Six lectures on the philosophy of mesmerism : delivered in the Marlboro' chapel, January 23-28, 1843 / by John Bovee Dods ; reported by a hearer.

  • Dods, John Bovee, 1795-1872.
Date:
1843
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Six lectures on the philosophy of mesmerism : delivered in the Marlboro' chapel, January 23-28, 1843 / by John Bovee Dods ; reported by a hearer. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    sels pass round among the convolutions of the brain; but in the nerve itself there is no blood, and the whole mass of brain is but a congeries of nerves. These are charged with a nervo-vital fluid, which is manufactured from electricity. Hence, the circu- lating system containing the blood, and the nervous system containing the magnetic fluid, are not to be blended, but distinctly considered. Now as a hu- man being may lack the proper quantity of blood in his circulating system, so he may lack the proper quantum of the nervo-vital fluid in his nervous sys- tem. This is certainly rational. And, moreover, it may be easily known when such is the case. When we see persons, who, on hearing suddenly some good or bad news, are thrown into great ex- citement, tremor, and agitation, we may be certain that their nervous systems lack the due measure of the nervo-vital fluid. Now let a person, whose brain is fully charged, come in contact with one whose brain is greatly wanting in its due measure of this fluid, and let the person possessing the full brain gently and unchangeably hold his mind upon the other, and by the action of the will, the fluid will pass from the full brain to the other, until the equi- librium between the fluids in the two brains is at- tained. The sudden change in the receiving brain produces a coolness and a singular state of insensi- bility. This is magnetism ; and it is in perfect ac- cordance with all the principles of philosophy in the known realms of nature. If any one denies the operation of the law of equilibrium in this case, then he here makes a chasm, amidst the immensity of God's works, which he can nowhere else discover. I have clearly shown him that, from the grossest matter in the universe, step by step, through every grade, up to electricity, the same law holds its em- pire, and matter is continually equalizing itself with matter. On this principle, it will be readily perceived that,