MESMERISM.

Dunstan Times, Issue 744, 21 July 1876, Page 3

MESMERISM.

In anticipation of an early visit of Professor Bruce, Mesmerist and Phrenologist, we give the following particulars of an extraordinary Case of Mesmerism, which recently occurred in Go van, Scotland.— “ Much excitement, and not a little indignation were occasioned in Govan, recently, by the conduct of a mesmerist, and there is some talk of a civil action being raised against him for injuries inflicted on a respectable young married man residing in Burndyke-street, who was allowed to lie on the cold, damp ground in Napier-street, for about twenty minutes, in a state of mesmerism, and had to be conveyed on a barrow to the police station, and the services of a medical man obtained before he was brought to his senses. The mesmerist gave an entertainment in the burgh on the previous evening, and the young man, who is a fitter in one of the ship-building yards, was mesmerised along with several others, and while in that state the mesmerist commanded him to come to the comer of the above street, at a quarter to two o’clock on the follow big day, and share with him the half of his dinner. The fitter went to his work in the morning all right; but just as he was in the act of taking his dinner, he suddenly left the table, carrying a little jug of broth, and made h : s way down Govan road in an excited manner to the place where the “ professor ” was to meet him. A large crowd soon collected around the poor fellow, who was as if pinned to the wall, holding on tenaciously to his little jug containing the broth. He eventually slid down upon the cold ground, however, and lay there for about twenty minutes. The excited crowd expected the mesmerist to keep his appointment and relieve the poor fellow from his position, but he did not put in an appearance. The police arrived on the scene, and the man was conveyed to the office on a barrow. Ills limbs were by this time perfectly stiff, and with the exception of a slight movement of the heart and pulse, the body showed [very little life. Dr Barras was sent for, and, after considerable difficulty, succeeded in bringing the young fellow out of his mesmeric sleep, after his wife and brothers, who had come to the office, had been greatly alarmed about his condition. The man’s health must have suffered considerably by the exposure, as he shivered like an aspen leaf on awakening, and had to be taken home in a cab.” North British Mail. .