Facts in Magnetism, Mesmerism, Somnambulism, Fascination, Hypnotism, Sycodonamy, Etherology, Pathetism, Explained and Illustrated (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1849. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... i The sitting may continue from half an hour to two hours; but forty minutes I have found a good average time. Of course, it depends, in a great measure, on the impressibility of the patient, and the degree of relief given. When it is desirous to terminate it, make two or three passes from the knees to the feet; then several transverse passes before the face and chest in a brisk manner. Make up your mind, beforehand, not to be alarmed at any strange and unexpected symptoms that present themselves during the operation; and whatever does occur, keep perfectly cool, and betray no agitation of manner; if you let any signs of alarm escape you, your patient is almost certain to go off into convulsions. When you can be guided to the seat of pain, keep your ringers over the spot, and make the passes in that direction. Tooth-ache, head-ache, sore throat, rheumatism, etc., will vanish under such manipulation, often with a rapidity that equally astonishes the operator and the patient. In operating, husband your strength as much as possible; use no more exertion than just enough to give the requisite motion to the hands and arms. You will lose enough by imparting the nervous fluid, without unnecessarily increasing the debility. This is a common fault with young operators. If the operator succeeds in giving relief from pain, he has produced the only phenomena he ought to expect. Do not allow the skepticism of those about you to rashly involve you in the mazes of experimenting on your patients. Point the unbeliever to the results; if he attributes them to imagination or any thing else, don't dispute the matter--let him have his own way without interference. Have patience--bide your time--and your turn will come, and, when it does, will richly recompense the delay, and satisfy...