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 LECTURES 
 
 f 
 
 PHILOSOPHY OF MESMERISM, 
 
 DELIVERED IN THE 
 
 MARLBORO' CHAPEL, 
 
 JANUARY 23-28,1843. 
 
 BY JOHN BOVEE DODS, 
 
 OF BOSTON 
 
 BOSTON: 
 PUBLISHED BY REDDING > CO. 
 
 NO. 8 STATE STREET. 
 
 1843. 
 
 fe^#^ 
 

 SIX LECTURES 
 
 ON THE 
 
 PHILOSOPHY OP MESMERISM, 
 
 DELIVERED IN THE 
 
 1/ 
 
 MARLBORO' CHAPEL, 
 
 JANUARY 23-28,1843. 
 
 / 
 
 BY JOHN BOVEE DODS, 
 
 OF BOSTON. 
 
 REPORTED BY A HEARER, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 BOSTON: 
 
 
 
 
 ILLIAM A 
 
 . HALL & 
 
 CO. 
 
 , PRINTERS, 
 
 NO. 
 
 12 WATER 
 
 STREET. 
 
 
 
 
 1843 
 
 
 
 
 
\ 
 
 
 $% 
 
 Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1843, by Elijah Smith, 
 in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts. 
 
 
 
ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 
 
 LECTURE I. 
 
 Ladies and Gentlemen : It is with much pleasure 
 that I present myself before you this evening, to 
 lecture upon the science of Animal Magnetism. I 
 do this by special invitation from several distin- 
 guished members of both branches of our legislature, 
 now in session in this city ; and this thronged con- 
 gregation of more than two thousand hearers speak 
 the interest which is awakened in the bosoms of our 
 citizens in relation to this subject. This dense and 
 anxious crowd too plainly manifest the high expect- 
 ations which are entertained of the feeble abilities of 
 the speaker to do it justice — expectations which 
 I am fully sensible I shall be unable to answer. 
 Leaning, however, upon the solitary grandeur of 
 truth, and believing that to be stirring eloquence and 
 living power, I have, therefore, even as things now 
 are, with all your roused expectations crowding upon 
 me, but little to hazard, for I am fully sensible that I 
 am standing before a learned and an intelligent con- 
 gregation. And when I inform you that I have never 
 written any thing upon this subject, and am, there- 
 fore, obliged to speak from the fortuitous suggestions 
 of the moment, I am conscious that you will do me 
 justice, by making every reasonable allowance. 
 
4 LECTURES ON 
 
 It is not my profession to lecture upon this sub- 
 ject. I have other means for my subsistence, and 
 for that of those who depend upon me. Circum- 
 stances have called me into the field. Many, very 
 many ignorant individuals, who know nothing of the 
 human system, nor of the common principles of any 
 science, have gone into the field as lecturers on Ani- 
 mal Magnetism, and by making it a mere puppet- 
 show, have brought it into degradation in the public 
 mind. Such persons are doing the cause, which is 
 one of benevolence and mercy, an irreparable injury. 
 They had better qualify themselves for the work, or 
 else retire from the field. In this state of things, I 
 was urged, by several scientific gentlemen, to step 
 forward in defence of the cause of righteousness and 
 truth, and to lend my aid in raising it from the 
 dust, in wiping off the sneers of men, and in placing 
 it on a foundation where it should command not 
 only the attention, but the respect and admiration 
 which are justly due to it from men of science and 
 talents. In this city, I find but one noble spirit 
 laboring and toiling, who is well qualified for the 
 work, and who is deserving a better patronage than 
 he receives/* As these are the circumstances under 
 which I have entered the field, so, of course, I visit 
 those places only where I am invited to lecture upon 
 this science. 
 
 I have had the subject of Mesmerism under con- 
 sideration for about seven years, reading all that 
 came in my way for and against it. Five of these 
 years I remained a stubborn, a most confirmed scep- 
 tic, and refused even to attend a lecture, or to wit- 
 ness an experiment, until I was persuaded by a par- 
 ticular friend of mine to accompany him, and see 
 and hear for myself. I am, therefore, prepared to 
 make all due allowance for honest sceptics ; and in 
 their opposition to me during this course of lectures, 
 
 * Dr. Gilbert. 
 
ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 
 
 I shall maintain an entire empire over my feelings ; 
 and being fully sensible of their condition, I well 
 know how to sympathize with them. But there is 
 yet another class of sceptics, who have witnessed 
 experiments which they cannot resist, and still cry, 
 " humbug omd collusion I " Of these, there are two 
 kinds. First, those who never investigate any thing 
 for themselves, and who do not know the definitions 
 of the words, "humbug and collusion;" but who, 
 nevertheless, use them very freely, because they have 
 heard their minister, their doctor, or, perchance, their 
 schoolmaster, use them. They do it by imitation, 
 on the same principle that the parrot imitates the 
 sound of the human voice, and they do it just about 
 as understandingly. Second, those who are talented, 
 and desire to keep on the wings of the popular 
 breeze, and catch the breath of fame. These may 
 be known by the ridicule, wit, and sarcasm they 
 employ, through the press and otherwise. But, 
 "humbug and collusion" have become stereotyped 
 words, and their use costs but little labor ; and they 
 answer most admirably to supply the place of sound 
 argument and common sense in the most of minds. 
 If my hearers will please turn their attention to all 
 the talented writers, who have, in various ages, 
 vehemently opposed those now well-established sci- 
 ences which in their infancy appeared incredible, 
 and who assailed them with the bitterest invective 
 and sarcasm, they will learn that they were men 
 who were always studying what was popular, and 
 who had a large share of self-esteem, and of the love 
 of approbation. This test will hold good from the 
 opposers of the earth's revolution on its axis, discov- 
 ered by Galileo ; from the scoffers at the science of 
 the circulation of the human blood, discovered by 
 Harvey, step by step, down to the scoffers at Fulton's 
 application of steam-power, — yes, even down to the 
 opposers of, and scoffers at, the brilliant science of 
 Phrenology, which is now spreading with a power 
 V 
 
6 LECTURES ON 
 
 that can never be successfully resisted, a zeal that 
 cannot be quenched, and a living energy that can 
 never die. True, a candid man, as well as any 
 other, may doubt a new science ; yet, however strange 
 or incomprehensible it may appear, he will not de- 
 nounce till he has given the subject a candid investi- 
 gation. I am speaking of those only who denounce 
 without investigation, and who can assign no other 
 reason for so doing, but their own willing ignorance, 
 or because the popular voice is against it. 
 
 I am, however, proud in the reflection that the 
 science of Mesmerism is embraced by men of the 
 first talents and science in both continents, and 
 whose names will live in the republic of letters, and 
 shine with lustre, long after those of fawning syco- 
 phants shall have been lost in unremembered nothing- 
 ness. It is embraced here among us by a Pierpont, 
 a Sunderland, a Gilbert, a Neal, and a Wayland. 
 It is embraced by men who have forgotten more 
 than those who cry "humbug and collusion" ever 
 knew. 
 
 I have been in the field as an occasional lecturer 
 ever since October, 1841, and have uniformly advo- 
 cated the same principles which I am now about to 
 advance and sustain in the course of lectures I am 
 pledged to deliver in this city. This fact, many now 
 present well know, who have heard me in other sec- 
 tions, or who have seen the substance of what I have 
 now to offer on Mesmerism reported by the editor of 
 the Yarmouthport Register, in March, 1842. I shall 
 here contend for the same principles, and endeavor 
 to sustain them by fair experiments, in electricity, 
 galvanism, and common magnetism. 
 
 There is one apology, however, to be offered in 
 favor of honest sceptics. It is this : Those who 
 have lectured upon Mesmerism have not pretended 
 to give any cause for the wonderful phenomena pro- 
 duced — have held them in mystery, and perhaps 
 pronounced them inscrutable to the human intellect. 
 
ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 7 
 
 Hence, it is not strange that thousands, under such 
 an impression, should refuse to investigate a subject 
 which its advocates held in mystery. That there are 
 mysteries in Mesmerism I readily admit ; but that 
 there are more than in any other science, I deny. 
 We may, for instance, tell the chemical properties of 
 earth, water and air, and the degree of warmth neces- 
 sary to produce vegetation. But still no one can 
 solve the mystery how an acorn becomes an oak, or 
 a seed becomes a plant. There is no science in the 
 universe, but what has some incomprehensibilities 
 resting upon its face ; but this circumstance is con- 
 sidered no objection to the truth of any science. 
 Hence, there is no reason why Mesmerism should be 
 rejected on this ground. Yet thousands do reject it, 
 because they contend that it is incomprehensibly 
 strange ! They know nothing but what is strange, 
 and yet what is strange they cannot believe ! All 
 the operations of nature going on around us are 
 strange, and the only reason we have ceased to won- 
 der is, because they are common. All such objec- 
 tions are therefore futile. 
 
 Before I proceed any further, I would remark that 
 I consider "Animal Magnetism" a very inappropriate 
 name. It should be called Spiritualism or Mental 
 Electricity, because it is the direct impulse of 
 mind upon the minds and bodies of others. As it is 
 the science of mind and its poivers, so it is the highest 
 and most sublime science in the whole realms of 
 nature, and as far transcends all others as godlike 
 mind transcends matter. 
 
 Having made these introductory remarks, I now 
 proceed more directly to the consideration of the 
 subject before me. In presenting before you " the 
 why and the wherefore " of these interesting phe- 
 nomena, and, in order to make them plain to the 
 humblest capacity, it will be necessary to associate 
 the subject with other principles in philosophy which 
 are well understood by all, and thus rise from the 
 
8 LECTURES ON 
 
 consideration of the more gross and dense particles 
 of matter, step by step, up to those which are the 
 most rarified and subtil of which we can form any 
 conception. In doing this, I shall not take into con- 
 sideration every possible grade or species of matter, 
 but those substances only which belong to the great 
 classifications of nature's empire, and which are the 
 most obvious to every observer. 
 
 In the first place, then, I contend that there is but 
 one common law pervades the whole universe of 
 God, which is the law of equilibrium. In perfect 
 accordance with this law there is kept up a constant 
 action and reaction throughout every department of 
 nature. It is true there has been much written, and 
 still more said, about the multiplicity and variety of 
 the laws of nature. But this is, at least to me, 
 wholly unintelligible. "While, however, I contend 
 for but one common law, it is still conceded that this 
 law is so varied as to be perfectly adapted to all the 
 variety of substances in being. On this principle 
 the earth is certainly not eternal, for were it so, the 
 hills and mountains would long ago have been 
 washed to a level by the storms of heaven, — yes, it 
 would have been done by the gentle descending 
 dews. Indeed, I hazard nothing in saying, that 
 even the mountains of solid granite would have been 
 crumbled into atoms, ages ago, by the very opera- 
 tion of the particles of air, — " the fingers of time," — 
 because every thing in nature is tending to an equi- 
 librium. 
 
 Having begun at the grossest particles of matter, 
 let us now rise gradually in our contemplations, step 
 by step, up to those that are the most rarified and 
 subtil of which we can form any conception. 
 Water is a body lighter than earth. Let a canal 
 be dug of one hundred feet in depth, one hundred in 
 width, and a thousand feet in length. Let a strong 
 lock be constructed across its centre, and one half 
 filled with water. Let the gate be hoisted, and the 
 
ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 9 
 
 water in the one division will fall, and in the other 
 rise, until an equilibrium of height is attained. Na- 
 ture having gained her end is then at rest. And the 
 action of this element will be great in proportion as 
 it was thrown out of balance. The rush will be at 
 first tremendous, but continue gradually to lessen 
 until it finds its perfect slumber in equal height. 
 
 The same is true in relation to our atmosphere, a 
 substance lighter than water. The air in this room 
 is now rarified by heat, and is thus thrown out of 
 balance with the circumambient air which is more 
 cold and dense. Hence, through every key-hole and 
 crevice there is a rush of this element into the room, 
 which will continue until the equilibrium of density 
 is attained. Then, and not before, nature, having 
 gained her end, will be at rest. The air in one sec- 
 tion of the globe is more rarified by heat than in 
 another ; and hence the gentle zephyrs of heaven are 
 continually fanning the human brow with a touch of 
 delight, and carrying health to human habitations. 
 If this element be thrown still further out of balance, 
 we witness the stirring gale ; and if carried, in this 
 respect, to its extreme, we witness the sweeping 
 hurricane, or the roaring tornado which prostrates 
 human habitations in its mighty course, and bows 
 the mountain forest to the earth. 
 
 The same is true in relation to electricity, a sub- 
 stance more rarified and light than air. If two 
 clouds are equally charged with this subtil fluid, they 
 may pass and repass each other, or mingle into one, 
 yet not a flash of lightning will be seen. But if they 
 are unequally charged, or what is called in electrical 
 science, "positively and negatively charged," then 
 the heavens will stream with forked lightning till 
 both clouds are equally charged. By long drought 
 and heat, electricity becomes very unequally diffused 
 throughout the atmosphere. One portion of air con- 
 tains a much greater quantity than another, and 
 when thus thrown out of balance to a certain ex- 
 
10 LECTURES ON 
 
 treme, nature can hold out no longer. A reaction 
 must take place. Convolving clouds roll the heavens 
 in darkness — the lightnings flash, the thunders roll, 
 and the war of elements continues until the electric 
 fluid is equally diffused throughout the atmosphere, 
 and also equalized with the earth. Nature, having 
 thus gained her end in the equilibrium produced, is 
 at rest — all is calm. 
 
 If we pass on from inert matter to animated nature, 
 
 we shall find that the same law there also holds its 
 
 empire, If, for instance, a healthy child, three or 
 
 four years of age, be permitted to sleep every night 
 
 for a year or two between two very old, decrepid 
 
 grandparents, it will pine away, and if not removed, 
 
 perchance it may die. There is, perhaps, not one 
 
 under the sound of my voice, but what has heard 
 
 the remark, that "it is very unhealthy for young 
 
 children to sleep with very old, infirm people." It is 
 
 even so, and parents should beware. This child is 
 
 full of animal life, and its nervous system is charged 
 
 with the vital fluid, secreted by the brain. This 
 
 gives that suppleness to the limbs, and that buoyancy 
 
 to the heart which we witness in the young. The 
 
 grandparents lack the proper quantity of this nervo- 
 
 vital fluid, which occasions that rigidity of the limbs 
 
 we witness in the aged. The same common law of 
 
 equilibrium that pervades the universe, is here also 
 
 in operation. The nervo-vital fluid passes from this 
 
 child to the two aged persons in conjunction. The 
 
 child loses, and they continue to revive, and as this 
 
 little one can never bring those infirm persons up to 
 
 an equilibrium with itself, so it must go down to 
 
 them. Nature will have her equilibrium, if she has 
 
 it in death. 
 
 Once more ; there is in the nervous system no 
 blood. By the nervous system, I mean the brain 
 and all its ramifications. The blood belongs ex- 
 clusively to the circulating system, which embraces 
 the veins and arteries. I grant that the blood ves- 
 
ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 11 
 
 sels pass round among the convolutions of the brain ; 
 but in the nerve itself there is no blood, and the 
 whole mass of brain is but a congeries of nerves. 
 These are charged with a nervo-vital fluid, which is 
 manufactured from electricity. Hence, the circu- 
 lating system containing the blood, and the nervous 
 system containing the magnetic fluid, are not to be 
 blended, but distinctly considered. Now as a hu- 
 man being may lack the proper quantity of blood in 
 his circulating system, so he may lack the proper 
 quantum of the nervo-vital fluid in his nervous sys- 
 tem. This is certainly rational. And moreover, it 
 may be easily known when such is the case- 
 When we see persons, who, on hearing suddenly 
 some good or bad news, are thrown into great ex- 
 citement, tremor, and agitation, we may be certain 
 that their nervous systems lack the due measure of 
 the nervo-vital fluid. Now let a person, whose 
 brain is fully charged, come in contact with one 
 whose brain is greatly wanting in its due measure of 
 this fluid, and let the person possessing the full brain 
 gently and unchangeably hold his mind upon the 
 other, and by the action of the will, the fluid will 
 pass from the full brain to the other, until the equi- 
 librium between the fluids in the two brains is at- 
 tained. The sudden change in the receiving brain 
 produces a coolness and a singular state of insensi- 
 bility. This is magnetism ; and it is in perfect ac- 
 cordance with all the principles of philosophy in the 
 known realms of nature. If any one denies the 
 operation of the law of equilibrium in this case, then 
 he here makes a chasm, amidst the immensity of 
 God's works, which he can nowhere else discover. 
 I have clearly shown him that, from the grossest 
 matter in the universe, step by step, through every 
 grade, up to electricity, the same law holds its em- 
 pire, and matter is continually equalizing itself with 
 matter. 
 
 On this principle, it will be readily perceived that, 
 
12 LECTURES ON 
 
 if a person has a great deficiency of the nervo-vital 
 fluid, he can be mesmerised the first sitting, and 
 probably in an hour's time, or a much less period. 
 These we call easy subjects. But if the deficiency 
 be less, it will take a longer period in proportion, 
 and if the brain have nearly its proper quantity of 
 fluid, then the effect produced, at the first sitting, 
 will be small, yet still it will be visible. 
 
 From the premises now laid down, and in accord- 
 ance with the law of equilibrium, it will probably be 
 said, that only few persons can be mesmerised. 
 This, however, is not correct. I contend that every 
 person in existence can be, and indeed ought to be 
 thrown into the mesmeric state. This, I am well 
 aware, is contrary to the opinion of the advocates of 
 this science. The most liberal calculation, I have as 
 yet heard, is that about one in nine of the human 
 family can be mesmerised. But every one can be ? 
 and that, too, in perfect accordance with the princi- 
 ples laid down. Let two persons of equal brains, 
 both in size and fluid, sit down. Let one of these 
 individuals remain perfectly passive, and let the 
 other exercise his mental and physical energies ac- 
 cording to the true principles of mesmerising, and 
 he will displace some of the nervo-vital fluid from 
 the passive brain and deposite his own in its stead. 
 The next day let them sit another hour, and so on 
 day after day, until the acting brain shall have dis- 
 placed the major part of the nervo-vital fluid from 
 the passive brain and filled up that space with his 
 own nervous force, and the person will yield to the 
 magnetic power, and sweetly slumber in its inex- 
 pressible quietude. 
 
ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 13 
 
 LECTURE II. 
 
 Ladies and Gentlemen: On the last evening I 
 had the pleasure to deliver before you my introduc- 
 tory lecture on the science of Spiritualism, and to 
 explain " the why and the wherefore" of the effect 
 produced. I clearly showed that Mesmerism was 
 in perfect accordance with the universal law of 
 nature which I call the law of equilibrium, and as I, 
 in concluding my lecture, contended that every 
 person in the world could be mesmerised, some, as 
 I suspected would be the case, have to-day argued 
 that, according to the principle laid down by the 
 speaker, two brains of equal power can no more 
 mesmerise each other, than one of a less power can 
 mesmerise a greater ; and hence, that the arguments 
 of the lecturer are contradictory and irreconcilable. 
 But this objection is by no means valid. It is read- 
 ily conceded that two brains equally full and healthy 
 cannot effect each other, admitting both persons to be 
 equal in muscular energy, and to make, at the same 
 time, the same mental and physical effort. But if 
 one person sit down and passively resign himself, 
 and another even of less power and less nervo-vital 
 fluid exert all his energies, then the law of equilibri- 
 um requires that there shall be an effect produced in 
 the passive object equal to all the power exerted by 
 the active agent. Hence, a weaker person can mes- 
 merise one of superior power, and the same persons 
 may alternately throw each other into the mesmeric 
 state. I have known the instance where a small 
 girl, and only nine years of age, mesmerised a young 
 man twenty years old and of uncommon strength. 
 2 
 
 / 
 
14 LECTURES ON 
 
 Though it is a well-known law, that two bodies of 
 water will seek a level when a communication is 
 made between them, yet it is equally true that, by a 
 pump, water may be thrown from a lower to a 
 higher cistern ; and who will deny that it is in perfect 
 accordance with the law of equilibrium ? Surely no 
 one. It is by physical energy that the air is removed 
 from the pump, and the circumambient air, pressing 
 upon the water in the cistern, causes it to rise till an 
 equilibrium of height is attained — exactly equal to 
 all the powers employed. But so far as the mes- 
 meric state is concerned, it will be remembered, that 
 man, in acting on his fellow-man, exerts not only a 
 physical, but a mental, and moral power. These 
 must all be taken into consideration and duly weigh- 
 ed, in order to form a correct idea of the law of 
 equilibrium in the employment of the magnetic 
 forces. If this common law in nature extended no 
 further than merely to bring substances that are out 
 of balance down to a common level, then all action 
 in the various elements would soon cease. 
 
 It will be remembered that no one kindred element 
 ever disturbs itself, or ever throws itself out of 
 balance. It requires another element to do this. 
 The water would always keep on a perfect level 
 with itself, throughout the globe, if air and heat 
 never disturbed it. By heat it is rarified into vapors, 
 carried over the globe in aerial conductors, condensed 
 by cold into drops, and rained upon the mountains 
 and more elevated portions of the globe, and then 
 again seeks its level with the parent ocean. So 
 there is a power that rarifies the air, and the denser 
 portions rush to its aid, and the winds are in action 
 to keep up a perfect balance in its own empire, 
 while air, abstractly, could never disturb itself. 
 Hence it is even the law of equilibrium by which 
 one portion of water is thrown out of balance with 
 itself; and the same is also true in relation to the 
 atmosphere. If heat, which is but the action of 
 
ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 15 
 
 electricity, rarifies the water so as to cause it in 
 subtilty to approximate itself, then surely it is ac- 
 cording to the law of equilibrium that water is 
 thrown out of balance with itself by forcing it into 
 a partial equilibrium with some more rarified sub- 
 stance. Carrying out this principle, and applying it 
 to Mesmerism, it will be readily understood not only 
 how two persons of equal power may mesmerise 
 each other, but even how one of less physical power 
 may mesmerise a greater, and yet the whole be 
 effected in perfect accordance with the law of equi- 
 librium. 
 
 Having made these remarks which the occasion 
 seems to demand, I will now proceed to a direct 
 consideration of the nervo-vital fluid in the human 
 brain. 
 
 It is admitted, that the air we breathe is composed 
 of two substances, namely, oxygen and nitrogen. 
 Their relative quantities are about one fifth oxygen 
 and four fifths nitrogen. But these are not all. It 
 is evident, that hydrogen and electricity are also 
 component parts of air. Oxygen and electrici- 
 ty are the principles of flame and of animal life, 
 while nitrogen extinguishes both. There is not a 
 single square inch of air but what contains more or 
 less electricity. The air in its compound state is 
 drawn into the lungs. The oxygen and electricity 
 are communicated to the blood which is charged 
 with iron, while the nitrogen is disengaged and ex- 
 pired. This iron, which gives color to the blood, is 
 instantly rendered magnetic under the influence of 
 electricity, analogous to the needles in the galvanic 
 battery, which become magnets merely by induction. 
 The blood itself is, at the same time, oxydized by 
 the oxygen of the air, and instantly becomes cherry 
 red. This oxygen generates an acidity in the blood 
 in some degree answering to the solution of the 
 sulphate of copper in the galvanic battery. The 
 blood thus magnetically prepared at the lungs is 
 
16 LECTURES ON 
 
 thrown upon the heart, and forced into the arteries, 
 Hence, arterial blood is red. It is propelled to the 
 extremities, driven into every possible ramification, 
 and is collected and carried back in the veins to the 
 lungs, for a fresh supply of the electro-magnetic 
 power. Hence, venous blood is dark, and is unfit 
 to be thrown upon the heart a second time till it has 
 again come in contact with the oxygen and electrici- 
 ty of the air. The blood, thus charged, is propelled 
 through its living channels, and this friction causes 
 the electro-magnetic power to escape from the 
 circulating system into the nervous system for which 
 it has a strong affinity, and being secreted by the 
 brain it becomes the nervo-vital fluid, or animal gal- 
 vanism. It is important here to remark, that the 
 blood, in its friction through the arteries, has given 
 off its electro-magnetic power into the nervous sys- 
 tem. The blood thus freed assumes a dark appear- 
 ance in the veins, and becomes entirely negative. 
 The lungs, being charged with a fresh supply of 
 electricity, become positive. Hence, the blood is 
 drawn from the veins to the lungs, on the same prin- 
 ciple that the negative and the positive in electricity 
 rush together. 
 
 From the above observations, it will be perceived 
 that every muscle of the human body, every organ 
 and gland is polar, and by the negative and positive 
 principles, as above noticed, animal life is sustained 
 and perpetuated through the action of the lungs and 
 blood. 
 
 We thus perceive that the nervo-vital fluid is man- 
 ufactured out of electricity, taken into the lungs at 
 every inspiration. It completely charges the whole 
 brain, when that organ is in a healthy state. The 
 nerves composing the brain are of three kinds, 
 namely: the nerves of sensation, the nerves of volun- 
 tary motion, and the nerves of involuntary motion. 
 I make these three divisions, so that I may be the 
 more readily understood when speaking of nervous 
 
ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 17 
 
 action. I desire you to bear in mind that these three 
 classes of nerves are all charged with the nervo-vital 
 fluid, which is exactly prepared to come in contact 
 with mind. 
 
 We put forth a will. That ivill stirs the nervo- 
 vital fluid in the voluntary nerves. This fluid causes 
 the voluntary nerves to vibrate. The galvanic vibra- 
 tion of these nerves contracts the muscles. The 
 muscles contracting, raise the arm, and that arm 
 raises foreign matter. So we perceive that it is 
 through this concatenation, or chain, that the mind 
 comes in contact with the grossest matter in the 
 universe. 
 
 It is evident that there is no direct contact between 
 mind and gross matter. There is no direct contact 
 between the length of a thought and the breadth of 
 that door. Nor is there any more direct contact be- 
 tween my mind and hand, than there is between my 
 mind and the stage upon which I stand. Thought 
 cannot touch my hand; yet it must be true that 
 mind can come in contact with matter, otherwise I 
 could not raise my hand at all by the energies of my 
 will. Hence, it must be true, that the highest and 
 most subtil of inert matter in the universe, being the 
 next step to spirit, can come in contact with mind. 
 And electricity, changed into nervo-vital fluid, (which 
 is living galvanism,) is certainly the highest and 
 most ethereal inert substance of which we can form 
 any conception. Hence, as before remarked, it 
 must be true, that we put forth a will — by the ener- 
 gies of that will this galvanic substance or nervous 
 fluid is proudly stirred — that stirring vibrates the 
 nerves — this vibration contracts the muscles — the 
 muscles raise the arm, and that arm moves dead 
 matter. 
 
 Notwithstanding the plausibility of this argument, 
 
 it will yet be said that, as physiologists contend that 
 
 no one can explain through what medium the mind 
 
 comes in contact with matter, nor even how a muscle 
 
 2* 
 
18 LECTURES ON 
 
 is made to contract, and raise the arm, and as the 
 lecturer has undertaken to explain it, we have a right 
 to demand positive proof. This demand being ra- 
 tional, I will endeavor to meet it. I am, then, to 
 prove that the nervo-vital fluid (which is perfect 
 galvanism) is indeed the agent by which we con- 
 tract the muscles and raise the arm. That being 
 done, my point is gained, and the medium through 
 which mind comes in contact with matter is estab- 
 lished. 
 
 I would first remark, that it is common when 
 criminals are executed, that their bodies are delivered 
 over to medical men for dissection. Now take a 
 human body, and let it be conveyed from the gal- 
 lows to the charnel-house, and laid upon the dissect- 
 ing-table. Let a continuous shock from a strong 
 galvanic battery be given, and the muscles of the 
 dead man will contract, and exhibit many frightful 
 contortions. Many interesting experiments of this 
 character have been published. The dead man has 
 been known to spring upon his knees, jolt them 
 upon the floor, make violent gesticulations with his 
 hands, move his head, roll his eyes, and chatter his 
 teeth. The student, unused to such ghastly exhibi- 
 tions, has left the room, or fainted away ; and even 
 the experienced physician has started back with 
 horror at the frightful contortions which he himself 
 had made. Now what was it that contracted the 
 muscles of this dead man ? There is but one an- 
 swer to the question. It was galvanism. And what 
 is galvanism but electricity in a changed form ; so 
 that, instead of giving the system a sudden shock 
 like electricity, it merely produces a singular vibrat- 
 ing sensation upon the nerves, which causes the 
 muscles to contract ? It is nothing else. Electricity, 
 galvanism, magnetism, or attraction and repulsion, 
 are but different dispositions of the same common 
 fluid. Now as galvanism contracts the muscles of a 
 dead man, and is the only power known, that when 
 
ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 19 
 
 artificially applied can contract the muscles of the 
 living, so it must be the agent employed by the will 
 to contract the muscles, and enable us to perform 
 all the voluntary motions of life. Whatever may 
 be the opinions of others, I consider this argument 
 irresistible, and shall hold it as such, until it be fairly 
 refuted. 
 
 It must now appear plain to every candid mind, 
 that by the action of the will, and the exercise of all 
 the mental powers, the nervo-vital fluid, this living 
 galvanism, is continually thrown off from the volun- 
 tary nerves, and through the respiratory organs is 
 again supplied. There is still, however, a greater 
 waste. The involuntary nerves throw off another 
 large portion through the action of the heart and 
 lungs, and the digestive apparatus. And the nerves 
 of sensation, also, do their part in throwing off this 
 fluid. Let me here particularize. The nerves of 
 sensation are those by which feeling is conveyed to 
 the mind- The voluntary nerves are those through 
 which the mind gives motion to those parts of the 
 body that are under the control of the will. The 
 involuntary nerves are those that give motion to such 
 parts of our system as are not under the control of 
 the will. None but the involuntary nerves pass to 
 the heart, stomach, and liver. So the heart will 
 throb, the stomach digest its food, and the liver se- 
 crete its gall, when we are awake or asleep, whether 
 we will it or not. But to the lungs go both the 
 voluntary and involuntary nerves. The involuntary 
 ones are, however, the most numerous, so that 
 though a man may hold his breath and keep the 
 lungs in suspension till he faints, yet the involun- 
 tary nerves will get the mastery, and restore him. 
 Through these three sets of nerves the galvanic fluid 
 is continually wasting and passing from the whole 
 system. 
 
 That I am correct, as to the nature of this nervous 
 fluid, is certain. Take an animal, and tie off the 
 
20 LECTURES ON 
 
 involuntary nerves that lead to the stomach, and 
 digestion will instantly cease. Then pour a mode- 
 rate current of galvanism from the battery into the 
 stomach, and digestion will immediately commence. 
 Hence, I have clearly proved that the nervo-vital 
 fluid, secreted by the brain, is of a galvanic nature, 
 and is manufactured from electricity which we 
 breathe into the lungs every inspiration we take. 
 And I have, moreover, proved that this electro-mag- 
 netic power is the only matter that can come in 
 contact with mind, and is the only agent by which 
 the will contracts the muscles. Hence, the conclu- 
 sion is absolutely unavoidable, that, by the concen- 
 tration of the mind upon an individual, and by the 
 action of the will, this fluid can be thrown upon 
 another person till his nervous system is fully charg- 
 ed. This is Mesmerism. 
 
 Having these important facts before us, we per- 
 ceive that the subject is one of momentous interest. 
 The nervous system, embracing the brain and all its 
 ramifications, when once diseased, seems to baffle 
 all medical aid and skill. Hence, those upon whom 
 fits or derangement are permanently settled, are 
 abandoned as hopeless ; and of both of these states, 
 we are all more or less in danger. Those persons, 
 particularly, who, on hearing the least good or bad 
 news, are thrown into tremor and agitation, are in 
 danger. Their brains lack the proper quantity of the 
 nervo-vital fluid. It will be remembered that in the 
 nerves of the brain there is no blood. The blood is 
 exclusively confined to the veins and arteries, while 
 the nerves are charged with this nervo-vital fluid, a 
 galvanic substance. Now if the veins and arteries 
 are filled with blood, and if the nerves are fully 
 charged with the galvanic fluid ; in one word, if the 
 circulating system and the nervous system are in 
 perfect balance, health and firmness are the result. 
 But if the circulating system lack its proper quantity 
 of blood, then languor and debility of body are the 
 
ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 21 
 
 result. But if, on the other hand, the nervous system 
 lack its proper quantity of galvanic fluid, then ner- 
 vous excitability is the result, and the person is in 
 danger of fits, derangement, and all the nervous 
 diseases that attend the human race. This is evident 
 from the following facts : Take a person who has a 
 sufficiency of blood in the circulating system, but 
 who, at the same time, has not enough of the gal- 
 vanic fluid in his nervous system. By some circum- 
 stance the blood is suddenly thrown to his head, and 
 the veins and arteries which pass round among the 
 convolutions of the brain are swelled with this pres- 
 sure. The nerves composing the brain not being 
 sufficiently filled and braced with the galvanic fluid, 
 spasmodically collapse, and a fit is the result. How 
 often do persons, who suppose they are well, sudden- 
 ly drop down dead in the streets ! How often has a 
 father or mother retired to rest, and apparently in 
 health, yet in the morning the children found one or 
 the other a corpse ! Here, through eating too much, 
 or some other cause, the blood was suddenly pro- 
 pelled to the brain, and the nerves, not being suffi- 
 ciently braced with the galvanic fluid, collapsed, and 
 by apoplexy, instant death ensued. Even the bosom 
 companion, slumbering upon the same pillow, never 
 felt a motion. 
 
 Now if these persons had been mesmerised, no 
 such calamity would have ensued. Their nervous 
 system, by which I mean the whole brain and all its 
 ramifications, would have been charged from a full 
 and healthy brain, and having been thus charged, it 
 would have stood the war of internal elements and 
 outrode the rushing storm. 
 
 In the light our subject now stands, we perceive 
 how vastly important it is that every person while at 
 ease, or even in health, should be operated upon 
 until the brain is magnetically subdued. As stated 
 in my first lecture, one person can be mesmerised in 
 an hour or less, another in two hours, and so on up 
 
22 
 
 LECTURES ON 
 
 to thirty hours. Let a healthy friend of yours sit 
 down, one hour each day, until he subdues your 
 brain. No person should mesmerise more than one 
 hour in twenty-four. The exertion is so great, he 
 will injure himself if he do. But here is the glory 
 of this science. Though you may labor an hour 
 each day for twenty or thirty days in succession, yet 
 what you gain, you hold, until the work is accom- 
 plished. And not only so, but after the brain is 
 once magnetically subdued, you can then throw the 
 person into the state in five minutes. Yes, a child 
 ten years old can then mesmerise a giant father. 
 Your brain being magnetically subdued, it is worth 
 hundreds of dollars to you. You are then ready 
 for the day of distress. Come what may — tooth- 
 ache, headache, tic doloreux, neuralgia, or any pain 
 of which you can conceive ; let some one mes- 
 merise you and then wake you up, and the pain is 
 gone. The whole process need not occupy more 
 than ten minutes. Should you fall and break your 
 arm, then let some person mesmerise the arm only, 
 which can be done in one minute. You are free 
 from pain, and though in your wakeful state, yet you 
 can look quietly on, and see the bones put to their 
 places. Your arm can then be kept in the mesmeric 
 state, and thoroughly and rapidly healed without 
 having ever experienced one single throb of pain. 
 Or by simply mesmerising your arm or leg, you can 
 sit in the wakeful state and see them amputated, and 
 feel no pain. But if you neglect to have your brain 
 magnetically subdued, then when the day of distress 
 comes upon you, as it might require several hours to 
 put you into this state, it will then be too late to 
 avail yourself of the blessings this science is calcu- 
 lated to bestow. 
 
 It is not only a preventive of fits, insanity, and of 
 the most frightful nervous diseases, and a safeguard 
 against pain, but it will cure fits, if no congestion of 
 the brain has taken place. It never fails to remove 
 
ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 23 
 
 the ague and fever, however long it may have been 
 upon the individual, and will prevent any fevers 
 prevalent in northern climates, if the individual be 
 mesmerised as soon as taken. 
 
 Here, then, are opening before us new fields 
 of action where those who have hearts of benevo- 
 lence may freely roam at large, and find ample scope 
 for the full gratification of all their sympathetic and 
 Christian feelings, and those who scoff and sneer at 
 this science, do scoff and sneer at human wo, and 
 human pain, and know not what they do. 
 
24 
 
 LECTURES ON 
 
 LECTURE III. 
 
 Ladies and Gentlemen: The two lectures I 
 have had the pleasure to deliver, and the successful 
 experiments I have, during the last two evenings, 
 performed in your presence, have awakened opposi- 
 tion, and the excitement has truly become tremen- 
 dous. Hundreds cannot gain admittance into this 
 capacious chapel, and the breathless anxiety and 
 stillness of this crowded congregation, show the deep 
 and stirring -interest which you feel in the science of 
 Mesmerism, which is the science of mind and its 
 godlike powers. For many ages men have turned 
 their attention to matter, and confined all their in- 
 vestigations to the realms of material philosophy. It 
 is true, that here and there a noble spirit has turned 
 his attention to scan the nature and powers of the 
 human mind itself. But she seemed to close her 
 laboratory against their entrance, and forbid them to 
 lay their hands upon her sacred shrine. In this con- 
 dition, there was no alternative but to judge of mind 
 itself from its vast and complicated operations, both 
 mental and moral. But that the mind itself could 
 directly produce a physical result by its own living 
 energies, seems never to have entered their hearts. 
 But new fields of thought are opened to the human 
 soul, and the mysterious and wonderful powers of 
 the living mind are now seen and felt. Circum- 
 stances require me to say that I regard not the 
 opposition nor the scepticism of men. I challenge 
 investigation both as to the experiments I perform, 
 or the arguments I offer. I stand mailed with im- 
 mutable truth ; and hence, on this subject, am 
 
ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 25 
 
 invulnerable to every attack. Truth is immutable, 
 cannot bend to circumstances, and must stand inde- 
 pendent of the belief or unbelief of men. It must 
 soar on towering wing far above the reach of scorn, 
 and sooner or later triumph over all opposition. 
 
 I now come to speak of mind and its powers. I 
 have clearly shown that the will raises the arm 
 through the agency of electricity. Perhaps I should 
 not call it electricity, but nervo-vital fluid or galvanic 
 fluid, manufactured from electricity taken in at the 
 lungs. The will is not an attribute of the mind, but 
 the result of all the attributes brought into council 
 and action. It is executive of the mind. The ques- 
 tion now comes up in proper order before us — Is 
 there any power in mind to produce a result by 
 simply willing it ? I contend that there is, while the 
 opposers of Mesmerism contend that there is not. 
 Mesmerism, then, must stand or fall on the existence 
 or non-existence of such a power. And first, suffer 
 me to appeal to you as Christians. If you deny 
 that mind, or spirit, has any power to produce a 
 physical result, then how does the Creator govern the 
 universe ? How can his Spirit come in contact with 
 matter so as to produce any physical results ? The 
 creation and government of the world are represented 
 in scripture as the result of the divine will. " He 
 doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, 
 and among the inhabitants of earth." The creation 
 of the world and all its appendages is represented as 
 the effect of his will. " He said let there be light, 
 and there was light." " He spake and it was done ; 
 he commanded and it stood fast." If, then, the infi- 
 nite Spirit, by holding his will unchangeably upon 
 all the multifarious objects of creation, moves un- 
 numbered worlds, and governs the universe, then 
 there is also an energy and power in the human 
 spirit proportionate to its greatness. If you grant 
 that the infinite Spirit, by putting forth an infinite 
 will, can produce infinite results, then surely a feeble 
 3 
 
26 LECTURES ON 
 
 finite spirit by putting forth a feeble finite will can 
 produce a feeble finite result. I only ask of you, as 
 Christian philosophers, the admission that the same 
 cause shall produce the same effect. 
 
 If, however, you deny the correctness of this con- 
 clusion, then I have only to say, that you furnish the 
 Atheist with a weapon by which he is sure to defeat 
 you. Argue as long as you please, and even drive 
 the honest Atheist from every other ground, he will 
 at last say — Well, admit there is a God, yet he can 
 do nothing. Your Bible, says " God is a spirit" 
 Hence, he has no hands, feet, nor physical body, as 
 we have. He may, therefore, icill and will to all 
 eternity ; yet he can do nothing, because spirit, by its 
 mere mental action, cannot come in contact with, 
 nor in the least affect matter. We know this, says 
 the Atheist, from observation and experience. " And 
 what can we reason but from what we know ? " A 
 human being for instance, may sit down and exer- 
 cise all his mental energies. He may will and will 
 to endless age, yet he can do nothing — cannot pro- 
 duce the least physical result, unless he uses his 
 hands or comes in bodily contact. I now ask 
 those Christians, who deny that the mind has such 
 power as we are contending for, how can they 
 answer this argument of the Atheist? I contend 
 that they are not able to meet it. There is no 
 human ingenuity beneath these heavens that the 
 Christian opposers of the mesmeric power can sum- 
 mon to their aid adequate to the task. Indeed, it 
 implies a contradiction in terms, and involves them 
 in the following compound dilemma. — If the infinite 
 Spirit, by the energies of his will, can produce infi- 
 nite results, then a finite spirit, by its will, can pro- 
 duce a finite result. But a finite spirit, by its will, 
 cannot produce any result, so an infinite spirit, by its 
 will, cannot produce any result! Of this dilemma 
 they may take either horn. Now for the consist- 
 ency of these sapient opposers. They admit that 
 
ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 27 
 
 the infinite Spirit, by his will, governs the universe, 
 and produces infinite effects, and yet deny that a 
 finite spirit, by its will, can produce the least physical 
 effect ; which is most philosophically absurd ! But if 
 a finite spirit, by its living energies, can produce a 
 finite result, then there is a God and the heavens do 
 rule. I am willing to meet any intelligent clergy- 
 man in controversy who denies the truth of Mes- 
 merism ; and before this enlightened congregation, 
 who shall be our jurors, I will either make him 
 acknowledge the mesmeric power, or drive him to 
 Atheism. I will leave him no other alternative. 
 
 We have thus far confined our inquiries to the 
 fact whether there was any power at all in mind to 
 produce results independent of bodily contact. I 
 now take a still higher stand, and deny, in total, that 
 there is any poiver or motion whatever, in the whole 
 immeasurable universe, except in mind. There can 
 be no power without motion, nor can there be motion 
 except it originate in mind. I care not through how 
 many concatenations of cause and effect you may 
 trace motion, it is after all but secondary, and must 
 be traced back to mind as its starting point. For 
 instance ; suppose a ball should lie at rest upon this 
 floor. It would never stir unless motion were com- 
 municated to it by some extraneous power. If an- 
 other ball entered that door and came in contact with 
 the ball at rest, it would communicate motion to it 
 by impulse, losing just as much as it communicated. 
 But here is no beginning of motion, and every one 
 would look around for the cause. If, while gazing, 
 you should see another ball enter the door, struck by 
 a bat, you might not yet be satisfied, whether that 
 bat was held in a man's hand, or whether it was 
 fastened in some machinery prepared, and put in 
 motion by human ingenuity. But you see a third 
 ball enter the door, and not only discover the bat 
 but the hand that grasps it. You are now satisfied. 
 You know that the hand is connected with a body, 
 
28 LECTURES ON 
 
 and that body with a brain and mind. Now in 
 these three instances there is no beginning of mo- 
 tion. The man's hand, the bat and first ball are but 
 the three instruments through which motion was 
 communicated to the ball at rest, and the man's 
 mind was the sole mover. 
 
 As the subject of Mesmerism is directly connect- 
 ed with the powers of mind, and as this is the pivot 
 on which the question between its advocates and 
 opposers must eventually turn, you will permit me 
 to take a wider range in this extensive field. There 
 must be some medium through which the eternal 
 mind comes in contact with gross matter, moves 
 unnumbered worlds according to nature's law, and 
 sustains and governs the unbounded universe. 
 That medium must be the finest, the most rarified, 
 and subtil of inert matter in being. It must be the 
 last link in the material chain of inert substances that 
 fastens on mind. This is electricity. Hence, it is 
 through electricity, that the Great Spirit comes in 
 contact with his universe. This is evident, because 
 it is electricity, as it exists in the human system, 
 through which our spirits come in contact with mat- 
 ter. We are but an epitome of God's universe, and 
 in us is contained every variety of matter and sub- 
 stance in being. " The proper study of mankind is 
 man ; " and in this study, the most unbounded fields 
 are opened to the range of human thought. 
 
 It may now be asked, if electricity is that sub- 
 stance through which the Creator comes in contact 
 with matter, how then could he act when that splen- 
 did substance had no existence ? or, in other words, 
 how could he create " all things out of nothing ? " 
 I deny the assertion, that God created all things out 
 of nothing, and challenge the proof. Space and 
 duration exist of necessity, and that space was eter- 
 nally filled with primal matter, which I contend is 
 electricity. The scriptures do not inform us that 
 God created all things out of nothing, and surely 
 
ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 29 
 
 philosophy cannot inform us how many nothings it 
 wall take to make the least conceivable something ! 
 Though it is the commonly received opinion that 
 all things were created out of nothing, yet in all 
 ages of the Christian church, there have been some 
 eminent men of all denominations, who have reject- 
 ed this idea, and contended that all things were 
 created out of some substance. I have not the time 
 to refer to those persons this evening, yet permit me 
 to name one. A more orthodox man than John 
 Milton never lived, as all know, who have ever read 
 that astonishing production of the human intellect, his 
 " Paradise Lost." He was at war with the idea that 
 all things were created out of nothing. I will pre- 
 sent you with an extract from his Treatise on Chris- 
 tian Doctrine, volume 1, pages 236 and 237. As I 
 quote from memory, I may not be correct in every 
 word. 
 
 He says : " It is clear, then, that the world was 
 framed out of matter of some kind or other. For 
 since action and passion are relative terms, and 
 since, consequently, no agent can act externally, un- 
 less there be some patient such as matter, it appears 
 impossible that God could have created this world 
 out of nothing ; not from any defect of power on his 
 part, but because it was necessary, that something 
 should previously have existed capable of receiving 
 passively the exertion of the divine efficacy. Since, 
 therefore, both scripture and reason concur in pro- 
 nouncing that all these things were made, not out 
 of nothing, but out of matter, it necessarily follows 
 that matter must always have existed independent of 
 God, or have originated from God at some particu- 
 lar point of time." 
 
 So you perceive, Milton contends that both scrip- 
 ture and reason teach that all things were made out 
 of matter. I am under no obligations to prove that 
 all things were not made out of nothing, for no man 
 is bound by the rules of logic to prove a negative. 
 3* 
 
30 LECTURES ON 
 
 But I will, for a moment, depart from this establish- 
 ed rule of schoolmen, and undertake to prove that 
 all things were not made out of nothing. To this 
 end, I will call into my service the following argu- 
 ment. 
 
 We raise an axe, and, at a single blow, cut in two 
 a piece of wood one inch in diameter. Now it is 
 certain that this wood was not severed instantly in 
 all its parts. If it were, then the lower part would 
 have been cut at the same instant that the upper 
 part was, which is perfectly absurd, and therefore 
 impossible. The axe certainly passed gradually 
 through that wood, and progressively separated one 
 grain after another. This you all perceive. By in- 
 stantly, we are to understand, that no time shall 
 elapse between the accomplishment of any two ob- 
 jects. It may, however, be said, that there are bodies 
 that move with greater velocity than this axe. I 
 will then take another. There is nothing with 
 which we are acquainted, that moves with greater 
 velocity than light; its motion being about twelve 
 million miles in a minute. Hence, the passage of a 
 ray of light from the sun to the earth, would be about 
 eight minutes. It is, therefore, absurd to say that 
 a ray of light could be at the sun and at the earth 
 the same instant, as it would allow no time for its 
 passage. I will now apply the above argument to 
 the subject before us. 
 
 If something were created out of nothing, it could 
 not, in the nature of things, have been done progres- 
 sively or gradually, because the instant it became the 
 least possible remove from nothing it would be some- 
 thing. It must, in the very nature of things, remain 
 nothing till it becomes something, because there is 
 no possible process by which it can be gradually 
 brought forward into something, for there is no ex- 
 isting medium between something and nothing. 
 Now if nothing were created into something, it must 
 have been done instantly ; and if instantly, then it 
 
ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 31 
 
 must have been nothing and something at the same 
 instant, which is the climax of absurdity. It is just 
 as absurd as to contend that the piece of wood be- 
 fore mentioned was severed at the bottom at the 
 same time that it was at the top, or that a ray of 
 light could be at the sun and the earth at the same 
 instant. I shall hold this argument sound until some 
 one is able to refute it. 
 
 Hence, I contend for the eternal existence of pri- 
 mal matter, which is electricity. But even this pri- 
 mal matter does not exist independent of Deity. It 
 is the natural atmosphere or substance emanating 
 from Him. It is evident that every substance in be- 
 ing has its atmospheric emanation, by which it may 
 be detected before w r e arrive at the body. I say at- 
 mospheric emanation, because I know of no other 
 more convenient term, by wilich I can express my 
 ideas. For instance, the rose, and every species of 
 the flower tribe, have their emanations, which like 
 an atmosphere surround them, and by which we de- 
 tect their existence before we come in contact with 
 them. For the sake of perspicuity, suffer me to call 
 it atmospheric emanation, which in the above cases 
 is detected by smell. The same is true of every 
 species of trees and plants in being. The same is 
 true of every species of earth, and rock, and mineral, 
 in existence. Each substance has an atmospheric 
 emanation peculiar to itself, and by which it can be 
 discovered by man, or by some other living creature. 
 The camel on the desert will detect water twenty 
 miles distant. The same is true in relation to all the 
 races and tribes of animated beings. Each has its 
 own peculiar atmospheric emanation, by which it 
 may be detected by some other creature, by some 
 instinctive sense of which we have little or no con- 
 ception. As then every substance in being has its 
 own peculiar emanation, so the atmospheric emana- 
 tion of the self-existent Spirit, is electricity, which, 
 
82 LECTURES ON 
 
 proceeding forth from Him, does not therefore exist 
 independent of him. 
 
 It will now be said that, on this principle of rea- 
 soning, the speaker will make it out that spirit itself 
 is matter. If by spirit you mean that which has 
 neither length, breadth, nor thickness, nor occupies 
 any space, then I have only to say that it is a mere 
 chimera of the human brain, a nonentity, a nothing! 
 Does Deity fill all space ? Then he is of course a 
 substance, a real, living, acting and thinking being ; 
 otherwise, as Christians, we use words without knowl- 
 edge, when we say that he fills immensity with his 
 presence. But it may be said that mind is thought, 
 reason and understanding, and then be asked, wheth- 
 er thought, reason, understanding, &c, occupy any 
 space? But I deny that these are mind. Thought, 
 reason and understanding are not mind, but the 
 effects of mind. Mind is something supremely high- 
 er than all these. I yet ask what is that which 
 thinks, reasons and understands? It is the mind. 
 Then mind is something distinct from those effects 
 by which it is made manifest. What, then, it may be 
 asked, is mind ? I answer, it is that substance which 
 has innate or living motion ; and the result of that 
 motion is thought, reason, understanding, and, there- 
 fore, power. As electricity is the highest and most 
 subtil of inert substances, as it fastens on mind, and 
 is, therefore, more easily moved than any other inert 
 substance in being, so mind is the next step above 
 electricity, is the crowning perfection of all other 
 substances in immensity — is living motion; and the 
 result of that motion is thought and power. It is 
 the living Spirit from whom emanates electricity, and 
 who, out of that electricity, has created all worlds. 
 Hence, the Creator is a real substance or being, 
 possessing personal identity, and is infinite in every 
 perfection of his adorable character. 
 
 Electricity, which is an atmospheric emanation 
 from God, and which is moved by his will, is that 
 
ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 33 
 
 substance out of which all worlds and their splendid 
 appendages were made. Hence, it will be perceived, 
 that electricity contains all the original properties of 
 all the various substances in being. All the varieties 
 of the universe around us — all the beauties and 
 glories of creation upon which we look with so 
 many thrilling emotions of delight, were produced 
 from electricity, which is the inexhaustible fountain 
 of primal matter. By the living energies of the 
 Divine Mind electricity was condensed into globes ; 
 not instantly, but gradually. The heaviest particles 
 took the lowest point, or common centre of our 
 globe, and so on, step by step, lighter and lighter, 
 till we reach the surface which is a vegetable mould. 
 On this we find water, a substance still lighter than 
 earth ; next air, which is lighter than water, and so 
 on till we reach the sun, which is the highest point 
 in relation to our system, because it is the common 
 centre. The sun is, therefore, pure electricity. 
 Hence, the twenty-nine globes, belonging to our 
 system, are electrically, geologically and magnetical- 
 ly made. They are but twenty-nine magnets revolv- 
 ing around our sun as a common centre. 
 
 The sun, being pure electricity or primal matter, 
 is but an emanation from the Deity. It is, conse- 
 quently, in a positive state. Hence, electricity is 
 continually passing from the sun, as a common 
 centre, to the twenty-nine surrounding worlds; on the 
 same principle that it passes from a positive to a nega- 
 tive cloud. Having done its duty in giving light, heat 
 and vegetation, as well as magnetic power to globes, 
 it is returned by reaction to the sun, and these two 
 motions form the vortices that roll worlds around 
 him. It is impossible that there can be any inherent 
 attraction and repulsion in matter. Attraction and 
 repulsion are but different dispositions of electricity. 
 The best magnets are now made from the galvanic 
 battery. Hence, electricity, galvanism and magnet- 
 ism are but in substance one and the same fluid, 
 and as this is primal matter, an emanation from the 
 
84 
 
 LECTURES ON 
 
 Eternal Mind, so all the powers of attraction and 
 repulsion originate in Deity. His will comes in 
 contact with electricity, and through that subtil agent 
 he moves the whole immeasurable universe in ac- 
 cordance with nature's law. All worlds are in 
 motion. They roll rapid as the lightning's blaze, 
 and in the most apparent confusion ; yet all is calm, 
 regular and harmonious. God is, therefore, connect- 
 ed with his universe, and superintends all its multi- 
 farious operations. Though he is thus intimately 
 united to inert matter, yet he is distinct from the 
 whole. 
 
 " Thou apart, 
 Above, beyond ; O tell me, mighty Mind, 
 Where art thou ? Shall I dive into the deep ? 
 Call to the sun ? or ask the roaring winds 
 For their Creator ? Shall I question loud 
 The thunder, if in that the Almighty dwells ? 
 Or holds he furious storms in straitened reins, 
 And bids fierce whirlwinds wheel his rapid car ? 
 
 The nameless He ! whose nod is nature's birth ; 
 And nature's shield the shadow of his hand ; 
 Her dissolution his suspended smile ! 
 The great First Last ! pavilioned high he sits 
 In darkness, from excessive splendor borne, 
 By gods unseen, unless through lustre. 
 His glory, to created glory, bright, 
 As that to central horrors ; he looks down 
 On all that soars, and spans immensity." 
 
 Worlds are not only electrically, geologically and 
 magnetically made, but they are electrically and 
 magnetically suspended and moved by the imme- 
 diate energies of the Divine Mind. Here is an 
 image in paper costume. I will attach it to this 
 electrizing machine and charge it. See! those 
 papers are now all suspended, and being equally 
 charged, they repel each other. I will now put my 
 fingers near them. See ! how they are attracted by 
 my hand. They touch me, give oft' their electricity, 
 become equalized with my fingers, and then fall. 
 Here, then, is suspension, attraction, and repulsion, 
 by electricity. It may, however, be said, that if 
 
ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 35 
 
 worlds are moved by electricity, that they must 
 necessarily move as quick as lightning. This does 
 not follow. Here is an orrery, with which the most 
 of you are acquainted. I attach it to the electrical 
 machine, and charge. You see it is moved by giv- 
 ing off electricity at its points. But though elec- 
 trically moved, yet it does not move as quick as 
 lightning. The magnet I hold in my hand was 
 charged from the galvanic battery, and by one single 
 stroke of the battery from the prongs of this magnet 
 towards the bow, I can destroy all ' its magnetic 
 powers, and by reversing the action, I can just as 
 suddenly restore them. 
 
 I have now clearly shown that all motion and 
 power originate in mind, and as the human spirit, 
 through an electro-magnetic medium, comes in con- 
 tact with matter, so the infinite Spirit does the same, 
 and through this medium he governs the universe. 
 Hence, those who deny the mesmeric power, must, 
 to be consistent with themselves, deny that there is 
 any medium through which mind can come in con- 
 tact with matter, or else deny that mind, abstractly 
 considered, has any power to produce results. But 
 the denial of either of these is a denial of an all- 
 powerful, self-existent Spirit, the Creator and Gov- 
 ernor of the universe. But, on the other hand, how 
 sublime the idea, that God is electrically and mag- 
 netically connected with his universe ; that, by the 
 energies of his own will, he has condensed and 
 formed worlds from electricity, which is but the 
 atmospheric emanation of his own spirit, and that 
 by electricity he sustains, rolls, and governs them 
 from age to age. And how sublime the idea, that 
 he has " poured spirit from spirit's awful fountain, 
 and kindled into existence a world of rationals." 
 He has poured himself through all his works, and 
 stamped upon them beauty, order, and harmony, 
 which are but the reflected impressions of his own 
 
 SPLENDOR. 
 
36 
 
 LECTURES ON 
 
 LECTURE IV. 
 
 Ladies and Gentlemen : It is a source of grati- 
 fication to me that public attention, in Boston and 
 vicinity, is completely awakened to the interests of 
 Spiritualism, and that they are giving this subject 
 that investigation which its importance demands. 
 We live emphatically in an age of investigation and 
 improvement, when light seems to be pouring in 
 oceans on our world ; and he who shuts his eyes, 
 and then scoffs and sneers because others open theirs 
 and see, is not only recreant to duty, but does society 
 an irreparable wrong. But those who remain in 
 scepticism much longer on the subject of Mesmer- 
 ism, will be suspected either of ignorance or dishon- 
 esty. I make this remark, because there is no possi- 
 ble apology that any man of common sense should 
 remain in scepticism another day. He can go home 
 and try it upon his children or friends, and test its 
 power, and know its truth ; and this every man is 
 bound to do who desires to mitigate Iruman pain, 
 and assuage human woes. The subject is one of 
 paramount consideration, and is worthy of your best 
 affections, your most ardent zeal, and your warmest 
 hopes. 
 
 In my last lecture, I took into consideration mind 
 and its powers, and the medium through which it 
 comes in contact with matter. This medium is 
 electricity, and is that eternal, primal matter out of 
 which all other substances were made. It fills im- 
 mensity of space ; and worlds are successively and 
 continually formed by the condensation of electricity 
 under the living and ever-acting energies of the 
 
ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 37 
 
 Eternal Mind. We are floating in an immensity of 
 space that knows no bounds, like the mote in the 
 sunbeam. This is peopled with swarming worlds, 
 in number beyond an angel's computation ; and the 
 residue, which has not yet become the abodes of life, 
 order, and beauty, is filled up with primal matter 
 still in its electrical state. Hence, the work of crea- 
 tion has been going on from eternity, and will con- 
 tinue to progress so long as the throne of the self- 
 existent Jehovah endures, without ever arriving at an 
 end in the sublime career of creation. New brother 
 creations are, therefore, every moment rolling from 
 his omnific hand, and that creating fiat will never, 
 never cease. All this is effected by the energies of 
 mind. 
 
 In my last lecture, I stated, and, as I thought, con- 
 clusively proved, that thought, reason, understanding, 
 &c, were not mind, but merely the results of mind, 
 and gave what I considered conclusive evidence. 
 I, moreover, stated that mind was a substance that 
 occupied space, that it possessed living motion, and 
 that the result of that motion was thought, reason, 
 and power, and gave what I considered proof. But 
 it seems that both of these positions have been dis- 
 puted, and hence I will once more touch these two 
 points. 
 
 If thought, reason, and understanding are mind, 
 then our minds are annihilated every night in sleep. 
 Because, if all the organs of the brain are wrapped 
 in profound slumber, then there is not a single 
 thought stirring in the whole intellectual realm. It 
 will not answer to parry the force of this argument, 
 by saying that the action of blood upon the brain 
 produces thought, and that this action is suspended 
 in slumber, because the blood flows and acts upon 
 the brain in sleep, as well as when we are awake ; 
 and hence we should, on this principle, think and 
 reason when asleep, nearly as well as when awake. 
 This, however, is not the case. If, then, thought 
 4 
 
38 LECTURES ON 
 
 and reason are mind, I must insist that, in profound 
 slumber, the mind is annihilated, for thought is 
 gone. Hence it is plain, that thought, reason, and 
 understanding are not mind, but the effects of mind. 
 
 I will now take a different argument from the one 
 offered in my last lecture, to prove that mind is a 
 substance that has innate motion, and that this mo- 
 tion produces thought. It is admitted on all hands, 
 that the mind resides in the brain, not in the blood- 
 vessels, but in the nerves themselves. Now, if the 
 nerves are very much expanded by heat, it is impos- 
 sible to sleep. By lying perfectly still upon our 
 beds, there is a coolness steals over the brain. The 
 nerves, by coolness, are made to contract. They 
 continue gently to shrink until they press upon the 
 living substance that they contain, and stop its motion. 
 That moment all thought ceases. Recollect, mind 
 is that substance whose nature is motion, and the 
 result of that motion is thought. By pressure, by 
 force, it is stopped, and thought is gone. The mo- 
 ment our rest is complete, a nervous warmth comes 
 over the brain. The nerves expand, leave the mind 
 disengaged, it resumes its motion, and thought is the 
 result. As cold shrinks, and heat expands the nerv- 
 ous system, so that we alternately sleep and wake 
 under this double action, so the mind is a living, 
 self-moving, and indivisible substance, which is 
 capable of being compressed sufficient, at least, to 
 prevent its motion. 
 
 Having made these remarks, which the circum- 
 stances of the occasion seemed to require at my 
 hands, I now invite your attention to what is called 
 by sceptics the incomprehensibility and marvellous- 
 ness of magnetic sleep ; and who, on this account, 
 openly avow the impossibility and inconsistency of 
 any one being thrown into such a state ; and who, 
 whenever they witness experiments to test it, freely 
 use the stereotyped words, " humbug and collusion" 
 and that, too, with great emphasis, without being 
 
ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 39 
 
 able, however, to detect this great, this wonderful 
 imposition on public credulity ! 
 
 The greatest objection to the truth of the science 
 of Mesmerism arises from the circumstance, that the 
 subject can see in a manner different from the ordi- 
 nary mode of vision. That any person can see out 
 of the templar region, or out of the top, or back part 
 of the skull, and through solid walls, and in the 
 darkest night, they contend is too preposterous to be 
 believed. I deeply regret to say that medical men 
 not only give countenance to such declarations made 
 by the common mass, but are engaged in making 
 the same themselves. But I seriously appeal to 
 them whether they have never seen any patients in a 
 certain state of the nervous system, induced by dis- 
 ease, where they could thus see, and when sensation 
 was so perfectly extinct that amputation might have 
 taken place without pain? Have they never seen 
 a case of catalepsy? If not, have they never seen 
 in medical works well-authenticated cases of this 
 disease reported? Surely they will not deny these 
 things. I further inquire ; have they never seen a 
 case, nor read, nor heard one reported, where patients 
 in a state of catalepsy have been entirely clairvoy- 
 ant? where they have seen, as no person in the 
 ordinary way of vision can see? I am conscious 
 that they will not hazard their medical reputation by 
 giving these interrogatories an unqualified denial. 
 Of all persons beneath these heavens, medical gen- 
 tlemen should be the last to sneer at the idea of 
 clairvoyance, or even total insensibility of a person 
 in the magnetic state. 
 
 Catalepsy is a sudden suppression of motion and 
 sensation ; a kind of apolexy, in which the patient is 
 in a fixed posture. If the case be an aggravated 
 one, the patient is sometimes senseless and even 
 speechless. To bring this subject directly and plain- 
 ly before you, I will relate to you an incident which 
 was stated to me about six months ago by Dr. Pat- 
 
40 LECTURES ON 
 
 terson, an eminent physician of Lynchburg, Virginia, 
 A young lady was taken sick. Her physician, who 
 lived some eight or ten miles distant, was sent for. 
 He found her in a state of catalepsy. Though 
 there was no sensation in her body, yet she had 
 occasional fits of talking. He prescribed, stated that 
 he should be there the next evening, and left. The 
 evening came, and a most tremendous storm of rain, 
 with high winds, set in. The darkness was pro- 
 found. As the family were seated in silence and 
 anxiety in the same room where the patient lay, 
 some one said, " Well, our doctor will not be here to- 
 night." The sick lady answered ; " Yes he will ; he 
 is coming now ; he is riding on horseback, and is all 
 drenched with rain." The family supposing this to 
 be a mere reverie of the brain, a touch of delirium, 
 made no reply. Nearly an hour passed on ; and the 
 storm continuing with unabating violence, one of 
 the pensive group again broke the silence, and ex- 
 claimed with a feeling of regret, " Well, it is certain 
 our doctor will not be here this dark stormy night! " 
 The sufferer again answered, " Yes he will ; he is 
 most here now ; there he is hitching his horse ; he is 
 coming to the door." They heard the raps ; the 
 door was opened, and in came the doctor. I now 
 ask, how did this lady in a state of catalepsy see the 
 physician several miles distant, through the walls of 
 her house and in so dark a night ? 
 
 This report was given in a medical journal and 
 well authenticated. And moreover, there are many 
 of a similar character; and of these facts medical 
 men are well aware. Now I appeal to them, who 
 are present on this occasion, that, if it is possible to 
 throw the nervous system into a condition by disease, 
 so that the patient can see in a manner entirely dis- 
 tinct from the ordinary mode of vision, then, how 
 can they, without presumption, affirm that a person 
 cannot be thrown into a similar state by Mesmer- 
 ism? It is proved by medical works that such a 
 
ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 41 
 
 state of the brain is possible ; and who will take 
 upon himself to affirm, that it can be induced by no 
 other means than disease ? As a state ef catalepsy 
 is thus frequently attended with clairvoyance, and 
 with total insensibility, so that amputation could be 
 performed without pain, then why should we marvel 
 when we see the same identical phenomena cluster- 
 ing around Mesmerism? I have only to say that, 
 our surprise is wholly gratuitous. 
 
 I appeal to medical gentlemen present. Have 
 you never seen a case of natural somnambulism? 
 There are hundreds of them occur in this city ; and 
 in every town there are those who rise in their sleep, 
 perform labors, and return to their beds without 
 knowing it. In this state they have gone to the top of 
 house-frames, walked on the ridgepoles, and safely 
 descended. They have, in the darkest nights, walked 
 over dangerous and rapid streams on a mere scant- 
 ling in safety, where a slight loss of balance would 
 have been death, and where it would be impossible 
 for them to have crossed in their wakeful state. 
 Women have arisen, and in this state have done 
 the nicest needle-work. And how did these see? 
 Surely not with the natural organ of vision. A 
 young lady at boarding-school, learning to paint 
 miniatures, and on preparing one for examination- 
 day, found that she should be excelled by the other 
 pupils. It worried her much, and to her surprise 
 she found in the morning, that her picture had 
 greatly advanced under the delicate touch of some 
 experienced hand. She charged the deed upon her 
 teacher, who disclaimed all knowledge of the fact. 
 But on the next morning the picture was nearly 
 finished, but the transgressor could not be found. 
 The Preceptress being strongly suspected, secretly 
 sat up and watched. In the dead of night, when all 
 was still, the young lady arose, and in a dark room 
 arranged her work, mixed her colors, and began to 
 paint. Her Preceptress lit a lamp, entered the room, 
 4* 
 
42 LECTURES ON 
 
 and saw that lady finish her picture. She then 
 awakened her. How did she see how to mix her 
 colors 5 and to give the nicest touch with her pencil 
 where no human eye in the wakeful state could 
 discern an object? Such facts as these, and even 
 more wonderful, are well known to medical gentle- 
 men. Now, if persons can by some cause be 
 thrown into somnambulism upon their beds, then 
 reason teaches that they may be thrown into the 
 same state, and even a much deeper sleep by the 
 magnetic power. 
 
 We will now take into consideration the philoso- 
 phy of clairvoyance. It is evident that seeing, hear- 
 ing, feeling, tasting and smelling, belong exclusively 
 to the mind. And as we have clearly proved that 
 electricity is the only substance that can come in 
 contact with mind, so it is through the agency of 
 this fluid that sensations are transmitted to the mind. 
 Hence, it is through the medium of electricity that 
 we see, hear, feel, taste and smell. 
 
 The power of sight being in the mind, it is evident 
 that we never saw any thing out of our eyes. The 
 whole of this congregation, with all their different 
 costumes, their various complexions and different 
 appearances, and all their relative distances from 
 each other, are struck upon the retina of the speaker's 
 eye, on about the bigness of a quarter of an inch. 
 By the agency of electricity it is conveyed through 
 the optic nerve to the mind where it is seen. Hence, 
 we never saw a piece of matter but only its shadow, 
 the same as when you look into a mirror, it is not 
 yourself, but your image that you see. Electricity 
 is that substance that passes through all other sub- 
 stances. Air cannot pass through your cranium, nor 
 through these walls, nor metallic substances. But as 
 all these have countless millions of pores, electricity 
 can pass through them. Now if our nervous system 
 could be charged with the nervo-vital fluid, so as to 
 render the brain positive, and thus bring it into an 
 
ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 43 
 
 exact equilibrium or balance with external electricity, 
 then we should be clairvoyant. Because the nervous 
 system being duly charged, and even surcharged, 
 the great quantity of this fluid passing in right lines 
 from the mind, as a common centre, and in every 
 direction through the pores of the skull, renders it 
 transparent. Uniting with external electricity which 
 passes through these walls and all substances, which 
 are also transparent, the image of the whole universe, 
 as it were, in this transparent form, is thrown upon 
 the mind, and is there seen, and seen, too, inde- 
 pendent of the retina. On this principle, the whole 
 of those objects which are opaque to natural vision, 
 are rendered transparent to the clairvoyant, and he 
 sees through walls in succession, and takes cogni- 
 zance of their relative distances, on the same principle 
 that we in a wakeful state could look through said 
 walls if they were thin, transparent glass. On this 
 principle, if the subject be charged too much or too 
 little, he cannot see clearly. Or if the night be 
 rainy, or even damp, and unfavorable to electricity, 
 then experiments in clairvoyance must fail, or be 
 very imperfect. The subject must be magnetically 
 charged exactly to that degree which will bring him 
 into magnetic equilibrium with external electricity. 
 Then, if the night be favorable, the experiments will 
 most likely prove successful. 
 
 That the above principles are correct, and that 
 taste, seeing, &c, are electrically conveyed to the 
 mind, try the following experiments. Take a half 
 dollar, and a piece of zinc of the same size. Touch 
 them separately to the tongue, and you will not per- 
 ceive any taste. But put the tongue between them, 
 and, in this position, touch the edges of the two pieces 
 together over the end of the tongue, and you will 
 taste a pungent acid. This taste is produced elec- 
 trically. Zinc contains a greater portion of electricity 
 than the silver, and when they come in contact it 
 gives it off to the silver, and conveys the sensation 
 
44 LECTURES ON 
 
 of taste through the glands to the mind. In further 
 proof of this being electricity, put the half dollar 
 against the gums under the upper lip. Open the 
 mouth and lay the zinc upon the tongue. By 
 moving the tongue up and down, you will touch the 
 pieces together, and every time they come in contact 
 you will not only perceive the same taste before 
 described, but you will see a flash of lightning. 
 Now that this lightning is seen directly by the mind, 
 and independent of the natural organ of the eye, you 
 may enter a dark room, and in the darkest night; 
 close your eyes and even bandage them, and yet 
 when you touch those pieces, as described, you will 
 see the flash, even when one from the heavens could 
 not be seen. This flash is conveyed through the 
 nervous system directly to the mind, where alone 
 exists the power of vision. This is not only proof 
 that taste and sight are electrically conveyed to the 
 mind, but also that electricity is that substance which 
 alone comes in contact with mind. 
 
 It is the same in relation to the other senses. 
 Even hearing is not produced by the concussion of 
 the particles of our air, but by the vibration of the 
 particles of electricity conveyed to the mind, and in 
 that tremulous manner through the organ of the ear 
 coming in direct contact with mind. It is impossible, 
 in the nature of things, that so gross a substance as 
 air can pass the barriers of the ear and enter the 
 brain to produce any sound. But it may be said, 
 that though the particles of air do not enter the brain, 
 yet with a vibrating motion they strike the drum of 
 the ear and convey sound to the mind. This cannot 
 be, because there is no air in the brain itself; and 
 hence, there is no internal aerial medium through 
 which sound could be transmitted to the mind, even 
 if we admit that the concussion of the particles of 
 external air conveyed it to the drum. I yet ask, 
 what is the internal medium beyond, through which 
 that sound is conveyed to the mind ? There is no air 
 
ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 45 
 
 there ; and if it be a vacuum, then no sound what- 
 ever can be conveyed. The truth is, that the same 
 substance in tremulous motion, which conveys sound 
 to the drum of the ear, also passes through it into 
 the nervous system, and conveys its oracle to the 
 very throne of the living mind. This is electricity, 
 which is the only correspondent or mediator between 
 mind and matter, laying its brilliant hand upon both 
 parties, and bringing them into communication. 
 
 The sense of smell exists in the mind, and from 
 surrounding substances the sensation is electrically 
 conveyed to it. But as smell is so nearly related to 
 taste, the same argument may be applied to both. I 
 will therefore proceed to notice the sense of feeling-. 
 
 It is generally said that the sense of feeling is in 
 the nerves. But I contend that it belongs exclusively 
 to the mind, the nerves being the mere medium 
 through which it is electrically conveyed to the mind. 
 Indeed, all our sensations, whether of seeing, hear- 
 ing, feeling, tasting, or smelling, are conveyed to 
 the mind, through the nervous system, from their 
 correspondent organs, which are but the mere start- 
 ing points, or inlets of sensation. And as the nervo- 
 vital fluid, which is of an electric nature, is the only 
 substance that acts through the nerves, so electricity 
 is the agent which conveys all our sensations to the 
 mind. Though it is said that feeling is diffused 
 over the whole system, yet strictly speaking, this is 
 not true. All feeling is in the mind. It is evident 
 that the mind resides in the brain. It is not diffused 
 over the whole nervous system, for then we might 
 be as sensible that thought proceeded from the hand 
 or foot, as from the head. In this case, the loss of a 
 hand or foot would be the loss of some portion of 
 our minds. The spinal marrow is but a continua- 
 tion of the brain. Branches shoot out, and from 
 these, other branches in infinite variety, until they 
 are spread out over the whole system ten thousand 
 times finer than the finest hair-sieve, — so fine that 
 
46 LECTURES ON 
 
 you cannot put down the point of a cambric needle 
 without feeling it, and you cannot feel unless you 
 touch a nerve. Hence, you perceive how very fine 
 the nervous system must be! Of this system, the 
 brain is the fountain, and is the local habitation of 
 the mind. 
 
 Now touch the finger to any object, and that touch 
 produces a corresponding action upon the brain, and 
 through the agency of the electro-magnetic fluid, 
 that sensation is conveyed to the mind. It is the 
 mind that feels it, and by habit we associate the 
 feeling with the end of the finger. But amputate 
 the arm, and then touch the corresponding nerve at 
 the end of the stump, and he will yet associate the 
 feeling with the end of the finger. But the feeling 
 is not even in the end of the stump. It is in the 
 mind which has its residence in the brain. 
 
 I knew a blacksmith who had his leg amputated 
 above the knee. When healed, he put on a wooden 
 leg, and resumed his labors in the shop. He could 
 feel his leg and toes as usual, and many times in a 
 day, he would, without reflection, put down his 
 hand to scratch his wooden leg. Being unlearned 
 and superstitious, he supposed that his leg was 
 buried in an uncomfortable position, and therefore, 
 haunted its wooden substitute. He dug it up, placed 
 under it a soft cotton bed, and reburied it ; but all to 
 no purpose. He made the circumstance known to 
 his physician, who told him to find the corresponding 
 nerve on the stump, and he could cause the itching 
 sensation to cease. He did so, and the difficulties 
 were at once overcome. 
 
 A gentleman called upon me, in October, 1842, 
 at the house of the Hon. T. J. Greenwood, in 
 Marlboro'. He stated, that he injured his arm, the 
 cords contracted and drew up his fingers, so as 
 perfectly to clench the hand. It was in great pain, 
 and the arm was amputated just above the elbow. 
 And though three years had passed away, he said 
 
ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 47 
 
 there was yet a constant pain as though the fingers 
 were drawn up ; and from that contraction the pain 
 seemed to proceed. Now the whole of this difficulty 
 was felt in the brain. If I may be allowed the ex- 
 pression, the brain has its legs and arms, and toes 
 and fingers. Or allow me to go entirely back. It 
 is the mind which has its limbs and all its lineaments 
 of form, and from which all form, proportion and 
 beauty emanate. 
 
 I observed a moment ago, that the spinal cord 
 was but the brain continued. Now let a knife be 
 inserted between the joints of the spine, and let this 
 cord be severed, and all the parts of the body, below 
 the incision, will be paralized. You may now cut 
 or burn the legs, but all feeling is gone ; neither can 
 they be moved by the will. The will cannot come 
 in contact with flesh and blood, only through the 
 electro-magnetic fluid. The mind is in the brain, 
 and as the spinal marrow is severed, so the lower 
 parts are separated from the fountain of feeling. 
 The communication of the electrical influence is 
 destroyed between the extremities and the mind, and 
 hence, the extremities can convey sensations to the 
 mind no more. 
 
 I might continue the argument to an indefinite 
 extent to prove that all our senses (seeing, hearing-, 
 feeling, tasting and smelling) are in the mind, and 
 that these sensations, through their corresponding 
 organs, are electrically conveyed to the mind, 
 through the nervous system, but I forbear, and pro- 
 ceed, as usual, to the anticipated experiments of the 
 evening. 
 
48 LECTURES ON 
 
 LECTURE V. 
 
 Ladies and Gentlemen : We are again assem- 
 bled to take into consideration the subject of Mes- 
 merism. Its growing interest in the public mind is 
 manifest, by the increasing throngs that assemble in 
 this chapel, to investigate its claims to truth and 
 science, and the multitudes that are obliged to retire, 
 unable to gain admittance. As several notes, since 
 my entrance into this house, have been handed me, 
 I shall be obliged to omit introductory remarks, and 
 attend to two or three important requests. 
 
 An inquiry is made as to the number of degrees 
 or states into which a subject may be thrown. In 
 reply to this, I would say, that there are but five 
 degrees w^hich have, as yet, come under my obser- 
 vation. The first degree is, when the hands or 
 even the whole body of the subject can be attracted 
 by the conjoint action of the mental and physical 
 energies of the magnetizer. The second degree is, 
 when the hands, or body of the subject, can be at- 
 tracted by the mental energies alone, or by the phy- 
 sical energies independent of any mental effort. 
 The third degree is, when the subject can neither 
 hear nor answer any person but the magnetizer and 
 those who are in communication. The fourth de- 
 gree is, when the subject can taste what the mag- 
 netizer tastes, and smell what he smells. The fifth 
 degree is clairvoyance. I would not be understood 
 that these five degrees always occur in the order I 
 have now stated them ; but I mean that there are 
 these five different degrees. Some never seem to 
 go further than the third degree, and no surgical 
 
ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 49 
 
 operation should be performed, unless the subject be 
 put completely into this third state, so that no voice 
 but the magnetizer's can be heard. It can then be 
 performed without any pain. 
 
 Another inquiry is made, whether any person can 
 put himself into communication with the subject 
 without the magnetizer's consent? I answer, yes. 
 Any person may put himself into communication by 
 ardently fixing his attention upon the subject while 
 another is magnetizing him, especially if he sits near 
 him. Or he may do it by touching, or too freely 
 handling him. He may do it by violently throwing 
 his hands towards him, and within a foot of his 
 body. Or, lastly, he may take two or three electric 
 shocks from a charged Leyden jar, within eight or ten 
 feet of the subject, being careful to fix his eyes firm- 
 ly upon him while taking the shock. The second 
 or third shock, the subject will start with him who 
 receives it — and when he starts he is in communi- 
 cation. 
 
 A third inquiry is made, whether any one but the 
 magnetizer can awaken the subject? Certainly. 
 Any person who is put in communication with him 
 can take him out of the state. Or by a firm deter- 
 mination, he can awaken himself. In fact, he may 
 be put in bed, and in a few hours, say from eight to 
 fourteen, he will come out of it the natural way. 
 
 A fourth, and last inquiry is made, if magnetism 
 be true, why has not more of it been seen, at least 
 in some small degree, in different ages ? I answer, , 
 that its history dates back to a very early age which 
 I cannot now pursue, but would refer you to the 
 " Magnet," a work published by the Rev. La Roy 
 Sunderland, in New York city, and which can be 
 had in monthly numbers, at two dollars per annum, 
 and may be obtained in Court street, in this city. 
 It is a work which is conducted with great ability, 
 and should be in possession of every family. But 
 the inquirer asks, " why has not more of it been 
 5 
 
50 
 
 LECTURES ON 
 
 seen, at least in some small degree, in different 
 ages ? " I answer, it has been seen and felt. Have 
 you never read the bold, lofty, and full-gushing elo- 
 quence of Demosthenes, whose thunders roused 
 Greece into action, and moved her sons as the wind 
 in its rushing majesty moves the sublime magnifi- 
 cence of ten thousand forests? This was but the 
 magnetic principle, the lightning of the mind, by 
 which they were electrified, and made to act as one 
 man against the powers of Philip. The same is 
 true of Cicero, who shook the Roman senate with 
 his voice, and beneath the electric glance of whose 
 awful eye, even Cataline quailed. I am well aware 
 that you will call this sympathy. But what is sym- 
 pathy ? It is the nervo-vital fluid thrown from a 
 full, energetic brain, upon another of kindred feel- 
 ing. That brain being roused effects another, and 
 that still another, till the whole assembly are brought 
 into magnetic sympathy with the speaker, and by 
 him are moved as the soul of one man. 
 
 As a further answer to this question, I will notice 
 one fact more ; and in doing this, I shall remove 
 what has long been considered as a stigma on a 
 large and respectable denomination. I mean the 
 Methodists. Ever since that class of Christians had 
 a religious existence in the United States, persons 
 have fallen down into a species of trance. Other 
 denominations call this delusion, and many call it 
 deception, because such things never occur in their 
 meetings. But there is no deception in this — it is 
 really the magnetic state — or more properly the 
 spiritual state. Every preacher cannot do it, and as 
 it is done without contact, comparatively few are 
 subjects of it. 
 
 But take a preacher of strong muscular powers ; 
 one who has large concentrativeness, and eye of 
 lightning, and a warm, a sincere and ardent soul. 
 He enters a tent at camp-meeting, where there are 
 fifteen or twenty persons- He kneels down and 
 
ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 51 
 
 prays most fervently ; he rises and sings most de- 
 votionally. He is in close contact with his little 
 group. He begins to exhort most sincerely ; and 
 soon the deep fountains of his soul are broken up. 
 A female, perchance, is moved to tears. His con- 
 centration being large, he keeps his eye steadily fix- 
 ed upon her, and he wills and desires, that she shall 
 feel as he feels, and be converted to God. At length 
 she falls into this singular state. She has gone there 
 in the preacher's feelings, and in his feelings she will 
 come out of it. Now, if he would follow my direc- 
 tions, he could restore her in two minutes. I will 
 pledge myself to arouse any one from this magnetic 
 state in five minutes. Dr. Cannon, of this city, took 
 a lady out of this state a few weeks ago, in Prov- 
 incetown, who was thrown into it in a religious 
 meeting, and who appeared nearly lifeless. A report 
 of this was published in the " Christian Freeman." 
 Now all these are really magnetic effects that we 
 have seen, and for many years in succession. So 
 the inquiries are all answered, and I hope, to the 
 satisfaction of the inquirers and the congregation. 
 
 I must now proceed to notice the dangers and 
 abuses of Mesmerism. It is often said by its op- 
 posers, that even if it be true, yet it is dangerous, 
 because it can be abused, and therefore ought not to 
 be practised. But do you know of any blessing 
 beneath these heavens but what has been, and still 
 continues to be abused? No, you do not. Do you 
 know of a more common blessing than taste? yet 
 to gratify their taste, millions on millions have gone 
 down to a drunkard's tomb! Mothers have been 
 more than widowed, and children more than or- 
 phanised. They have been beaten and abused, and 
 suffered cold, and hunger, and nakedness. Under 
 it, crimes have been committed, and the state prisons 
 filled with wretched men. Human beings have also 
 by millions gone down to their graves through excess 
 in eating. But is taste a curse because men abuse 
 
52 LECTURES ON 
 
 it ? and must it, therefore, be struck from the eata~ 
 logue of Heaven's mercies ? All answer, no. Ac- 
 quisitiveness, benevolence, and combativeness can 
 be abused, and so can all the organs of the human 
 brain. But ought they not on that account to be 
 indulged ? 
 
 Once more ; there is not a greater blessing than 
 the gospel of Christ. It teaches us to love and for- 
 give our enemies ; to resist not evil, and to do unto 
 others as we would that they should do unto us. It 
 is calculated to moderate our feelings in prosperity 
 — to comfort us in the day of adversity — and to sus- 
 tain us under all the troubles and disappointments 
 incident to mortal life. When our parents, friends 
 and children are on their dying bed, we can 
 shake the farewell hand of mortal separation, with 
 the hope of meeting them again in future realms. 
 And not only so, but when we lie down upon the 
 bed of death, and the embers of life feebly glimmer 
 in the socket of existence, then the gospel of Christ 
 points us to brighter scenes — scenes beyond the 
 tomb. Yet men have abused that gospel, and one 
 denomination has risen up against another, and 
 doomed each other to the stake. Rivers of human 
 blood have flowed in the holy wars. But is the 
 gospel a curse, and should it be struck from exist- 
 ence merely because men abuse it? No, is the 
 answer of every Christian heart. Then the objec- 
 tion fails. One thing must settle this point. There 
 is nothing that God has established as a law in our 
 nature, but what was designed to be a blessing to 
 his creatures. The magnetic principle is not of 
 man, but one the Creator has established, and is, 
 therefore, a blessing. And if it could not be abused, 
 it would differ from all other blessings he has be- 
 stowed on man. 
 
 But it is said, that a man upon the high-way may 
 be thrown into the state and robbed. But I deny 
 that any person can be thrown into the state against 
 
ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 53 
 
 his will, if he will at the same time use physical 
 resistance. And when in the magnetic state, he has 
 twice the strength to resist, and defend himself, that 
 he has when out of it. We generally know with 
 whom we have to deal, and surely we would not 
 suffer an enemy, nor the unprincipled, to put us into 
 the mesmeric slumber. But if you wish to be safe, 
 and are really fearful of consequences, I will give 
 you a rule of action. It is this : never allow any 
 one to magnetize you unless it be in the presence of 
 a third person. Observe this rule, and no danger 
 arising from this source will ever cross your path. 
 
 Having answered these objections, I will now 
 show you where there are real dangers. In the first 
 place, though every person can be mesmerised, yet 
 there are but few who can be easily thrown into this 
 state. The greater proportion, by far, would require 
 several hours of hard labor. Hence, when one is 
 found who is easy to mesmerise, curiosity is awaken- 
 ed, and every one wishes to make a trial of his 
 power and skill. One mesmerises this individual in 
 the morning, another in the evening, and a new set 
 of operators perform the same task on the next day, 
 and so on. Now, in such cases, there is that mixing 
 and crossing of all these different fluids in the sub- 
 ject's brain, which, if persisted in too long, will 
 prove injurious, even if all these magnetizers are 
 healthy persons. If you mesmerise a person, and 
 thoroughly wake him, yet the whole of that fluid 
 does not completely pass from his brain short of a 
 week. Select one healthy magnetizer, and continue 
 him. If you change to another, then wait a fortnight 
 before you allow him to operate. Too much care in 
 this respect cannot be taken. But I point out to you 
 a still more serious danger. 
 
 There are persons who undertake to mesmerise 
 
 others, who have some local disease, or are in feeble 
 
 health. By so doing, they injure themselves, and 
 
 also the subject. Such persons have no nervo- vital 
 
 5* 
 
54 
 
 LECTURES ON 
 
 fluid to spare, and what little they have is in a dis- 
 eased state, and unfit to be thrown upon the nervous 
 system of another. I care not what the disease may 
 be, by long persisting in mesmerising a person, that 
 disease will be, at length, communicated to the sub- 
 ject. Great caution, in this respect, should be ob- 
 served by both parties, if they would not impair their 
 health. Weakness of lungs, and even consumption, 
 may be, by thirty or forty magnetizings, brought 
 upon an individual, and send him to his grave. I 
 therefore seriously admonish you to beware of this 
 common danger. Never allow any person of a poor 
 constitution to put you into this state ; and I also 
 warn those who are diseased, or even in delicate 
 health, never to mesmerise others, for they will, by 
 so doing, inflict upon themselves a serious injury. 
 
 But, on the other hand, there is no danger in a 
 healthy person magnetizing those who are diseased. 
 As the operator imparts the nervo-vital fluid, and 
 does not receive any in return, he is in no danger 
 of taking the disease of his patient. Caution is, 
 however, to be observed in taking the patient out of 
 this state. He should not make the upward passes 
 in such a manner as to throw the fluid on himself. 
 If he do, he is in some danger of contracting the 
 disease. An experienced magnetizer will under- 
 stand how to avail himself of this caution. 
 
 Once more ; there are persons who undertake to 
 magnetize others who are entirely ignorant as to the 
 mode of operation, and frequently bring persons into 
 serious difficulty by getting alarmed, or otherwise 
 thrown out of bias in their feelings. Several cases 
 of this kind I have been called to attend to, in vari- 
 ous sections, and some of a very serious character. 
 No persons should undertake to mesmerise others 
 until they shall have learned of some experienced 
 magnetizer how to perform it, and made themselves 
 acquainted with all the difficulties that may cluster 
 around it. 
 
ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 55 
 
 Having attended to these important points, I will 
 now turn your attention to local magnetism. By 
 local magnetism, I mean the magnetizing of some 
 part of the human body without charging the whole 
 brain. Hence, the finger, the hand, the arm, the leg, 
 yes, even the eyelid, the lip, or the tongue, may be 
 mesmerised while the person is in the wakeful state, 
 and so may be any of the phrenological organs. It 
 is true, that this cannot be so easily done on persons 
 who have never been mesmerised at all, as on those 
 who have been thrown into the state. If the brain 
 has been once magnetically subdued, then there is 
 no occasion, even if the amputation of a limb is to 
 be performed, to magnetize any other part than the 
 one to be subjected to the operation. If a person be 
 very hard to mesmerise, then it will be proportionally 
 difficult to mesmerise any limb. But it will be 
 borne in mind, that however long it may take in 
 successive sittings to magnetically subdue the brain, 
 yet after that is once accomplished, then the person 
 can, in future, be wholly mesmerised at any time in 
 five minutes, and locally so in a much less period. 
 Hence, should an arm be broken or mutilated, it 
 will only be necessary to put that limb into the 
 magnetic state, and it can be set or amputated with- 
 out pain ; and thus, by occasionally renewing the 
 mesmeric action, it can be kept in this state and 
 healed, without ever experiencing any suffering 
 whatever. 
 
 I perceive that some smile in view of these state- 
 ments. They are truly so wonderful, that increduli- 
 ty adjures us to reject them. But they are, never- 
 theless, Heaven's unchanging truths, which cannot 
 bend to circumstances, nor shape themselves to the 
 belief or scepticism of men. They stand out in bold 
 relief, and bid defiance to the sneers and scorns of 
 mankind. A surgical operation has just been per- 
 formed in Lowell on a lady while in the mesmeric 
 state. A tumor was extracted from the shoulder, 
 
56 
 
 LECTURES ON 
 
 where it was necessary to cut to the depth of two 
 inches. Dr. Shattuck was the magnetizer; and in 
 the presence of several medical men of Lowell, one 
 of whom was the operator, this tumor was removed 
 without the slightest sensation of pain. This was 
 not done in a corner, but publicly, and in the pres- 
 ence of several hundred spectators. It is too late in 
 the day to cry " humbug and collusion" for the battle 
 is fought, and the victory is won, and the scale has 
 turned in favor of truth, and turned with most pre- 
 ponderating weight, and on the stereotyped argu- 
 ment, " hum b ug and collusion" is written " tekel." 
 
 Well-authenticated facts, and medical reports of 
 operations in surgery and dentistry, performed under 
 the energies of Mesmerism, in both continents, and 
 without pain, are continually reaching us. And 
 with this flood of light pouring upon the world, 
 and when men of the first talents and science in the 
 republic of letters, and out of all the various profes- 
 sions and denominations, are among its advocates, 
 scepticism is not only waning, but justly losing its 
 popularity. Those men have seriously investigated 
 and weighed the matter, and they severally declare, 
 as did the Rev. Mr. Pierpont, on the last evening, 
 before two thousand hearers, in this house, " I have 
 no belief nor unbelief on this subject. I know, I 
 KNOW it to be so ! " And now I ask, what ought 
 the mere opinion, or the expressed unbelief of even 
 an honest sceptic, to weigh against the absolute and 
 certain knowledge of an equally honest, intelligent, 
 and scientific man, whose character is above suspi- 
 cion? I leave the candid to judge, and have only to 
 say, that in the face of modesty, they have no right 
 to call this science " humbug and collusion." 
 
 Others pretend that the science of Animal Mag- 
 netism was condemned by the French Committee in 
 Paris, among whom our illustrious Franklin was 
 numbered. And as it received its condemnation 
 under the scrutiny of such minds, therefore they 
 
ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 57 
 
 conclude that it has no foundation in truth. There 
 always have been, and still are, men who dare not 
 think for themselves, but wholly lean upon the 
 opinions of others. Their father, their doctor, their 
 lawyer, and their minister, thought thus and so, and 
 they think just so, too. Their fathers put down a 
 central stake, gave them their length of line, and bid 
 them travel round in that circle of revolving thought 
 till the day of their death ! All beyond that circle is 
 darkness! Their field of thought is as exactly 
 measured off to them, and just as legally bequeathed 
 1o them, as their farms. They received them both 
 by inheritance. For the one they never labored, 
 and for the other they never thought! And they 
 never questioned the truth of the one, any more than 
 they did their title to the other ! 
 
 But surely the French Committee did not deny 
 the truth of the experiments produced, nor pro- 
 nounce them " humbug and collusion." They sim- 
 ply decided that the evidence adduced was not suf- 
 ficient to prove that the magnetic state was caused 
 by a fluid proceeding from the magnetizer. They 
 attributed the singular effects they witnessed to the 
 power of the imagination. But it will also be re- 
 membered, that this committee were not all agreed, 
 and hence appeared the remonstrance of the minori- 
 ty, which it would be well for modern sceptics to 
 read, side by side with the report. 
 
 Many sceptics have been obliged, like the French 
 Committee, to admit certain results as being truly 
 wonderful, and, like them, attribute it to the force of 
 the imagination. But to believe that the imagination 
 can bring human beings into a state where limbs 
 can be amputated, tumors cut out, teeth extracted, 
 and broken bones set, and the whole healed without 
 experiencing one throb of pain, — to believe, I say, 
 that the imagination can do all these wonders, in 
 giving such boundless triumph over pain, requires a 
 far greater stretch of credulity than to believe in the 
 
58 LECTURES ON 
 
 magnetic power! And surely if the imagination 
 possesses the wonderful charm to bring the nervous 
 system into a condition where we can bid defiance 
 to pain, and gain a complete victory over the whole 
 frightful army of human woes, then surely the science 
 is equally important, possesses the same transcendent 
 claims upon our benevolence, and the man who 
 discovered that the imagination possessed this charm, 
 is worthy of the united thanks of all human-kind ; 
 and being dead, his bones are worthy to repose with 
 the great men of the universe. In this case, it will 
 only be necessary to change its name, and call it 
 The science of the wonderful power of the 
 human imagination to charm all pain. 
 
ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 59 
 
 LECTURE VI 
 
 Ladies and Gentlemen: In the first four lectures 
 I delivered of the present course, I brought forward 
 the philosophy of Mesmerism, and flatter myself that 
 I have not only succeeded in establishing it as a 
 science, but have shown it to be one of transcendent 
 interest to the human race. Here love and benevo- 
 lence stretch out a healing hand over a world groan- 
 ing and travailing in pain. Those groans, by that 
 silken hand, shall be hushed, and those pains be re- 
 moved. There is a power basined up in the foun- 
 tains of the soul, that has long been dormant. But 
 it is rousing up and stirring itself for some mighty 
 action, and is already beginning to gush forth in 
 healing streams on the world. This science is in its 
 infancy, is imperfectly understood, but yet it breathes 
 the breath of mercy as a sovereign cure for all human 
 woes. 
 
 In my last lecture, I answered several notes of 
 inquiry, pointed out the dangers of Magnetism, re- 
 futed several common objections in relation to its 
 abuses, noticed the utility of the science in perform- 
 ing painful surgical operations, and took a friendly 
 glance at the conduct of men in justifying their 
 scepticism by pleading the general issue of the 
 Report of the French Committee, and concluded by 
 touching lightly upon the power of the human 
 imagination. 
 
 I now stand before you in the confident convic- 
 tion that much good will result from my labors to 
 the cause of benevolence and mercy. I am urged 
 to repeat my course of lectures next week, but it will 
 
60 LECTURES ON 
 
 be out of my power to comply with this request at 
 that time, but have consented to do so, week after 
 next. As this will be my closing lecture for 1he 
 present, I can render you no greater service than to 
 show what connection this subject has with divine 
 revelation. I am well aware that many will call me 
 an enthusiast, and sneer at, and condemn me for 
 thinking independently. But when the path of duty 
 is plain, and when I am once satisfied of truth, I then 
 go on, and reason, fearless of all consequences. 
 Under such circumstances, I have nothing to do with 
 the inquiry, what will men think of me ? I care not 
 what they think, and much less do I care what they 
 say. I suffer no man to invade the sanctuary of my 
 civil and religious rights, and dictate to me how I 
 shall think, or what I shall believe, or what I shall 
 proclaim. I therefore hold no one responsible for 
 what I shall advance in this lecture, nor do I know 
 as there is one, with whom I am connected, who 
 will endorse my ideas. 
 
 I believe the doctrine of our Saviour to be a per- 
 fect doctrine, and exactly adapted to the bodies as 
 well as to the souls of men. I believe that he is our 
 example to follow, and as he went about doing good, 
 healing sickness and relieving distress of body as 
 well as preaching the gospel to heal the moral mala- 
 dies of the soul, so it is our duty to do the same. It 
 is, moreover, most evident that his doctrine, to the 
 full extent he commanded his apostles to preach it, 
 was to go down to all subsequent ages, so long as 
 human beings should have a habitation on earth. 
 And our Saviour just as much commanded his 
 apostles to heal the sick, as he did to preach the 
 gospel. Now I cannot believe that one half of the 
 power and mercy of his doctrine should cease with 
 the ministry of his apostles, and the other half con- 
 tinue. I cannot believe that its healing efficacy, so 
 far as the body is concerned, should cease, and what 
 was applicable to the soul should continue. If this 
 
ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 61 
 
 be so, then what a favored generation of Christians 
 existed in that day, so far, at least, as healing the body 
 was concerned. It was said, in the apostolic age, 
 " Is any man sick, let him send for the elders of the 
 church, and let them lay their hands upon him and 
 pray, and the sick shall recover." I believe this now, 
 and so far as we have power and faith, it can be 
 accomplished now as well as ever. 
 
 There is a difference between a miracle and a gift 
 of healing. If an arm be palsied, we know that the 
 difficulty exists in the brain, and that nothing more 
 is necessary than to throw upon it a sufficient quan- 
 tity of the nervous fluid to bring it into healthy ac- 
 tion. The moment this is accomplished, the diffi- 
 culty existing in the arm, which is but secondary, 
 will be relieved. To restore this, would be a gift of 
 healing, but not a miracle. What, then, would be a 
 miracle? Answer; amputate an arm, and then 
 cause a new one to grow out. Though healing 
 diseases is sometimes called a miracle, yet when 
 speaking of them specifically, they are not so de- 
 nominated. Paul says, " God hath set some in the 
 church ; first, apostles ; secondarily, prophets ; thirdly, 
 teachers ; after that, miracles, then gifts of healings, 
 helps, governments," &c. And there is not a scrap 
 of evidence that these things were ever to cease while 
 the generations of men endured. 
 
 Now if our Saviour restored a palsied arm, then 
 there must something have passed from him to the 
 person healed in perfect accordance with the princi- 
 ples of animal life. It must, therefore, in this case, 
 have been the nervous fluid, as this was the only 
 substance that could have restored this arm. 
 
 It is undeniably true, that there was always some- 
 thing passed from our Saviour, when he exercised 
 the gift of healing, to the person whom he restored. 
 In evidence of this, you will recollect, that on one 
 occasion when he was called to visit a sick person, a 
 multitude followed after, and thronged him. As he 
 6 
 
62 
 
 LECTURES Otf 
 
 passed by, a woman, who had been afflicted with an 
 issue of blood for twelve years, touched the hem of 
 his garment, and was made whole. He turned him- 
 self around, and said, Who touched me ? His disci- 
 ples exclaimed, ; ' Master, the multitude throng thee, 
 and sayest thou, Who touched me? But he per- 
 ceived that virtue had gone out of him." The word 
 virtue, in this instance, does not mean moral good- 
 ness. It means force, power, efficacy; the same as 
 when we say a medicine has great virtue in it. 
 
 Our Saviour so lived, and breathed, and moved in 
 the divine Being, that he became one in communi- 
 cation with him ; so that when the Father ivilled, he 
 felt that will — he himself then willed, and it was 
 accomplished. So, if any one bowed in reconcilia- 
 tion to God, he became one with the Saviour, so 
 that the Redeemer, also, felt that one's will. Such 
 was the case of this woman. She willed in faith to 
 be healed. The Saviour felt that will — He willed 
 and it was done. Now every being has power in 
 proportion to the energy of his own will, but the 
 energy of the will, depends upon the intrinsic great- 
 ness of that being's mind. And as a miracle is a 
 thing performed by the energy of the will, so that 
 mind must be great in power and goodness, that 
 is capable of performing a miracle. We sit down, 
 and put forth the energy of a thousand wills, and at 
 last produce but a small result. 
 
 The apostolic power was far greater, and in the 
 same ratio, their results were more splendid and glo- 
 rious. But still they had not the power of Christ. 
 The leper said, " Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make 
 me clean. Jesus stretched forth his hand, and touched 
 him, and said, I will, be thou clean, and his leprosy 
 was cleansed." By a word, he put to right disabled 
 limbs, and drew back life and warm gushing health 
 to their abode. He put forth a greater energy — and 
 said to the winds and waves, Peace ! be still ! His 
 will fastened upon electricity in the heavens, equal- 
 
ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 63 
 
 Ized that fluid, hushed the winds, and calmed the 
 waves. He opened the blind eye to the splendor of 
 the noon-tide blaze, and instantly penciled on its 
 retina, the universe. He opened the deaf ear, and 
 poured into its once silent, but now vocal chambers, 
 the harmony of rejoicing nature. He spoke, and 
 the dead stirred in their graves, and rose up from 
 their icy beds before him, and walked. That same 
 dread voice shall speak with a living energy, that the 
 very heavens shall hear, and the dead shall rise to die 
 no more, and turn their eyes from the dark, ruinable 
 tomb on the opening scenes of eternity! Mind and 
 will in the Creator, still more increased, move un- 
 numbered worlds. That same will, now infinite and 
 immutable, puts forth creative energy. He spake, 
 and it was done ; he commanded, and it stood fast ; 
 laid the measures thereof, and stretched the line upon 
 it when the morning stars sang together, and all the 
 sons of God shouted for joy. Hence, every grade 
 of mind, from the humblest up to apostolic great- 
 ness ; up to angel and archangel, cherubim and ser- 
 aphim ; up to Jesus Christ, till it reach the infinite 
 Jehovah, has power proportionate to its greatness 
 and goodness. Hence, it will be readily understood, 
 that a miracle is nothing more than a result pro- 
 duced by mind itself, independent of all physical 
 energy, except that one substance which is put into 
 motion by the living mind. 
 
 It may perhaps be said, that the apostles were in- 
 spired to heal, and as we are not inspired, therefore, 
 we do not possess the gift to heal. On this principle 
 I might reply, that the apostles were inspired to 
 preach, and as we are not inspired, therefore, we 
 have no gift to preach! I grant that the apostles 
 were inspired to preach and to heal, because it was 
 not possible, that at the starting point, they had any 
 other means for preparation. But now men preach, 
 not by inspiration, but because they feel it to be their 
 duty. So men must now heal because they feel it 
 to be their duty. 
 
64 LECTURES ON 
 
 It is by no means to be expected that we can 
 come up, at once, to apostolic power. No ; our 
 faith is too weak. But let us bring up our children 
 in the faith as we ought, and they will learn to mes- 
 merise as naturally as they learn to walk. Their 
 concentrativeness will become largely developed. 
 Their children will be born with more favorably 
 developed heads, and become greater in goodness, 
 until at length the whole apostolic power will return 
 to the earth in all its primitive splendor. It is Spir- 
 itualism, because it is the innate power of the living 
 mind, executed through the agency of the will. It 
 is that power which created worlds, for this was 
 done by the will of God. It is that power by which 
 worlds are governed, and creatures ruled, for this is 
 also done by the will of God. It is that power by 
 which we make impressions reciprocally upon each 
 other, for this is done by the will of man. And 
 lastly, it is " that power which shall awake the dead 
 from dreamless slumber into thoughts of heaven," 
 for this will be done by the will of God, and there is 
 no medium, only electricity, through which he can 
 come in contact with his creatures. 
 
 I will now bring forward a few cases from scrip- 
 ture, to show that the living have been thrown into 
 a singular slumber by the very presence of immortal 
 beings. Indeed, there is scarcely an instance where 
 angels have appeared to men, but what it has had 
 this effect. I will bring forward those that first 
 strike my mind, regardless of their arrangement. 
 
 It will be remembered, that when John the Rev- 
 elator was in the isle of Patmos, he had this vision : 
 " And being turned, I saw seven golden candle- 
 sticks, and in the midst of the seven candlesticks, 
 one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a gar- 
 ment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with 
 a golden girdle. His head and his hair were white 
 like wool ; as white as snow, and his eyes were as a 
 flame of fire ; and his feet like unto fine brass as if 
 
ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 65 
 
 they had been burned in a furnace, and his voice as 
 the sound of many waters. And he had in his right 
 hand seven stars, and out of his mouth went a sharp 
 two-edged sword, and his countenance was as the 
 sun shineth in his strength. And when I saw him 
 I fell down at his feet as one that is dead." Here 
 then, is a singular slumber approximating death. 
 
 Our Saviour, when he was transfigured on Mount 
 Taber, took Peter, James and John with him. For 
 a moment he was changed into his resurrection 
 splendor, and met Moses and Elias in glory. The 
 sacred historian in describing the scene, says, " And 
 his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment be- 
 came shining, exceeding white as snow, white as 
 the light, so as no fuller on earth can white them, 
 and there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talk- 
 ing with him. And Peter and them that were with 
 him were heavy with sleep ; and Peter said, Lord, 
 it is good for us to be here. Let us build here three 
 tabernacles ; one for thee, one for Moses, and one 
 for Elias, not knowing what he said." That is, 
 when he came out of this sleep he did not recol- 
 lect what he had said. They were thrown into this 
 state by the very presence of these minds. 
 
 Do you remember that after our Lord had eaten 
 his valedictory supper with his disciples, he went in- 
 to the garden of Gethsemane, and commanded them 
 to watch. He went a few steps from them and 
 prayed in agony, and sweat as it were drops of blood 
 falling to the ground. The guardian angel of Jesus 
 Christ appeared from heaven strengthening him. 
 The apostles fell into a deep sleep. Though this 
 was a scene of great interest to them, yet it seems 
 that the presence of this angel thus affected them. 
 
 He was nailed to the cross between two male- 
 factors to darken his glory and blot his name. The 
 Jews were his accusers, and the Romans his execu- 
 tioners. Hence, the world was combined against 
 him, while his own disciples forsook him in that 
 
66 LECTURES ON 
 
 dark hour of peril. The universe thus combined 
 against him, mocking and deriding him, and cover- 
 ing him with disgrace, even nature herself stepped 
 forward as it were, and with a mighty hand wiped 
 off that disgrace, and sustained him in his majesty. 
 The sun withdrew his light, rolled back his chariot, 
 midnight darkness spread her robe of sackcloth upon 
 his brilliant disc, and hung the world in the dark 
 shroud of mourning. Earthquakes awoke from 
 their tartarean dens and thundered. The earth 
 shook, the rocks rent, the graves opened, all nature 
 roused up and there brought to a centre all that is 
 grand, awful and sublime in her realms, as the mag- 
 nanimous sufferer expired! He was conveyed to 
 his tomb, and Roman soldiers were there stationed 
 to guard it. Soldiers whose business it was to die, 
 — who had been brought up in tented fields of war, 
 and who had from childhood encountered hardships 
 and toils, fatigues and dangers. They were men, 
 who had often bared their bosoms to the shafts of 
 battle, and undismayed listened to its stormy voice, 
 and who knew not what it was to quail beneath the 
 glance of a mortal eye. Such -men as these, were 
 stationed to guard that tomb, and hold the Prince of 
 Life in death. But, 
 
 " An angel's arm can't snatch him from the grave ; 
 Legions of angels can't confine him there." 
 
 On the morning of the third day, the last grand 
 scene in this interesting drama was opened. The 
 guardian angel of Jesus Christ was once more dis- 
 patched from the eternal throne. He descended 
 from heaven, and an earthquake shook creation. 
 He approached the tomb of the Holy Sleeper, and 
 stood before it. " He rolled back the stone from 
 the door of the sepulchre and sat upon it. His 
 countenance was like the lightning, and his raiment 
 
ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 67 
 
 white as snow ; and for fear of him, the keepers did 
 shake, and become as dead men! " 
 
 What, I ask, was it that threw them into this 
 slumber, with feelings of a cold shuddering fear, 
 so nigh approaching the dead ? I answer, it was the 
 will of this angel, whose countenance was like the 
 lightning, that sunk them into a motionless sleep. It 
 was his ivill which struck the vibrations of terror 
 through the dark chambers of their souls, and with- 
 ered them to the earth. 
 
 I should like to notice the circumstance of Paul 
 being caught up into the third heavens — whether out 
 of the body or in the body, he could not tell — of 
 Peter falling into a trance when he went upon the 
 house-top to pray, and of Zacharias being struck 
 dumb in the temple, but time will not permit. 
 
 I close, by returning my sincere thanks to the 
 Moderators, for the good order they have preserved ; 
 to the various Committees, for their patient examina- 
 tions and impartial reports of the experiments per- 
 formed ; and to the ladies and gentlemen, for their 
 faithful attendance and respectful attention, and also 
 for the good feelings they have uniformly manifested 
 towards the lecturer during the entire course, which 
 is now brought to a termination. 
 
 NOTE. 
 
 "We are created with a susceptibility of pain, and severe 
 pain. This is a part of our nature, as truly as our susceptibility 
 of enjoyment. God has implanted it, and has thus opened in 
 the very centre of our being a fountain of suffering. We carry 
 it within us, and can no more escape it than we can our power 
 of thought. We are apt to throw our pains on outward things 
 as their causes. It is the fire, the sea, the sword, or human en- 
 mity which gives us pain. But there is no pain in the fire or 
 the sword, which passes thence into our souls. The pain be- 
 
68 LECTURES, ETC. 
 
 gins and ends in the soul itself. Outward things are only the 
 occasions. Even the body has no pain in it, which it infuses into 
 the mind. Of itself, it is incapable of suffering. This hand may 
 be cracked, crushed in the rack of the inquisitor, and that burnt 
 in a slow fire ; but in these cases it is not the fibres, the blood- 
 vessels, the bones of the hand which endure pain. These are 
 merely connected, by the will of the Creator, with the springs of 
 pain in the soul. Here, here is the only origin and seat of suf- 
 fering. If God so willed, the gashing of the flesh with a knife, 
 the piercing of the heart with a dagger, might be the occasion 
 of exquisite delight. We know that, in the heat of battle, a 
 wound is not felt, and that men, dying for their faith by instru- 
 ments of torture, have expired with triumph on their lips. In 
 these cases, the spring of suffering in the mind is not touched 
 by the lacerations of the body, in consequence of the absorbing 
 action of other principles of the soul. All suffering is to be 
 traced to the susceptibility, the capacity of pain, which belongs 
 to our nature, and which the Creator has implanted ineradicably 
 within us." 
 
 Dr. Channing. 
 
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