spasmodically fixed to the side; had been under medical treatment ever since his first seizure. 4th May, 1842, hypnotized him for four minutes, after which he could move the fingers, hand, and arm freely, elevating it above his head, across his body in either direction, and could retain it in any situation he was asked. The feeling, however, was still very imperfect, 5th May, called on me to go to my lecture, when he had the complete control of the hand, arm, and fingers. He was hypnotized in the lecture-room the same night, and in four days after the feeling, is well as power, was restored to it. 26th, called on me again, and has perfect voluntary power of the arm, as well as natural feeling and heat of the member. Attested as correct by the patient. (Signed by proxy to which the patient affixed his mark) THOMAS JOHNSTONE. Witnessed by JOHN HARDING. I have also a copy of a certificate of his condition from the physician who attended him immediately before he consulted me. On the 10th January, 1843, his father informed me that his son had requested him to call on me, and say he was in America, and had remained well ever since I saw him, and, that he wished his father to express how grateful he felt for the benefit he had derived from my operations. I shall only give one more case illustrative of this class.

Case XXVII Mr H., 39 years of age, had been partially paralytic of the inferior extremities for ten years, which time on some time after a fall, accompanied with double vision. The latter disappeared under treatment, but the former increased. when he called on me, 18th February, 1843, he was walking with a crutch and stick, and with the assistance of both and a servant, it was with great difficulty he could ascend the few steps at my door. After the first operation, he could walk across the room and back again, without either crutch or stick, and after being operated on next day, he was able to mount twenty-eight steps to his bedroom without his crutch, and has done so ever since. In ten days, I was agreeably surprised to see him on the fourth bench of the lecture-room of the Manchester Athenaeum, to which he had ascended eighty-one steps, with the aid of a stick in one hand. This patient had not been aware, until I called his attention to the fact, that he had very defective vision of the right eye, and was surprised to find on testing this, that when the left eye was closed, he could with difficulty see the large heading of the header of the Medical Gazette, whereas he could read the ordinary sized print of that article with the left. After being operated on, he could read the small print of the leader with the right eye also, it which he felt greatly surprised, as well as at the increased. power of his legs, because, as he had been conscious all the time of the operation, he could not believe I had done any thing to him, till he found on trial he had been so much benefited in both functions. Here, then, we have the beneficial results most unequivocally ensuing even when the patient imagined no effect could have been induced. The improvement in the sight has remained permanent, and he also improved in the power of his limbs, till be had the misfortune to fall, whilst carelessly looking it something when walking on the street one day. In confirmation of the efficacy of a few minutes of hypnotism, in curing many cases of paralysis, I may refer to the reports of the Liverpool papers, as to what took place at my lectures in that town in April, 1842. There were hundreds who witnessed the effects when I publicly operated on such patients, who were entire strangers to me. Cases where the patients had been for years powerless of limbs, so that they could not unlock the clenched hands, nor raise the arm to the chin, even with the aid of the other arm, have been enabled in eight or ten minutes, to open the hand, and lift the arm above the head. My intelligent friend, Mr Gordon, lately informed me, he had treated a paralytic case most successfully by hypnotism.

Case XXVII Mrs. E., thirty-seven years of age, had a paralytic affection when thirteen months old, which deprived her entirely of the use of the right leg, which has never been recovered. At seven years of age, she had a second attack, which deprived her also of the use of the right arm, which was recovered after nine months' professional attention to it. .At fifteen years of age she had a third attack, which drew her face, and deprived her of speech for some time, but was recovered from; and she had no farther attack of the sort till 8th January, 1842 (being twenty-two years from former attack.) The latter attack enfeebled the right arm, and completely paralyzed the whole of the left side. Being of full habit, she was bled from the arm, had active cathartics, leeches, and blisters. In six days there was improvement to this extent, that the right hand could be raised as high as the shoulder, the left arm could be moved feebly, and the hand closed feebly and slowly. When sitting on a chair, the left leg could be moved with great difficulty, so as to raise the heel from the ground. I hypnotized her, and in five or six minutes she could raise her right hand and arm above her head, could move the left arm freely, and grasp firmly, and could raise the left leg so as to place the heel eighteen inches front the ground. Next day she was able to walk across the floor with her one crutch. A pain in the knee induced her to avoid walking afterwards, but in three weeks she could walk quite cleverly is before last attack. The other cases were all in the chronic state, of long standing, and had resisted all ordinary means, and the restorative powers of nature and time, and yet we have seen what extraordinary powers can be exerted, and effects produced, in such cases by hypnotism. The latter proves its superior efficacy, to other means, in more recent cases.

Case XXVIII I shall conclude the subject of paralysis with the following most interesting case. The subject of it was Miss Atkinson, a middle-aged and very intelligent lady, and I shall give the case as recorded by herself in a letter she was so obliging as to furnish me with, for the purpose of publication in this work. LETTER FROM Miss E. ATKINSON, (of the Priory, Lincoln.) "MOSLEY ARMS, MANCHESTER. Monday, 4th July, 1842. "Dear Sir, - I have very great pleasure in furnishing you with a statement of my case, I beg you will make whatever use of it you think proper, and most sincerely do I wish that it may lead others suffering from disorders on the nerves, to seek relief from the same source, and with the same success. "In January, 1838, I was attacked with cold and influenza, accompanied by a violent cough, on the 9th of this month. Ten or twelve days after the first attack, without any previous warning, my voice p 221 left me instantaneously, and I could not utter a sound louder than the faintest whisper. For three weeks I had no medical advice, hoping daily, from my ignorance of the nature of the complaint, that my voice would return; but being disappointed, and feeling my health and strength declining, consulted Mr. Howitt, an experienced and eminent surgeon in Lincoln, who immediately requested I would confine myself to my own lodging-room which was to be kept at a regular temperature. He prescribed such medicines as my case required, and ordered blisters to my throat and chest, which were kept open, until I became so completely debilitated that it was considered necessary to discontinue them. Towards the latter end of April my health was considerably improved, and I was allowed to leave my room though my voice was still merely a feeble whisper. Shortly afterwards, I paid a visit to a sister in York, whose family surgeon, Mr. Caleb Williams, I man in extensive practice, prescribed for me, and look great interest in my case. Soon after my return to Lincoln, I consulted Mr. .Joseph Swan, 6, Tavistock Square, London, who entirely approved of the treatment I had undergone, and prescribed such additional remedies and medicines as he thought would be beneficial. Since then he has continued to visit me whenever he has been in the country. Galvanism has been tried without producing any effect; electro-magnetism also, by a scientific friend (not I medical man.) I have frequently conversed with several other professional gentlemen, who have also taken a great interest in my case. They all agree in opinion that the attack was paralysis of the organs of voice, without disease; and that the treatment I have undergone has been most judicious; in fact, that every thing has been done for me the medical profession could suggest. Every one of them has told me, that when my health and strength returned, there was every reason to believe I should recover my voice. I remained in a very weak and delicate state for some time, but have now been in perfect health for more than twelve months, yet without having the power of speaking above a whisper. "I considered the recovery of my voice hopeless, until hearing of the many cures you had performed y hypnotism, I was induced to state my case to you, and request your opinion as to the probability of this system benefiting one. Your reply was, 'If, as seems to be the opinion of most of the professional gentlemen consulted, your loss of voice is owing to exhaustion of the nervous energy of the vocal nerves, and not to positive destruction of any portion of them, I consider my mode of operating is likely to be very speedily successful. On the other hand, if there is positive destruction of the nervous substance, with loss of continuity of the principal trunks of the nerves, it will alter the chances very materially. However, as his cannot be positively known without trial, and as the extraordinary power we possess of rousing nervous energy may be sufficient to enable the function to be restored with a state of nerve which could not be of service under any other agency, I should decidedly give it is my opinion that it ought to be tried, as no risk can attach to the trial, and a week or two at most, will be all the time required for giving it a fair trial.' This raised my hopes; I came to Manchester on Tuesday the 28th of June. You operated on me twice that evening, and twice each succeeding day, but without producing any change on my voice until Saturday, July 2nd, when, on rousing me from the hypnotic state, I spoke aloud without the slightest effort. My voice was then weak; you have continued to operate on me until now, Monday morning, (4th July,) and my voice is fully restored to its original strength, with the power to vary its tone at will. Thus has hypnotism given me back the power to make myself understood by those to whom I address myself, of which I had been deprived for the last four and a half years. I have not suffered the slightest pain or inconvenience while submitting to the operations nor any unpleasant effects afterwards; neither did I ever once lose consciousness of all that was passing around me. "With heartfelt humble thanks to our heavenly Father for this and every blessing, particularly for the hitherto unknown power bestowed on man; and with deep gratitude to you for your kind attentive care while so skilfully and successfully using this power for the restoration of my voice, I beg you to believe me, dear sir, yours very respectfully, and greatly obliged, "ELIZABETH ATKINSON. It is but justice to the professional gentlemen who and been consulted in this case prior to application being made to me, to say, that I consider they had treated the case most judiciously, according to our previous experience in such cases; and it must be interesting to them to find that in this agency our art has acquired a new and efficient resource for such cases. This case is interesting in many points of view. The circumstance of the patient having been operated on twice each day successively, that is, eight times, without any visible improvement for I had her tested before and after each operation - and being able to speak aloud, without effort, on being roused from the hypnotic condition on the fifth day, is sufficient proof that the improvement as not the effect of imagination, but of the physical condition induced by carrying the operation farther. Any effect to have been anticipated from mere mental emotion we should have expected to have been greatest at first, and to have become less and less as the party became familiar with such operations. Here, however, it was quite the reverse. I found, on testing the patient on the 2nd of July, immediately before being operated on, that no improvement had been effected from the former operations, (she had been operated on eight times,) and therefore resolved to carry it farther that time; and the result was, as noted above, that on being aroused she spoke aloud without effort. It is also important, as corroborating the statement of many others who have been cured of various obstinate complaints by hypnotism, that they could hear quite distinctly, and retained consciousness the whole time, of all that was going on around them. In some cases, however, it is necessary to carry it to the ulterior stage, or that of insensibility. On the 19th October, 1842, I had the pleasure of receiving a letter from Miss E. Atkinson, from which I make the following extract, in proof of the permanency of the cure. "You will be glad to hear that I have retained my voice without any intermission, since I left you. The only difference is, that it has become stronger; and my health is in every respect perfectly good." I had also the pleasure of hearing from a friend, a few days ago, that she still continues well, and it is now nine months and a half since her voice was restored. I doubt not there may be some who, on reading the cases I have recorded in this treatise, will be disposed to appeal to the well-known fact, that various complaints have been suddenly cured by mere mental emotion, hoping thus to throw discredit on the curative powers of hypnotism. Whilst I grant the premises, I deny the justness of the inference. That I may meet the subject fairly, I shall now quote some of the most remarkable cases of the sort which have been recorded. "Dr Gregory was accustomed to relate the case of a naval officer, who had been for some time laid up in his cabin, and entirely unable to move, from a violent attack of gout, when notice was brought to him that the vessel was on fire; in a few minutes he was on deck, and the most active man in the ship. Cases of a still more astonishing kind are on record. A woman, mentioned by Diemerbroeck, who had been many years paralytic, recovered the use of her limbs when she was very much terrified during a thunder-storm, and was making violent efforts to escape from a chamber in which she had been left alone. A man, affected in the same manner, recovered as suddenly when his house was on fire; and another, who had been all for six years, recovered the use of his paralytic limbs during a violent paroxysm of anger." Abercrombie on the Intellectual Powers, pp. 398-9. To these might have been added the influence of the sight of a tooth key or forceps, or even the approach to the house of a dentist, in curing toothache. Now, what are the legitimate conclusions to be drawn from the history of such cases? Is it not simply this, that such results are possible, and that they can be effected by different means? Now as it is apparent that analogous results can be induced by hypnotism, I would ask is hypnotism not quite as convenient and desirable a remedy as setting a ship on ire, raising a thunder-storm, converting the patient's house into a bonfire, or exciting him into "a violent paroxysm of anger? Again, of those who talk so much about the power of imagination, I would ask, what is it? How does imagination act to produce such extraordinary and contradictory results? For example, the mental emotions of joy and sorrow, love and hatred, fear and courage, benevolence and anger, may all arise either from real, or from imaginary causes only, and may seriously affect the physical frame. In many instances these different and opposite emotions have proved almost instantly fatal; in other instances equally sanitive. How is this achieved? Are not the whole of the emotions accompanied by remarkable physical changes, in respect to the respiration and circulation as well as sensation? Are they not highly excited in one class, and depressed in the other? And may not this act as the proximate cause in effecting the permanently beneficial results during hypnotism? As already explained, analogous physical results can be produced by hypnotism; and it is no valid reason why we should not profit by it in the treatment of disease, that we cannot positively decide as to its modus operandi. It seems quite evident that we have acquired, in hypnotism, a more ready and certain control over the physical manifestations referred to, and which can be turned to useful purposes, than by any mode of acting on the imagination only, which has hitherto been devised. Rheumatism is another affection, for the relief of which I have found hypnotism a most valuable remedy. I have met with some cases of rheumatism, however, which have resisted this, as they had every other method tried; and others, where it afforded only temporary relief; but I am warranted in saying, that I have, on the whole, seen far more success, more rapid and decided relief, follow this mode of treatment, than any other. It has been chiefly in chronic cases in which I have tried it. In its application, I first induce the somnolent state, and then call into action the different muscles which I consider directly affected, or which, by being so called into action, are calculated to change the capillary circulation and nervous sensibility of the part implicated. The patient must be retained in such position a longer or shorter time, according to circumstances. The following cases will illustrate the effects of this mode of treatment:

Case XXIX Joseph Barnet, near Hope Inn, Heaton Norris, Stockport, 62 years of age, called to consult me on the 10th December, 1841, for a severe rheumatic affection of the back, hip, and leg, of thirteen years' standing, which had been so severe, that he had not been able to earn a day's wages during that period. He and been equally a stranger to comfort by day, as to refreshing sleep by night. He came to me leaning feebly over his stick, suffering anguish at every step, or movement of his body. He was treated at the commencement of his complaint by a surgeon; but feeling no relief, like many others similarly afflicted, he had recourse to all sort of nostrums, and also to hot salt water baths. I hypnotized him, placing him in such attitudes as his particular case required, and in fifteen minutes aroused him, when he was able to bend his body freely, and not only to walk, but even to run. He called on me in a few days after, when he stated he had slept comfortably, and been perfectly easy from the time he left me till the night before. I hypnotized him again with advantage, and a few more times sufficed to restore him entirely. This patient was seen, and bore testimony to these facts, at two of my lectures. After one of them, from being too late for the coach, he walked home, a distance of six miles. This was by no means judicious, but proves incontestably his great improvement. I was not at that time so well aware, as I have been since, of the great power of hypnotism in such cases, and therefore ordered him some medicine after the first operations; but from observing that the relief immediately followed the operation before taking medicine, and that the pain returned in some degree the night before next visit, and when, had there been benefit resulting from the medicine, it ought to have been diminished after using it, and that relief was again afforded during the hypnotism, I felt convinced the medicine had no share in the improvement, and therefore discontinued it, and trusted entirely to hypnotism. In the beginning of January, 1842, when this patient called on me, he was so well, that I told him farther operations would be nnecessary for the present, but added, that should he have any relapse, if he called on me again, I would hypnotize him, without charge, of which offer he promised to avail himself. At my lecture on the 17th December, 1841, several questions were put which elicited the following answers:- "Do you mean to say you were never so well as you are now?" "Yes; I never earned two shillings during all that time. This last winter I was worse than ever." "Did you walk, sir, before ever you left my surgery, without taking any medicine?"-" I did, and ran too." See Manchester Guardian, 1st January, 1842. I heard nothing farther of this patient for about seven months, and therefore, after the offer I had made him at last visit, had every reason to conclude he had remained well. However, it appears he had a relapse shortly after he left me, and his family, upon whose exertions he depended, being out of work, he could not afford to pay the railway charge for coming to see me again. His relapse having been laid hold of, and construed into a charge against me is having falsely represented his case, I was induced to call on the patient, accompanied by two friends, when he furnished us with the following document,- "Joseph Barnet, Providence Street, Heaton Norris, had suffered from a severe rheumatic affection prior to last December, when he applied to Mr. Braid. He was first under the care of Mr. ---- Higher Hillgate, who bled, blistered, and prescribed medicines for him; but the complaint remained unabated. From this period, took various medicines, and other means recommended to him by those who had been similarly afflicted, and who considered he would be benefited by such means as had relieved them, but received no relief. After that applied to Mr. ---- of Manchester, from whom he considered he derived benefit. for a fortnight but the pain returning, he went to Liverpool to the water baths, where he remained as long as money lasted, but without being relieved. "From this time tried various means as recommended by different parties. During time whole of this period, he had never been able to earn a day's wages. When he applied to Mr. Braid in December last, (1841,) had een suffering extreme pain in every movement of the body; in short, he had walked nearly double, supported on a stick. He was operated on by Mr Braid, and in a quarter of an hour he was roused, and found himself able to walk and run. At first, Mr. Braid walked him about by the hand, and afterwards made him run without any assistance whatever, as his wife and others present can testify. The case is stated by Mr Braid in his lectures in my (his) presence was perfectly correct, as I (he) bore testimony to at the time. Owing to being unable to pay the expenses of the railway, he did not return to Mr Braid, when he had a recurrence of the pain. He had never informed Mr Braid, that he had had a recurrence of the pain, and never saw him afterwards until the evening of the 26th June, 1842, (Signed) JOSEPH his+mark BARNET. J. A. WALKER. THOMAS BROWN. HARAIT BROOKS." (Daughter of J. BARNET.)

Case XXX 11th January, 184). Mrs B, 48 years of age. Catamenia ceased last spring. Has suffered from a severe rheumatic affection for the last three months, and been confined for the last two months to her bedroom. The legs, arms, neck, and head, were excessively painful, so that the slightest movement was attended with great agony. She was quite alarmed at my taking hold of her arm to feel the pulse. When in bed could not turn over, nor bear the slightest touch. 11th January, 1842, hypnotized her, and roused her in ten minutes, when she was quite free from pain, being able to walk, stoop, and move the arms, wrists, and fingers, with perfect freedom. 12th, had slept comfortably all night; had been able to lie on her side, which she could not do before for three months; could rise from the chair, and move legs and arms without pain. There was, however, a soreness or uneasy feeling, although not amounting to pain, in some parts of the limbs. Hypnotized her for eight minutes, when she felt less of the numbness, and followed me down stairs, and ascended them again, without taking hold of the banister, and taking the steps regularly and cleverly with both feet alternately. 14th, Found her down stairs enjoying herself with her father, husband, and friends, almost quite well. Hypnotized her again, and also in a day or two after, and she had no recurrence of the rheumatism, although a degree of stiffness of the limbs remained. She had no medicine from me till the rheumatism was gone, when she had some for a different complaint. This patient was seen at my house seven months after by about sixty friends, including several professional gentlemen, when the above statement was read in her presence, and confirmed by her as correct to that time; and as I have heard no intimation, I feel assured she has not had a relapse.

Case XXXI Mrs S. has been already referred to; case VI. She had suffered much from rheumatism for many years, and had never been entirely free of it, notwithstanding she had undergone much treatment. After first operation she was much relieved, and after a few more was entirely free from pain. It has recurred occasionally since, but has always been removed by one or two more operations of the same sort, and which are neither painful, nor in any way unpleasant.

Case XXXII Another rheumatic case of a patient 53 years old, of seven years' standing, where sleep had not only been courted by exhausted nature, but also by the most powerful doses of narcotic drugs; on one occasion 400 drops of laudanum had been taken in two hours; still the pains continued, and yet, by fifteen minutes of hypnotic sleep, procured by the simple agency I recommend, this patient was relieved of his agonizing pains. In this case, from my knowledge of the eminence