ELECTRO-BIOLOGY.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IX, Issue 800, 2 April 1853, Page 4

ELECTRO - BIOLOGY.

[From the Sydney Morning Herald, Februtry 15.] Through the kind and active perseverance of onr worthy police magistrate, David Forbes, Esq., Mr. Daly, the celebrated Electro-Biological lecturer, was prevailed upon to exhibit his wonderworking skill in this far-famed science ; and by the liberality of the Rev. R. Forrest, M.A., one of the spacious halls of the King's School was open to Mr. Daly. By a quarter to eight o'clock on Friday evening, hundreds of the inhabitants of Parramatta,'as well as great numbers from the districts, assembled in the hall, and, from our own observation during many years' residence in the town, we assert that never on any occasion did so large and respectable an assemblage of ladies and gentlemen take place. We observed among the flite members ot Council, clergymen of various churches, town and country justices, Colonel Barney, Captain Scott, with their ladies ; in fact the handsome amphitheatre style in which the room was got up presented a grand appearance. At the appointed time Mr. Daly appeared on the platform, and was well received. The lecturer spent a thort time in explaining concisely the nature of the science of Electro-Biology, as to what it really was, and what it was not, but as these explanations have already appeared iv print, we refrain from taking up more of your valuable space onthe present occasion. After the preliminary remarks, Mr. Daly candidly stated that on an average not more than five out of twenty-five were usually susceptible under his influence. He called upon any person present to come forward and test his skill. Nine or ten persons, varying respectively from the ages of fifteen to fifty-five, arranged themselves in chairs before the Professor, with their backs to the audience. Profound silence was then requested, and Mr. Daly placed in the haud of each person a piece of some mineral, and desired them to confine their attention to some one subject for the space of twenty minutes, during which time the operator paced silently backwards and forward behind thepatients, occasionally drawing bis hand over the forehead of each, and lastly examined the pupils of the eye. Four out of the nine were then pronounced susceptible by Mr. Daly, viz., Mr. Haywood, a gentleman, we should think of about 25, an usher in the King's School ; Mr. Beddek, of about twenty ; Master Fisher, about sixteen ; and Master Campbell, of fifteen. Mi. Beddek was first called forward, and closed his eyes at the, waving of the operator's hand, and retained no power to open them until permitted to do so. Mr. Haywood iv like manner had his month closed, without the least power to release himself. They were also placed in a sparring position, and kept turning their closed hands round till ordered to stop. Mr. Daly then desired Mr. Beddek to place his hand flat on his, and press it gently, then defied him to remove it. Several efforts mere made to do so, but without success. With a motion of his finger, and a steady stare in the face, Mr. Daly ordered the patient to stand, then dared him to move, which he essayed to do, but could not, his limbs being paralyzed. He was next ordered to sit on the chair, and rise if he could, which he endeavoured hard to do, but failed. Mr. Haywood was then placed in a chair, and desired to getoutit if he could, but failed after many amusing efforts. His memory was next taken entirely away from him, so that upon being asked he could not even tell bis own name^ or the first letter of the alphabet. The three gentlemen were then placed beyond the power of speaking without stuttering, until released by the operator, which was effected in an instant by rapidly waving the hand across the face. Mr. Hay wood's memory was then taxed as to bis knowledge of any person in the room, but he could not recognise one, not even Mr. Forrest. Mr. Beddek then held a cane in both hands, and challenged by Mr. Daly had not the power to break or bend it in the least. We must remark here that Master Fisher did not appear to be so susceptible of the influence as the others. Mr. Beddek was next conscious that be saw in the room a garden of trees and vines, and with seriousness and intensity endeavoured to reach a bunch of grapes, which he imagined he did, and brought it to Mr. Daly who pronounced them very good. (Much applause.) In an instant, the operator removed the idea, and paralysed Mr. B. in a standing position, then commanded him to follow him, but. he could not. All four were then placed with their hands on their heads, without power to remove them ; all called upon to speak, but none were 'able without stammering. Mr. Beddek then received and tasted a glass of water, and at request made choice of coloniafwine to drink ; again be tasted the water and pronounced it weak wine. Champagne was next chosen, and, after supping the water, pronounced it good champagne. Mr. Daly then said, he would give him a glass of real Irish whiskey, but which Mr. B. said he did not like as it made him sick ; but on being requested by Mr. Daly to taste it, he again sipped the water, and set all sorts of grimaces at the taste ; when by another motion from the opera* tor he gets heavy, staggers to a seat, and becomes quite drunk, and is sated from falling, but dragged perfectly helpless on the floor. (Much applause.) In an instant, however he is restored to consciousness at the will of the operator. He is then made to believe his name was Daly. Mr. Haywood next had the use of bis intellects taken away so as not to know even Mr. Daly ; Master Campbell was placed before him, and he describee him as a lady with a dark silk dress, purple ribbons, a broken parasol in one hand and a handkerchief in the other. After the patients were released, Mr. Daly frequently put the question to them, before the audience, as to the truth of the influence, when the gentlemen each and all seriously affirmed the fact. Mr. Daly then held a white handkerchief before Mr. Haywood's eyes, which that gentlemen said at first, was rather black, and then light red. Mr. Beddek next placed bis hand flat on that of the operator, and was desired, if possible, to dislodge it, or to stand still, bnt in vain, and he was led about, and actually dragged round the platform, in spite of resistance. The next experiment was subject to much scrutiny by many gen lemen, viz.,

Mr. Beddek was desired to stretch out the right arm, which, by the will of the operator became partly numbed, then without feeling, and, at length, perfectly rigid ; it was examined by several learned and influential persons who were thoroughly convinced of the fact ; and Mr. Daly here assured the audience that the arm might in that state be amputated without any feeling by the patient. The crowning demonstration of the evening was next exhibited. Mr. Beddek was brought towards the glare of many lights, and with the eyelids wide open, the pupils of the eyes were perfectly fixed, the vision obliterated, and although a lighted candle was placed as near the eye as could be withoat burning, not a twinkle of the eye appeared, and on being questioned afterwards, Mr. B. declared he was in total darkness. (Much approbation.) Three of the gentlemen were then put into a hearty fit of laughter, from which they could not stop until permitted by Mr. Daly. Two of them were next placed in an agony of grief and weeping for a few minutes. Mr. Beddek, who seemed to be the most susceptible of the whole, had then a fight with a snake (which a small cane was made to lepresent) and a stick having been given him to defend himself with, he fought gloriously with the reptile, striking at it several times, and endeavouring to kill it ; at the same time doing his utmost to escape, which caused some confusion and bustle, when he was released by the operator. Both Mr. Beddek and Mr. Haywood were now per1 suaded that they were on fire, which threw them into a great state of excitement, calling forth the sympathies of some of the assembly. They tore off their coats, and hastily unbuttoned their waistcoats ; unfortunately, however, Mr. B. had on I such tight boots that had not the spell been broken, the exertion might have proved too much, but Mr. Daly watched his opportunity. The only attempt which appeared to fail was that of endeavouring to make the gentlemen sing one of the negro melodies. We have made our remarks on the performance as brief as possible, and have confined ourselves to fact, but in conclusion would just say that we endeavoured to obtain the opinions of several learned and highly respectable gentlemen, who stated unanimously that they could not detect any degree of deceptiou or imposition in the proceedings. Mr. Daly closed the evening's proceedings by thanking Mr. Forbes for his active exertions in assembling so large and respectable an audience ; and also the Rev. R. Forrest, for his kindness in giving the use of his commodious room, and the nice manner of its fitting up.