CURIOUS CASE of MESMERISM.

Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1061, 8 April 1873, Page 4

CURIOUS CASE of MESMERISM.

[INDIAN PUBLIC OPINION.]

A very strange, yet authentic case is reported in the Indian Medical Gazette of December last, by the Civil Burgeon of Hosbungabad. A young woman, named Nunnee, aged twenty-four, was married ten years ago; she, however, did not go to her husband's house for two years afterwards. After staying with him for eight days, she suddenly became insensible, aud remained so for two or three days. She was taken back to her mother, and soon got well. Then follows a very remarkable history. During the next four or five years she never entered her husband's house without falling insensible and remaining so. He was very kind and attentive to her; she liked him, but whenever he came into her presence she at once sank into this state. This went on till she became emaciated and exhausted, and at last her parents applied to Court for a separate maintenance for her. While she was in in Court the husband entered, and she instantly became insensible, and was carried to the hospital, where the case was carefully attended to by Dr Cullen. While in this state her pulse was even, breathing soft, her body pliant and relaxed ; she could eat nothing. Experiments were carefully made to see if there was no triek about it. While she was in bed, her husbaud was muffled up and made to walk through the ward. She said she felt he was near her, and she was by no means well, but had not seen him anywhere about. Next day this experiment was repeated, and she actually became insensible as before. When the husband left the place she recovered. The experiment as to the influence of the husband's presence was tried in all sorts of ways. He was made to pass behind her, and to bo near her in a separate.ward, but this had no effect; but whenever he was brought to look on her face, though muffled up or disguised as a policeman, or a sepoy, and so forth, she was at once influenced. The experiments continued for about a month, and tho conclusion was that the husband unconsciously mesmerised her. The Court came to the conclusion that it was impossible she could live with him, and a separate allowance was ordered, The husband was asked to try -if he-could not remove the effect, seeing that he had the power to cause it, but he was quite frightened at the idea of having the power, and could not control it in any way.