- Email: [email protected]
Reviews and Notices of Books.
205 the exfoliation of the cuticle being chiefly apparent
on the Summits of the central papules, and along the convexity of the rings. The scales, however, were obviously nothing more than desiccated epiderma, and very thin; and not, as in the case of lepra, altered in its anatomical structure, and thick and laminated. This poor girl had been injudiciously treated previously to her application to me; she had taken mercury for the eruption until her mouth had been made sore. Now this was very unnecessary, and might have been attended with serious results in a person of so delicate a constitution; as it was I attribute the tendency to suppurate, which was apparent in some of the papules, to this cause. The duration of the eruption had undoubtedly been prolonged by the mercurialization. My treatment consisted in the exhibition of the iodide of potassium, in decoction of sarsaparilla, under which she got rapidly well, the eruption subsiding and disappearing in the course of three weeks. Henrietta-street, Cavendish-square.
REPORT OF
A RECENT CASE OF CHOLERA SUCCESSFULLY TREATED BY FREQUENT DOSES OF CALOMEL, EFFERVESCENT DRAUGHTS, AND BRANDY. BY R. BUDD M. &
W. P-,
PAINTER, ESQ., M.R.C.S.Eng., L.S.A., Westminster.
Seven P.M.: Doing well in every respect; has had anothersmall bilious motion, and passed half a pint of urine. l1th.-Is cheerful and comfortable; has had no dejection;is excessively weak, but pulse (76) does not intermit to-day; relishes the beef-tea &c. To have six drachms of castor oil. 12th.-Had two bilious evacuations after the castor oil. Convalescent. To those who have not tried the above mode of treatment, I can confidently recommend it, not only because it was evidently beneficial in this case, but for the reason, that during the epidemic of last autumn, I found, after trying many plans, that this was the most successful; and my field of observation was by no means small, as medical officer to the parish of St. Margaret, Westminster. The chief caution in treatment of the above kind is to watch the effects very carefully, and leave off the calomel and brandy gradually, as the favourable symptoms arise. I should observe, that in the above casethere was no circumstance that could suggest a thought concerning contagion or infection. Storey’s-gate, St. James’s-park, Aug. 12, 1850. P.S.-I find that the friends of the patient gave him more brandy than I ordered, and that he must have had little short of a pint from first to last.
Reviews and Notices of Books. Researches
on
M:tgnetism, Heat, Light, Crystallization, and
Chemical Attraction in their Relations to the )7iW Force. By KARL BARON VON REICHENBACH, Ph. D. Translated and Edited, &c., by WILLIAM GREGORY, M.D., F.R.S.E., Professor of Chemistry in the University of Edinburgh. London : Taylor, Walton, & Co. 1850. 8vo. pp. 463, with Three Plates. watery motion. I was not called upon to visit him until TiME has to show whether the labours of the Baron Von idne P.M. on the 9th, when he presented the usual signs of in the work we are now about to collapse, which was evidently proceeding to that of the pro- Reichenbach, as recorded foundest kind. He was lying across the bed, with his head notice, will bestow upon him an immortality of scientific renown hanging over its edge; frequent streams of colourless fluid connected with one of the most remarkable series of physico. gushing from the mouth and the rectum, without the least physiologic investigations ever undertaken, or stamp him as one effort; the pulse scarcely perceptible; the hands shrivelled; of the most mistaken and deluded of mortals the world has ever the tongue, nose. cheeks, and extremities cold: the voice in the of seen. Between âû in the legs and belly bad. nearly gone; and I immediately ordered the legs to be encased in mustard with a mural tablet beside those of Newton, Hunter, and poultices, and a large one also to be placed on the abdomen; Davy, and one in the calendar of unmitigated yet remarkable two grains of calomel to be given every five minutes; an delusions, there is no place for the scientific and noble owner effervescing saline draught, with a good large tablespoonful of of the Schloss Reisenberg: one or the other must be his lot, brandy, every quarter of an hour; and an ounce of cold water as to whether he is proved to be a truthful or a misfrequently.-Half-past two P.M.: The patient is much im- according proved ; sickness and purging not near so frequent; cramps taken investigator. If the former, the memory of Reichenmuch better; pulse more perceptible; breath &c. not so cold. bach can never perish from the brightest page in the Archives To continue the calomel every ten minutes, and an effervescing of Science; if the latter, it will stand as a beacon to warn draught and brandy each quarter of an hour, and to have an others from the quicksands of error and fatuity, even higher ounce of water very often.-Half-past three: On entering the than the many by which the world has yet had the fortune to room, I was pleased to see the countenance much more natural; a nice state of reaction coming on; cramps better ;- be guided. Such being the position of the author, we feel no no dejection since my last visit, and retching only twice. little responsibility in sitting down to our present task, the To have beef-tea to drink, instead of water; to continue the more so, because it is one which relates to the consideracalomel every half-hour, and the effervescing draught and tion of certain asserted facts, of which we confess we have brandy every half-hour also.-Five o’clock: Better in all not the slightest practical experience; nor, moreover, are or some redness respects; there is no sickness purging; slight and swelling of gums to be observed. To take the powders we acquainted with the result of any such experience which every three hours, and the draught every hour or so, with two has fallen to others, save Reichenbach himself, or at most, teaspoonfuls of brandy only.-Eight o’clock: Is quite comfort- alone with that, afforded by the appendix of Dr. Gregory to able ; has had one slight, colourless, watery dejection, but no the present work. sickness or retching; the lips, tongue, and other parts have A vast body of novel assertions has been brought before the regained their natural warmth; the voice and pulse are much stronger; the eyes brighter; the gums evidently affected, but world, and inquiry, conducted alone on scientific principles, the face is slightly flushed, the superficial veins of the head can vouch for or reject them. That they are worthy of such prominent, and there is a little headache. The brandy to be inquiry, no one can doubt, seeing that, according to Dr. Greleft off; the powders to be continued every four hours, as also the qualifications of the author are of the highest kind. the effervescing draughts; the head to be kept moderately gory, " He possesses a thorough scientific education, combined raised on the pillow, and to be frequently bathed with cold water.-Eleven o’clock: Going on admirably. To continue with extensive knowledge. His life has been devoted to the same remedies. science, and to its application to the practical purposes of August 10th.-Half-past eight A.M.: Has passed a tranquil mankind. He is known as a distinguished improver of the night, and had two small bilious motions, but no sickness; iron manufacture in his native country, Austria. He is a pulse 90, intermitting every few beats; no headache or heat thorough practical chemist, and by his well-known researches of the skin; voice strong, and has passed two ounces and a on tar, has acquired a very high position. But in geology, half of urine this morning; the system is affected by the physics, and mineralogy, he has been equally active. In parmercury, but not too much so. Omit the calomel; go on with ticular, he is the highest living authority on the subject of effervescing draughts; and take beef-tea and arrowroot.— meteorites or aerolites, of which remarkable bodies he pos-
policeman, aged thirty-two, went on duty, quite well, on the evening of the 8th inst. At four o’clock the next morning he was suddenly seized with a " pinching pain in his inside," followed quickly by two motions, looking very much like beer. He felt excessively ill, and being very soon relieved from duty, went home, when he had a most copious a
cramps
very
;pheosis
temple
hilosophy
206 magnificent collection.... But these are the least of his qualifications.... Berzelius, who well knew the value of the author’s labours, was right in saying that the investigation could not be in better hands.... I have here ventured to add my humble testimony to that of the great Swedish philosopher."-p. xvi. We now quote the author:" If we make downward passes with strong magnets, having a supporting power of about ten pounds, along the persons of ’ from fifteen to twenty individuals, but without touching them, we shall always find one, or perhaps more, among the number, who feel affected thereby in a peculiar manner:’-p. 1. Persons thus affected, and who experience the other sensations and phenomena to be afterwards alluded to, are denominated "sensitives," and it often happens that a much larger proportion than the above is found; but powerful men and healthy women are the lowest of the sensitives-often not sensitives at all; whilst feeble or debilitated somnambulists constitute the highest. A perfectly healthy person may be sensitive to many of the phenomena, but a certain amount of nervous disorder appears to "present to us the reactions in their strongest form, and exhibit the finest discrimination of 48. differences."—p. " In certain diseases, especially where catalepsy is present, there exists a decided attraction between the human hand sesses a
Our author has thus cleared the way for animal magnetisms and concludes that" The crystalline force and animal magnetism are thoroughly identical, so that the same laws which regulate the former apply also to the latter."-p. 90. The existence and source of the new force being, according to the opinion the author fully established, the name of ODYLE is bestowed upon it by Reichenbach. "The idea expressed by it very probably includes that which a year later than I, Dr. Faraday introduced to the scientific world as a new force, under the name of diamag2zetisne’ (p. 228); "whether magnetism, diamagnetism, and odyle may one day be reduced to a common origin, or whether they will continue to be separated by essential differences; these are questions, the solution of which appears to me to be distant." (p. 229.) But for the present the author acknowledges " Heat must be essentially distinct from odyle" (p. 232); "a gulf separates odyle from electricity" (p. 236); "the identity of odyle with magnetism is entirely out of the question.’"
(p. 242.)
Our readers have now a general introduction to the remarkable views promulgated by Baron Reichenbach, but our limits entirely prevent us from exhibiting to them the various subsidiary branches of the subject springing from the more fundamental axioms we have cursorily indicated. The whole and a powerful magnet:’-p. 27. A further inquiry into the nature &c. of this peculiar force is indeed attempted to be based upon such a wide field of of the magnet elicits from the author the following remarks:- details that any continuous analysis here is quite beyond the " Persons who are highly sensitive perceive, according to question. There are some few points yet, however, which W8 the degree of their sensitiveness, and to the more or less com- cannot refrain from noticing. It is seen that, according to plete darkness, a smaller or larger luminous appearance of our author, "a peculiar power, a fundamental force, whicli the nature of a moving flame at the poles of strong magnets, had hitherto remained unobserved," (p. 35,) is presented to when examined in the dark," (p. 15.) " Light emanates from our recognition. This" opens up a new leaf in the history of magnets in the dark, and not all, but very many persons, both healthy and diseased, perceive this light with certainty the dynamides or imponderables, to study which, and to reand distinctness,"(p. 275.) "The odylic light, weak as it is, duce its propositions to fixed quantities, ought henceforth to has yet force enough to pass through the closed eyelids, and form one of the problems of physics," (p. 60.) Thousands of become perceptible to sensitives," (p. 445.) stories (says the author) will now receive a natural ex" There resides in matter a peculiar force hitherto over- ghost (p. 127,) and it shows 11 that the whole material looked, which, when the crystalline fpr hs.s been assumed, is planation, even universe, beyond our earth, acts on us with the very found acting in the line of the axes. At the poles of the axes it is most powerful, but its effects are different at the two same kind of influence which resides in all terrestrial objects; poles, and are opposite. The influence of this force on sen- that we stand in a connexion of mutual influence hitherto sitive persons coincides exactly with that excited on the unsuspected with the universe, so that in fact the stars are same persons by a magnet and by its poles."-p. 39. not altogether devoid of action on our sublunary, perhaps "The relation of -magnets and of crystals to the animalI on our practical world, and on the mental processes in nerve is entirely alike......The force of the magnet is not, asi even, has been hitherto taken for granted, one single force, but ’, some heads," (p. 163.) Important physiological truths relative consists of two, since to that long known, a new, hitherto ’, to hygiene are developed, (p. 204, et seq.) and such remarkable unknown, and decidedly distinct one must be added-the phenomena as the aurora-borealis, meteorites, &c., receive force, namely, which resides in crystals."-p. 46. their probable explanation, (p. 445, et seq.) Reichenbach, at the commencement of his "third treatise," We stated at the commencement that we intended venturing alludes to the fact, that from time immemorialupon no decided opinion as to the real position which the " certain enigmatical phenomena have been known, which are researches of Baron Reichenbach must hold. But we do produced by the magnet in its action on certain patients, and mean, with deference to the author, and the editor of his especially on somnambulists.-p. 62. work, to express certain drawbacks we have felt during the Before seizing the noli me tangere of animal magnetism, how’ perusal of the " Researches" to a too ready acquiescence in the ever, the author proceeds to clear the way by ascertaining, views both of the Viennese and of the Edinburgh philosopher. as far as possible, the part played in these phenomena by the In the first place, we cannot help being influenced by the magnetism of the earth, (p. 63,) since he perceived thatthat both Reichenbach and Dr. Gregory are, or at knowledge " it was impossible to obtain a pure unmixed scientific result any rate seem to us to be, believers in the ultra-transcendenfrom any experiment whatever, so long as this powerful factor, talisms of animal magnetism, and were such before they were which must in every quarter influence the phenomena, was Give now whatever name they choose to it, and let odylists. not attended to, measured, and taken into account."-p. 64. them be able to "reduce its facts to their naked physical exInvestigations (the history of which is not a little remark- istence," yet the facts to them exist though the force proable) lead to the conclusion, thatducing them is odyle and not mesmerism. Secondly, although " to sensitives of various kinds, any other position than that in very many cases it is shown that perfectly healthy persons in which the head is towards the north, and the feet towards are precipients of more or less of the phenomena of odylism. the south, is highly distressing, but that lying in the magnetic head towards the west, in our northern yet it is indisputably the fact that the originalsensitives’ parallel, withis the hardly endurable by sensitive persons...... upon whose experience the author based his investigations hemisphere, Terrestrial magnetism exerts in sensitive persons, whether were diseased ones, and suffering under some one or other dishealthy or diseased, a peculiar action, strong enough to de- ease of the nervous system, even catalepsy; and, moreover. stroy their comfort; in the case of healthy sensitives, to alterthroughout the whole course of his investigations it is evident their sleep; in the case of diseased sensitives, to disturb the circulation, the functions of the nerves, and the equilibrium: that more or less derangement of the functions of the nervous centres constituted the best condition for the production of of the mental powers."-p. 71.
207 Even amongst the nearly seventy persons com- On A nimal Chemistry in its Application to Stomach and Renal Diseases. By H. BENCE JoNES, M.D. 8vo, pp. 149. London. the of those experimented on, and whose names list posing follow in the order of the amount of their sensitiveness, it is THis work mainly consists of the Lectures lately published by at once apparent that the highest sensitives are those most the author in this journal. It is scarcely necessary that the likely to confound intrinsic and subjective states of their own readers of THE LANCET should be informed that the work of minds and feelings with extrinsic and objective phenomena. Dr. Bence Jones is one of the most philosophical and practical Thus, at the top of the list stands a series of Madames and which has issued from the press for many years past. Mademoiselles, whilst at the bottom are the Naturalists and Physicians, &c. This alone would indicate the necessity of the MEDICAL REFORM. greatest caution, setting aside the fact of several of the ladies
odylic effects.
[MR. CARTWRIGHT, OF OSWESTRY, IN REPLY TO MR. ALLISON suffering under important derangements of the functions of OF EAST RETFORD.] the cerebro- spinal axis. To Editor of THE LANCET. the satisfied the that 2ndly. Although we are by no means were intended to have at Vienna conducted as inserted the following letter in the of the committee SIR,-I investigations of last number the Provincial Medical and Surgical Journal, much the in same should have we find, part, been, yet they but was too late. I therefore take the liberty of replying, reasons alleged by Reichenbach for their failure as were forced through your pages, to a letter published by Mr. Allison, of East upon us here by the mesmerists when they failed, and were Retford, in the Provincial Journal of the lOth ultimo, which letter gives a wrong construction to the proposals presented to exposed. ThusSir George Grey by the deputation from the provinces, and much "There were always ten or fifteen young men crowded the intentions of the gentlemen who composed the misrepresents round the sensitive in a small room." "Every single person is It is with some hesitation that I attempt a reply to deputation. a far stronger source of odyle than a magnet: the close so powerful a writer on the medical reform question, but being proximity of one man is in many cases sufficient, on the one personally alluded to, I must risk the alternative. hand, to annihilate the perceptive power of the observer, and, Eja ! sudabis satis, "She was on the other, to extinguish the magnetic light." Si eum illo incceptas homine, ea eloquentia est." also expected to satisfy the excited expectations of those Mr. Allison correctly states, " that two parties have each lately assembled, who incessantly irritated her." " In this general made application to Sir George Grey for parliamentary legisconfusion and restlessness, she was expected to solve with favour of their respective requirements in medical precision," &c. (p. 370, et seq.)-" They shifted and hid the lation in and he thinks that each should claim to be considered a reform," saw a occurred she it in and all when light magnet directions, to none of them that they had faces, eyes, hands, hypochondria, party entirely distinct from, and unconnected with, the other; to &c., all of which emit light, and in general more strongly than which there can be no possible objection. He also says, that "
has professed to represent the general practitioners of magnet." (p. 355.)—" Those who are less sensible will be each partyand Wales, and admits, that many of the general pracEngland and more so as blindinconsistent-the uncertain, possibly in itself produces an unnatural and disquieting state." titioners have joined both parties-an admission the more candid folding 11 If, also, many persons be present, if they speak much, and on his part, as differing somewhat from the claim of the National ask all manner of questions, move backwards and forwards, it Institute to be the exclusive representative of that order of pracis natural we should obtain more or less incoherent answers," titioners. I can venture to assure Mr. Allison, that no mystification whatever existed in the mind of Sir George Grey in &c. (p. 40.) respect to the objects of the two deputations. 3rdly. The nature of some of the experiments was of such a You and the other deputation," he observed, have the same kind as almost entirely to forbid the non-interference of an common object in view-the improvement and reform of your intrinsic and subjective influence. (See pp. 84, 88, 97, 192, I profession: thus far you are concurrent; but afterwards you seek different ways to attain your ends." I imagine this was intelligible 194.) enough. There did, however, appear a little mystification on the 4thly. Some of the more highly sensitives do experience, General Practitioner" question; and as the Lord Advocate and have all their lives experienced, such remarkable pheno- solicited further information on the subject, some of the gentlemen mena, that it becomes astonishing how they have ever existed of the deputation prepared a memorial thereon, which, being apin the form of ordinary humanity. proved of by the deputation at large, was forwarded to the HomeSecretary ; and as it was subsequently published and extensively " When Mlle. Reichel was out in a clear night, she always circulated, I have no doubt it has not escaped Mr. Allison s pointed out the Milky Way as decidedly cool; as also the notice. It will answer his interrogatories, What have fellow’s Pleiades, the Great Bear, and others; and, in general, the to do with the National Institute ? and, What has the National starry expanse was felt cool, and only individual stars caused Institute to do with fellows of the College of Surgeons ?" by a sensation of warmth. These were invariably stars of the showing that fellows of the said College (almost everywhere first magnitude, (planets,) and when I examined them with the except in the metropolis) are to all intents and purposes general dyalite I found them to be Saturn with his rings; Jupiter with practitioners, and as such possess a prescriptive right to be inhis four satellites; Venus; in short, always a planet"* * * cluded in any legislation affecting those who practise generally. " She was unable to bear long the aspect of Jupiter, as of all Another beneficial result to be anticipated from the Memorial is, bright light. She said that all the stars together acted on her that it will have the good effect of preventing the contingency like a weak magnet, not only in front, but from behind on the threatened by Mr. Allison, that since Mr. Wakley altered the spinal column, but especially on the head, where she was most demand of the one party, and since the editor of the Provincial sensitive to magnetic influence."-(p. 162.) Journal sanctioned that alteration, Sir George Grey must look upon the other party-the National Institute-as the only one reWhatever may be the value to be attached to the testimony maining in the field"?! of such men as Endlicher, Kotschy, Diesing, and Huss, &c., we Now, Sir, the gist of Mr. Allison’s letter consists in six propomust confess that we paused in deep reflection upon the fol- sitions, on which he considers the minds of medical men to be well satisfiedlowing statement of Reichenbach, in reference to his chiefpretty 1. That no alteration will be made in the constitution of either Mlle. witness, Reichel, of the existing colleges which has not the approbation of the " Aged twenty-nine, of stout build, the daughter of a servant council of such college. in the Imperial Palace of Saxenburg. When seven years 2. That the Council of the College of Surgeons will not allow old, she had fallen out of a window, two stories high, and had their College to be made a College of General Practitioners. ever since been subject to nervous attacks, sometimes passing 3. That the combination or company formed by the Provincial into insanity, at other times into sleep-walking, and speaking Association, with those gentlemen represented by JlrIr. Cartwright, in her sleep."-(p. 9.) Mr. Bottomley, Mr. Wakley, 6-c., are applying for merely a trifling alteration in the constitution of the College of Surgeons. The above must assuredly add to the necessity for the 4. That the Council of the rational Institute have not joined extreme caution with which all that has been laid down by that combination or company in their altered plan of reform. Baron Reichenbach has yet to be investigated by men 5. That the National Institute always has sought, and now is . eminent in science. seeking, very different powers and privileges.
the
11
"
’
"
on the Summits of the central papules, and along the convexity of the rings. The scales, however, were obviously nothing more than desiccated epiderma, and very thin; and not, as in the case of lepra, altered in its anatomical structure, and thick and laminated. This poor girl had been injudiciously treated previously to her application to me; she had taken mercury for the eruption until her mouth had been made sore. Now this was very unnecessary, and might have been attended with serious results in a person of so delicate a constitution; as it was I attribute the tendency to suppurate, which was apparent in some of the papules, to this cause. The duration of the eruption had undoubtedly been prolonged by the mercurialization. My treatment consisted in the exhibition of the iodide of potassium, in decoction of sarsaparilla, under which she got rapidly well, the eruption subsiding and disappearing in the course of three weeks. Henrietta-street, Cavendish-square.
REPORT OF
A RECENT CASE OF CHOLERA SUCCESSFULLY TREATED BY FREQUENT DOSES OF CALOMEL, EFFERVESCENT DRAUGHTS, AND BRANDY. BY R. BUDD M. &
W. P-,
PAINTER, ESQ., M.R.C.S.Eng., L.S.A., Westminster.
Seven P.M.: Doing well in every respect; has had anothersmall bilious motion, and passed half a pint of urine. l1th.-Is cheerful and comfortable; has had no dejection;is excessively weak, but pulse (76) does not intermit to-day; relishes the beef-tea &c. To have six drachms of castor oil. 12th.-Had two bilious evacuations after the castor oil. Convalescent. To those who have not tried the above mode of treatment, I can confidently recommend it, not only because it was evidently beneficial in this case, but for the reason, that during the epidemic of last autumn, I found, after trying many plans, that this was the most successful; and my field of observation was by no means small, as medical officer to the parish of St. Margaret, Westminster. The chief caution in treatment of the above kind is to watch the effects very carefully, and leave off the calomel and brandy gradually, as the favourable symptoms arise. I should observe, that in the above casethere was no circumstance that could suggest a thought concerning contagion or infection. Storey’s-gate, St. James’s-park, Aug. 12, 1850. P.S.-I find that the friends of the patient gave him more brandy than I ordered, and that he must have had little short of a pint from first to last.
Reviews and Notices of Books. Researches
on
M:tgnetism, Heat, Light, Crystallization, and
Chemical Attraction in their Relations to the )7iW Force. By KARL BARON VON REICHENBACH, Ph. D. Translated and Edited, &c., by WILLIAM GREGORY, M.D., F.R.S.E., Professor of Chemistry in the University of Edinburgh. London : Taylor, Walton, & Co. 1850. 8vo. pp. 463, with Three Plates. watery motion. I was not called upon to visit him until TiME has to show whether the labours of the Baron Von idne P.M. on the 9th, when he presented the usual signs of in the work we are now about to collapse, which was evidently proceeding to that of the pro- Reichenbach, as recorded foundest kind. He was lying across the bed, with his head notice, will bestow upon him an immortality of scientific renown hanging over its edge; frequent streams of colourless fluid connected with one of the most remarkable series of physico. gushing from the mouth and the rectum, without the least physiologic investigations ever undertaken, or stamp him as one effort; the pulse scarcely perceptible; the hands shrivelled; of the most mistaken and deluded of mortals the world has ever the tongue, nose. cheeks, and extremities cold: the voice in the of seen. Between âû in the legs and belly bad. nearly gone; and I immediately ordered the legs to be encased in mustard with a mural tablet beside those of Newton, Hunter, and poultices, and a large one also to be placed on the abdomen; Davy, and one in the calendar of unmitigated yet remarkable two grains of calomel to be given every five minutes; an delusions, there is no place for the scientific and noble owner effervescing saline draught, with a good large tablespoonful of of the Schloss Reisenberg: one or the other must be his lot, brandy, every quarter of an hour; and an ounce of cold water as to whether he is proved to be a truthful or a misfrequently.-Half-past two P.M.: The patient is much im- according proved ; sickness and purging not near so frequent; cramps taken investigator. If the former, the memory of Reichenmuch better; pulse more perceptible; breath &c. not so cold. bach can never perish from the brightest page in the Archives To continue the calomel every ten minutes, and an effervescing of Science; if the latter, it will stand as a beacon to warn draught and brandy each quarter of an hour, and to have an others from the quicksands of error and fatuity, even higher ounce of water very often.-Half-past three: On entering the than the many by which the world has yet had the fortune to room, I was pleased to see the countenance much more natural; a nice state of reaction coming on; cramps better ;- be guided. Such being the position of the author, we feel no no dejection since my last visit, and retching only twice. little responsibility in sitting down to our present task, the To have beef-tea to drink, instead of water; to continue the more so, because it is one which relates to the consideracalomel every half-hour, and the effervescing draught and tion of certain asserted facts, of which we confess we have brandy every half-hour also.-Five o’clock: Better in all not the slightest practical experience; nor, moreover, are or some redness respects; there is no sickness purging; slight and swelling of gums to be observed. To take the powders we acquainted with the result of any such experience which every three hours, and the draught every hour or so, with two has fallen to others, save Reichenbach himself, or at most, teaspoonfuls of brandy only.-Eight o’clock: Is quite comfort- alone with that, afforded by the appendix of Dr. Gregory to able ; has had one slight, colourless, watery dejection, but no the present work. sickness or retching; the lips, tongue, and other parts have A vast body of novel assertions has been brought before the regained their natural warmth; the voice and pulse are much stronger; the eyes brighter; the gums evidently affected, but world, and inquiry, conducted alone on scientific principles, the face is slightly flushed, the superficial veins of the head can vouch for or reject them. That they are worthy of such prominent, and there is a little headache. The brandy to be inquiry, no one can doubt, seeing that, according to Dr. Greleft off; the powders to be continued every four hours, as also the qualifications of the author are of the highest kind. the effervescing draughts; the head to be kept moderately gory, " He possesses a thorough scientific education, combined raised on the pillow, and to be frequently bathed with cold water.-Eleven o’clock: Going on admirably. To continue with extensive knowledge. His life has been devoted to the same remedies. science, and to its application to the practical purposes of August 10th.-Half-past eight A.M.: Has passed a tranquil mankind. He is known as a distinguished improver of the night, and had two small bilious motions, but no sickness; iron manufacture in his native country, Austria. He is a pulse 90, intermitting every few beats; no headache or heat thorough practical chemist, and by his well-known researches of the skin; voice strong, and has passed two ounces and a on tar, has acquired a very high position. But in geology, half of urine this morning; the system is affected by the physics, and mineralogy, he has been equally active. In parmercury, but not too much so. Omit the calomel; go on with ticular, he is the highest living authority on the subject of effervescing draughts; and take beef-tea and arrowroot.— meteorites or aerolites, of which remarkable bodies he pos-
policeman, aged thirty-two, went on duty, quite well, on the evening of the 8th inst. At four o’clock the next morning he was suddenly seized with a " pinching pain in his inside," followed quickly by two motions, looking very much like beer. He felt excessively ill, and being very soon relieved from duty, went home, when he had a most copious a
cramps
very
;pheosis
temple
hilosophy
206 magnificent collection.... But these are the least of his qualifications.... Berzelius, who well knew the value of the author’s labours, was right in saying that the investigation could not be in better hands.... I have here ventured to add my humble testimony to that of the great Swedish philosopher."-p. xvi. We now quote the author:" If we make downward passes with strong magnets, having a supporting power of about ten pounds, along the persons of ’ from fifteen to twenty individuals, but without touching them, we shall always find one, or perhaps more, among the number, who feel affected thereby in a peculiar manner:’-p. 1. Persons thus affected, and who experience the other sensations and phenomena to be afterwards alluded to, are denominated "sensitives," and it often happens that a much larger proportion than the above is found; but powerful men and healthy women are the lowest of the sensitives-often not sensitives at all; whilst feeble or debilitated somnambulists constitute the highest. A perfectly healthy person may be sensitive to many of the phenomena, but a certain amount of nervous disorder appears to "present to us the reactions in their strongest form, and exhibit the finest discrimination of 48. differences."—p. " In certain diseases, especially where catalepsy is present, there exists a decided attraction between the human hand sesses a
Our author has thus cleared the way for animal magnetisms and concludes that" The crystalline force and animal magnetism are thoroughly identical, so that the same laws which regulate the former apply also to the latter."-p. 90. The existence and source of the new force being, according to the opinion the author fully established, the name of ODYLE is bestowed upon it by Reichenbach. "The idea expressed by it very probably includes that which a year later than I, Dr. Faraday introduced to the scientific world as a new force, under the name of diamag2zetisne’ (p. 228); "whether magnetism, diamagnetism, and odyle may one day be reduced to a common origin, or whether they will continue to be separated by essential differences; these are questions, the solution of which appears to me to be distant." (p. 229.) But for the present the author acknowledges " Heat must be essentially distinct from odyle" (p. 232); "a gulf separates odyle from electricity" (p. 236); "the identity of odyle with magnetism is entirely out of the question.’"
(p. 242.)
Our readers have now a general introduction to the remarkable views promulgated by Baron Reichenbach, but our limits entirely prevent us from exhibiting to them the various subsidiary branches of the subject springing from the more fundamental axioms we have cursorily indicated. The whole and a powerful magnet:’-p. 27. A further inquiry into the nature &c. of this peculiar force is indeed attempted to be based upon such a wide field of of the magnet elicits from the author the following remarks:- details that any continuous analysis here is quite beyond the " Persons who are highly sensitive perceive, according to question. There are some few points yet, however, which W8 the degree of their sensitiveness, and to the more or less com- cannot refrain from noticing. It is seen that, according to plete darkness, a smaller or larger luminous appearance of our author, "a peculiar power, a fundamental force, whicli the nature of a moving flame at the poles of strong magnets, had hitherto remained unobserved," (p. 35,) is presented to when examined in the dark," (p. 15.) " Light emanates from our recognition. This" opens up a new leaf in the history of magnets in the dark, and not all, but very many persons, both healthy and diseased, perceive this light with certainty the dynamides or imponderables, to study which, and to reand distinctness,"(p. 275.) "The odylic light, weak as it is, duce its propositions to fixed quantities, ought henceforth to has yet force enough to pass through the closed eyelids, and form one of the problems of physics," (p. 60.) Thousands of become perceptible to sensitives," (p. 445.) stories (says the author) will now receive a natural ex" There resides in matter a peculiar force hitherto over- ghost (p. 127,) and it shows 11 that the whole material looked, which, when the crystalline fpr hs.s been assumed, is planation, even universe, beyond our earth, acts on us with the very found acting in the line of the axes. At the poles of the axes it is most powerful, but its effects are different at the two same kind of influence which resides in all terrestrial objects; poles, and are opposite. The influence of this force on sen- that we stand in a connexion of mutual influence hitherto sitive persons coincides exactly with that excited on the unsuspected with the universe, so that in fact the stars are same persons by a magnet and by its poles."-p. 39. not altogether devoid of action on our sublunary, perhaps "The relation of -magnets and of crystals to the animalI on our practical world, and on the mental processes in nerve is entirely alike......The force of the magnet is not, asi even, has been hitherto taken for granted, one single force, but ’, some heads," (p. 163.) Important physiological truths relative consists of two, since to that long known, a new, hitherto ’, to hygiene are developed, (p. 204, et seq.) and such remarkable unknown, and decidedly distinct one must be added-the phenomena as the aurora-borealis, meteorites, &c., receive force, namely, which resides in crystals."-p. 46. their probable explanation, (p. 445, et seq.) Reichenbach, at the commencement of his "third treatise," We stated at the commencement that we intended venturing alludes to the fact, that from time immemorialupon no decided opinion as to the real position which the " certain enigmatical phenomena have been known, which are researches of Baron Reichenbach must hold. But we do produced by the magnet in its action on certain patients, and mean, with deference to the author, and the editor of his especially on somnambulists.-p. 62. work, to express certain drawbacks we have felt during the Before seizing the noli me tangere of animal magnetism, how’ perusal of the " Researches" to a too ready acquiescence in the ever, the author proceeds to clear the way by ascertaining, views both of the Viennese and of the Edinburgh philosopher. as far as possible, the part played in these phenomena by the In the first place, we cannot help being influenced by the magnetism of the earth, (p. 63,) since he perceived thatthat both Reichenbach and Dr. Gregory are, or at knowledge " it was impossible to obtain a pure unmixed scientific result any rate seem to us to be, believers in the ultra-transcendenfrom any experiment whatever, so long as this powerful factor, talisms of animal magnetism, and were such before they were which must in every quarter influence the phenomena, was Give now whatever name they choose to it, and let odylists. not attended to, measured, and taken into account."-p. 64. them be able to "reduce its facts to their naked physical exInvestigations (the history of which is not a little remark- istence," yet the facts to them exist though the force proable) lead to the conclusion, thatducing them is odyle and not mesmerism. Secondly, although " to sensitives of various kinds, any other position than that in very many cases it is shown that perfectly healthy persons in which the head is towards the north, and the feet towards are precipients of more or less of the phenomena of odylism. the south, is highly distressing, but that lying in the magnetic head towards the west, in our northern yet it is indisputably the fact that the originalsensitives’ parallel, withis the hardly endurable by sensitive persons...... upon whose experience the author based his investigations hemisphere, Terrestrial magnetism exerts in sensitive persons, whether were diseased ones, and suffering under some one or other dishealthy or diseased, a peculiar action, strong enough to de- ease of the nervous system, even catalepsy; and, moreover. stroy their comfort; in the case of healthy sensitives, to alterthroughout the whole course of his investigations it is evident their sleep; in the case of diseased sensitives, to disturb the circulation, the functions of the nerves, and the equilibrium: that more or less derangement of the functions of the nervous centres constituted the best condition for the production of of the mental powers."-p. 71.
207 Even amongst the nearly seventy persons com- On A nimal Chemistry in its Application to Stomach and Renal Diseases. By H. BENCE JoNES, M.D. 8vo, pp. 149. London. the of those experimented on, and whose names list posing follow in the order of the amount of their sensitiveness, it is THis work mainly consists of the Lectures lately published by at once apparent that the highest sensitives are those most the author in this journal. It is scarcely necessary that the likely to confound intrinsic and subjective states of their own readers of THE LANCET should be informed that the work of minds and feelings with extrinsic and objective phenomena. Dr. Bence Jones is one of the most philosophical and practical Thus, at the top of the list stands a series of Madames and which has issued from the press for many years past. Mademoiselles, whilst at the bottom are the Naturalists and Physicians, &c. This alone would indicate the necessity of the MEDICAL REFORM. greatest caution, setting aside the fact of several of the ladies
odylic effects.
[MR. CARTWRIGHT, OF OSWESTRY, IN REPLY TO MR. ALLISON suffering under important derangements of the functions of OF EAST RETFORD.] the cerebro- spinal axis. To Editor of THE LANCET. the satisfied the that 2ndly. Although we are by no means were intended to have at Vienna conducted as inserted the following letter in the of the committee SIR,-I investigations of last number the Provincial Medical and Surgical Journal, much the in same should have we find, part, been, yet they but was too late. I therefore take the liberty of replying, reasons alleged by Reichenbach for their failure as were forced through your pages, to a letter published by Mr. Allison, of East upon us here by the mesmerists when they failed, and were Retford, in the Provincial Journal of the lOth ultimo, which letter gives a wrong construction to the proposals presented to exposed. ThusSir George Grey by the deputation from the provinces, and much "There were always ten or fifteen young men crowded the intentions of the gentlemen who composed the misrepresents round the sensitive in a small room." "Every single person is It is with some hesitation that I attempt a reply to deputation. a far stronger source of odyle than a magnet: the close so powerful a writer on the medical reform question, but being proximity of one man is in many cases sufficient, on the one personally alluded to, I must risk the alternative. hand, to annihilate the perceptive power of the observer, and, Eja ! sudabis satis, "She was on the other, to extinguish the magnetic light." Si eum illo incceptas homine, ea eloquentia est." also expected to satisfy the excited expectations of those Mr. Allison correctly states, " that two parties have each lately assembled, who incessantly irritated her." " In this general made application to Sir George Grey for parliamentary legisconfusion and restlessness, she was expected to solve with favour of their respective requirements in medical precision," &c. (p. 370, et seq.)-" They shifted and hid the lation in and he thinks that each should claim to be considered a reform," saw a occurred she it in and all when light magnet directions, to none of them that they had faces, eyes, hands, hypochondria, party entirely distinct from, and unconnected with, the other; to &c., all of which emit light, and in general more strongly than which there can be no possible objection. He also says, that "
has professed to represent the general practitioners of magnet." (p. 355.)—" Those who are less sensible will be each partyand Wales, and admits, that many of the general pracEngland and more so as blindinconsistent-the uncertain, possibly in itself produces an unnatural and disquieting state." titioners have joined both parties-an admission the more candid folding 11 If, also, many persons be present, if they speak much, and on his part, as differing somewhat from the claim of the National ask all manner of questions, move backwards and forwards, it Institute to be the exclusive representative of that order of pracis natural we should obtain more or less incoherent answers," titioners. I can venture to assure Mr. Allison, that no mystification whatever existed in the mind of Sir George Grey in &c. (p. 40.) respect to the objects of the two deputations. 3rdly. The nature of some of the experiments was of such a You and the other deputation," he observed, have the same kind as almost entirely to forbid the non-interference of an common object in view-the improvement and reform of your intrinsic and subjective influence. (See pp. 84, 88, 97, 192, I profession: thus far you are concurrent; but afterwards you seek different ways to attain your ends." I imagine this was intelligible 194.) enough. There did, however, appear a little mystification on the 4thly. Some of the more highly sensitives do experience, General Practitioner" question; and as the Lord Advocate and have all their lives experienced, such remarkable pheno- solicited further information on the subject, some of the gentlemen mena, that it becomes astonishing how they have ever existed of the deputation prepared a memorial thereon, which, being apin the form of ordinary humanity. proved of by the deputation at large, was forwarded to the HomeSecretary ; and as it was subsequently published and extensively " When Mlle. Reichel was out in a clear night, she always circulated, I have no doubt it has not escaped Mr. Allison s pointed out the Milky Way as decidedly cool; as also the notice. It will answer his interrogatories, What have fellow’s Pleiades, the Great Bear, and others; and, in general, the to do with the National Institute ? and, What has the National starry expanse was felt cool, and only individual stars caused Institute to do with fellows of the College of Surgeons ?" by a sensation of warmth. These were invariably stars of the showing that fellows of the said College (almost everywhere first magnitude, (planets,) and when I examined them with the except in the metropolis) are to all intents and purposes general dyalite I found them to be Saturn with his rings; Jupiter with practitioners, and as such possess a prescriptive right to be inhis four satellites; Venus; in short, always a planet"* * * cluded in any legislation affecting those who practise generally. " She was unable to bear long the aspect of Jupiter, as of all Another beneficial result to be anticipated from the Memorial is, bright light. She said that all the stars together acted on her that it will have the good effect of preventing the contingency like a weak magnet, not only in front, but from behind on the threatened by Mr. Allison, that since Mr. Wakley altered the spinal column, but especially on the head, where she was most demand of the one party, and since the editor of the Provincial sensitive to magnetic influence."-(p. 162.) Journal sanctioned that alteration, Sir George Grey must look upon the other party-the National Institute-as the only one reWhatever may be the value to be attached to the testimony maining in the field"?! of such men as Endlicher, Kotschy, Diesing, and Huss, &c., we Now, Sir, the gist of Mr. Allison’s letter consists in six propomust confess that we paused in deep reflection upon the fol- sitions, on which he considers the minds of medical men to be well satisfiedlowing statement of Reichenbach, in reference to his chiefpretty 1. That no alteration will be made in the constitution of either Mlle. witness, Reichel, of the existing colleges which has not the approbation of the " Aged twenty-nine, of stout build, the daughter of a servant council of such college. in the Imperial Palace of Saxenburg. When seven years 2. That the Council of the College of Surgeons will not allow old, she had fallen out of a window, two stories high, and had their College to be made a College of General Practitioners. ever since been subject to nervous attacks, sometimes passing 3. That the combination or company formed by the Provincial into insanity, at other times into sleep-walking, and speaking Association, with those gentlemen represented by JlrIr. Cartwright, in her sleep."-(p. 9.) Mr. Bottomley, Mr. Wakley, 6-c., are applying for merely a trifling alteration in the constitution of the College of Surgeons. The above must assuredly add to the necessity for the 4. That the Council of the rational Institute have not joined extreme caution with which all that has been laid down by that combination or company in their altered plan of reform. Baron Reichenbach has yet to be investigated by men 5. That the National Institute always has sought, and now is . eminent in science. seeking, very different powers and privileges.
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