MESMERISM.

Southland Times, Issue 1071, 11 December 1868, Page 3

MESMERISM.

An extraordinary incident, says an English paper, occurred on Thursday night, Sept. 3, showing the danger of experimenting with mesmerism. On that evening, a young sailor, who, with some shipmates, was lodging at the Ferry Hotel, Sunderland, was standing at the bar, when a man named M'Kenzie commenced some mesmeric passes, and the young man being extremely susceptible, he was soon in a state of coma. In this state, he was completely at the will of the operator, and was unable to move except by M'Kenzie'spermission. "Whether 1 M'Kenzie was unable to restore the man 1 to consciousness or not, we cannot say. His 1 statement is that he took him to the open ' air, and he revived ; but that M'Kenzie left the house, while his " sub- . ject" remained in half a unconscious 1 state for some time, and ultimately > became very ill. His comrades had to sit up with him until three o'clock in the } morning, when he fell asleep. When - roused at breakfast time, he appeared to 5 be still labouring under the effects of b the misterious passes, became exceedingly b excited, and talked with all the incoi herence of a person insane. As the day 1 wore'on he became worse, and so dangerous r that his comrades determined to take him 3 to Mr Morgan's, in Monkwearmouth, for 3 his advice. Ultimately they reached Mr . Morgan's house to find that gentleman f absent in Scotland. On returning back i the mesmerisr's victim became more and 1 more excitable, until at last he made his r escape, and after performing a cumber of - most etravagant actions, climbed up a spout like a cat on to the roof" of a two-

storied bouse, and walked along the ridgA, while his shipmates stood below expecting every moment he would be dashed to pieces. At last he was coaxed down, but was in so dangerous a condition that he was removed to the workhouse, with all the appearances of insanity about him. Later on in the evening the police got hold of M'Kenzie, who, in the presence of Mr Staiusby, denied that he knew anything of mesmerism, but after that gentleman had severely pressed him, he admitted he knew the mode of bringing the man out, and he was sent to the workhouse to try the effect of his curative powers on his " patient." When he got there, however, he found that the doctor had given the sufferer a sleeping draught, and he was not permitted to do anything with him.