EXTRAORDINARY CASE OF MESMERISM.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 113, 10 May 1876, Page 2

EXTRAORDINARY CASE OF MESMERISM.

Much excitement and not a little indig- . nation were occasioned.in Govan recently (writes the “ North. British Mail”) 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 Bnrndyke-street, who was allowed to lie on the cold, damp ground.jn papierstreet for about 20 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 be 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 corner of the above street at a quarter to 2 o’clock on the following day, and shave with him the half of his dinner. The fitter wentto his work on the morning all right; but just as be was in the act of taking his dinner, ho suddenly I,ft the table, carrying a little jug' full of broth; ami made his way down Govan-road in an excited state -to ■ the 'place where : the “ professor” was to meet him, r A large crowd soon collected 1 f around ■ -the w>or fellow; who was ; as ’if pinned to fh‘e ! holding on tenaciously to his little jug 'containing tire broth. He'' eventually slid down upon, the cold ground,.however,' and lay there for about 20 riiunites. The excited crowd expected the mesmerist to keep 1 his appointment and : relieve’ 'the poor fellow.from his position,,but.he did not put in an appearance. The police arrived on the 'scene,' arid thri rilari was conveyed to the office in a barrow. His 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 signs of life. Dr Burras was sent for, and after .copsiderable difficulty, succeeded in bringing the young fellow put of his mesmeric sleep, after his wife ,and brothers,; who had come to, the office,; had been, greatly alarmed about his condition., Theman’s health must have • suffered considerably by , the exposure, as he shivered like an aspen leaf on awakening, and bad to be taken homo in a cab.