MESMERISM IN PARIS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1600, 28 June 1887, Page 2

MESMERISM IN PARIS.

The phenomena associated with the ill-anderstood condition of mesmerism, or as it is now more scientifically designated, hypnotism, have always been a source of wonder, not unmixed with terror, to the general public. For y«ars, owing to the charlantary with which its manifestations were surrounded, the prolession in Europe disdained to make it a study and observation, and with the exception of itinerant showmen, it w*s left out in the cold. Of Iste years various observe™ whose eminence enabled them to despise the narrow-minded pn juriices of their contemporaries, hare taken the matter in hand and have enriclied medical literature with much information on the subject. So far it cannot be claimed to have been shown to possess any particular therapeutical vu'ue, and it has been of far more service to novelists anxious to avail themselves of its quasi-mysiic character than tn men whose object is the relief of human suffering. During the past week a mesmerist in Paris has favored tbt "doctors, journalists, and well known Parisians," with a seance, in the course of which some very extraordinary feats were accomplished by the newly discovered hypnotiser, who is described as a " comparatively young and handsome man." This may account in some degree for the wonderful fascination which ho was enabled to exercise on several of the lad'es present. On<», notwithstanding her evident di°'. u oni to become a public character f.,r the lime being, proved quite powerless to resist his invitation to come and lay her head on his shoulder. F»r more conclusive tt»s his influence on divers gentlemen present, men eminent in artß, journaliem, and literature, who, in spite of every effort to the contrary, performed a series of ludicrous manosuvres, to the intense delight of the remainder. The latter evident y experienced the same satisfaction that people on board ship are apt to manifest wis d vis their fellow voyagers whose gastric equdibrium has given way under the impulse of the salt lea waves. The nature of the condition nnder which thesH freaks are possible is such, in our opinion, as to render public exhibitions thereof demoralising and injurious. In several countries such exhibitions have been peremptorily forbidden on these vory grounds, and we trust that, should any further enterprises of this description

e undertaken in this country, the matter may receive consideration with a like object in view.—Medical Prese.