SINGULAR CASE OF MESMERISM.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1531, 13 July 1886, Page 3

SINGULAR CASE OF MESMERISM.

Some attention has been attracted in Edinburgh by a remarkable incident which occurred there recently, illustrating the pnw«*rof mesmerism. A mesmerist named Herman, had been psrt forming in the oily for some time, and amongst his “subjects” was a young man, about 24 years of . age, on whom he operated a number of times. Meeting this yaung man on the street, Henman told him to come to bis ball that evening. This he promised to do, and Herman warned hjqa that if be did not do ao he would call out *his (the mes? meristV) name at nine o’clock that night wherever he might be. The young man, instead of keeping his word, went to one of the theatres, and punctually at nine o’clock he startled the audience by calling out “ Herman ! Herman !” in loud and distressing tones, at the same time laying back in bis seat, with his eyes rolling wildly, He was carried out, and the mesmerist was sent for, but be would not leave bis own entertainment, which was then going on, and sent his assistant instead. As the latter failed to bring the patient round, he was sent in a cab to the Royal Infirmary and placed in s padded room, where the doctors vainly tried to restore him to consciousness, his limbs being by this titpe rigid, and apparently insensible to severe pinching, while be still at times murmured the mesmerist’s name. Between 10 and II p.m. Herman arrived at the infirmary, and with two or three “ passes” of his hands oyer the patient’s face restored him to consciousness. ' Te further display bis power, the giesiperist again put the tp an under the influence, and pierced bis bands and cheek with a needle and. thread without the subject seeming to feel anything. He then brought him round again, and the two walked away together. The medical men who witnessed the experiments were convinced of their genuineness, but were hot so sure as to their effects being harmless. Tbs young man who was operated upon ia described as being of slight bjj|ld, amf apparently Weak physically.