The Astrologer, and Oracle of Destiny, 1845, Vol. 1: A Repository of the Wonderful in Nature and the Curious in Art (Classic Reprint)

Excerpt from The Astrologer, and Oracle of Destiny, 1845, Vol. 1: A Repository of the Wonderful in Nature and the Curious in Art

These lines, as penned some three hundred and odd years before the wonderful mesmeric revelations of Elizabeth An drews, seem almost prophetic, for most truly do they shadow forth the marvellous visions with which that young lady has been favoured, and of which we shall have somewhat to say anon: The opponents of mesmerism have been gradually demeaning of late years, despite the senseless taunts and jeers by which its advocates have been met. Dr. Elliotson has contributed greatly to bring its incomprehensible principle to a science; and fiance: Hall, and other eminent lecturers, have well seconded his creditable intentions. The almost miraculous recovery of Miss Martineau, whose masculine mind and strong mental endowments reclude even the' supposition of collusion, must have been a cavy blow and great dmouragement to the set of Utilitarians, who would reduce the human intellect to the level of a steam-engine, with the workings of which they pre sume to be so intimate] acquainted. The convalescence of this lady - who, so far from aving a fervid imagination, has chiefly limited her authorship to works on political economy - has even induced the respectable conductor of the first weekly literary periodical in the kingdom to devote whole pagfs of his publication to a recital of the mesmeric operations y which the beneficial result was oduced. The most bigoted scorner of mesmerism must here staggered by this unsought mass ofcvidence, which goes far to establish the truth of the doctrine that a sympathetic fluid exists between us all, so subtle and etherial, that our senses can only take cognizance of it in its effects. As we shall have occasion hereafter to detail the most recent exam ice of mesmeric influence, it will suflice here to merely allud; to the above remarkable illustration, it now being merely our aim and purpose to show the nature of the operation itself, which can be casil tested by all who feel sed to make the experiment. At in one remonstrance, beore elucidating the practice, it is outwish to be firmly energetic - mesmerism is of too serious at nature to be tnfled with, and should never be performed or of frolic, nor unless the operator has a of the physiology of the human s stem.

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