gating temperaments, sympathy, special fancies and antipathies. 66 Dr. Elliotson, of the Royal Medical Society of London, says, I am not aware that one temperament is more susceptible of mesmeric influence than another. The same person may be susceptible at one time, and not at another. I have had a patient insusceptible for four weeks, and then become highly susceptible." I have, myself, had a case of an intelligent lady, in delicate health, whom I tried seven different times without effect, for an hour at each sitting-on the eighth, she was fully influenced in fifteen minutes, and continued in the magnetic state until I waked her. NATURE, NOT THE THEORIES OF MAN, ARE THE ONLY INFALLIBLE TESTS OF THE VERITY OF ALLEGED DISCOVERIES." 1. The human body is magnetic, and possesses polarity. May I be allowed here to allude to the beautiful analogy, which the innate principle of our being, pointing to the Great First Cause, has to the mysterious tendency of the needle to the pole? Our benevolent and wise Creator may have intended the same power, with which he regulates the terrestrial movements of our planet, to be the instrument of communication between matter and mind, and mind and his Divine influence. When we see an influence imparted by one man's mind to that of another, commuI cannot here avoid a quotation from an nicating thought and impulse, is it mere imeminent author, Dr. Holland, who says of agination to suppose that this view may be the origin of nervous power, "Physiologi- consistent with the mechanism of our moral cal science, on the matter in question, seems government? Can we not better appreciate at this moment to be on the verge of some the Divine influence over our own minds, great discovery; resembling in this respect, when we have personal experience of the the actual state of other physical sciences-influence of our own finite power over that those of light, heat, electricity, chemical of others? Surely we can. forces, and perchance of gravitation--which Man, the servant and interpreter of nathe course of modern inquiry is ever tending ture, understands, and reduces to practice, to reduce to certain common laws. It is a just so much as he has actually experienced question of deep interest already referred to, of nature's laws; more he can neither know whether the relation here, is not closer than nor achieve." that of mere analogy; and whether future 2. Individuals of stronger magnetic powresearch may not associate some of the func-er, can charge weaker with their magnetism, tions of the nervous system, with the more which gives them a control over the will general elements of force and action in the and actions of the latter, while the charge physical world. Vital laws, and what we or communication lasts. Persons of equal term physical laws, stand precisely in the magnetic power, do not produce any persame relation to our knowledge. They are ceptible influence on each other. continually approximating as this knowledge advances; and may not impossibly in the end be submitted, even in human comprehension, to some common principle embracing the whole series of phenomena, however 3. The will controls and puts in motion remote and dissimilar they now appear All the magnetic force, perhaps analogously to science tends to prove the unity of creation, the supposed influence of the sun giving mothrough the evidence it affords of mutual and tion to vibrations producing light. universal relation of parts." Dr. Carpenter expresses a similar idea. "That the rapid progress of generalization in physical sciences renders it probable that ere long, a similar formula shall comprehend all the phenomena of the inorganic world; and it is not, perhaps, too much to hope for a corresponding simplification in the laws of the organized creation." Perhaps future experiments may indicate that the polarity of individuals varies, and susceptibility to induction may depend on one reversing the polarity of another. 4. As iron is charged, and parts with its magnetism if the inducing power is removed, so human bodies become more so by the influence of others, and lose the additional force when the cause is removed. This accords with experience. 5. As magnets once charged, when they lose their magnetism, are more easily charged again; so the susceptibility to induction increases with individuals.* Once affected they become more easily influenced at each sub Did time allow me to consider sympathy, cases might be presented to you, as interesting and extraordinary as the apparent mira-sequent experiment. cles of animal magnetism. 6. As the capacity of iron or steel for magnetism varies, when soft or hardened, so Having trespassed long on your attention, I will hasten to a few deductions from the experiments on the needle which I have mentioned; while I add that the "FACTS OF but is not settled. This fact in relation to magnets is stated by many, does peculiarity of temperament, constitution Magnetic Organization of the Organs of the and circumstances, modify the influences of human magnetism. The laws of human magnetism are yet to be learned, but we are now fairly started in their investigation. In the 19th century, it is remarkable that man's pride should exceed his ignorance, and that the study of natural causes of physical phenomena, reported by credible winesses, should be deemed beneath the notice of scientific men. Or, as Sir William Temple remarks: "When man has looked about him as far as he can, he concludes there is no more to be seen; when he is at the end of his line, he thinks he is at the bottom of the ocean; when he has shot his best, he is sure none ever did or ever can shoot better or beyond it;-his own reason he holds to be the measure of truth, and his own knowledge, of what is possible in nature." In this age of philosophy, the discoveries of science are daily becoming productive of facts, which ought to humble the pride of arrogant man, and teach him with how much more reverence he should "Look through nature up to nature's God." May I be allowed to hope that the time will arrive, when "A decent respect for the opinions of mankind" will protect students of science from the discouraging and illiberal course pursued towards them, by those whose position in in communities, gives them the opportunity of a ridicule, which too often destroys their ability to add to the common stock of human knowledge. It is ungenerous, it is unjust, it is unwise, to heap unmerited censure and charges of insanity, or collusion with imposture, upon those, whose interest is in the common advancement of science, and whose enthusiasm is necessary in the mechanism of scientific enquiry, to supply the place of self interest, which is the great impelling power in the ordinary pursuits of life. Human Body, as traced by the Rotary Magnetic Machine. The importance of a knowledge of the magnetic organization of the human system, is greatly increased by the introduction of the Rotary Magnetic Machine into practice, To such as are engaged in the study of truth, I would say, in conclusion, in the lan- as it is on that organization which the inguage of one whose intellect has had a pow-strument acts. In magnetising the organs, erful influence on the world, "Crafty men contemn studies, simple men admire, and wise men use them" and to those who oppose them, " read not to contradict and confute, nor to believe and take for granted, but to weigh and consider." it is necessary, in most cases, to place one of the buttons on the posterior spinal nerves connected with them, while the other is moved over the organs. In some cases, however, one button should be placed directly over one pole of an organ, while the other is over the spinal nerve connected with it. There are other cases, in which one button should be placed over the pole of one organ, ton's theory of gravitation has ever been far and the other over the pole of another organ; from satisfactory. At the same time, to enand again, there are cases in which one button | deavour to controvert a theory, which has should be placed over one pole, of one organ, been received as settled, by all, or nearly all, and the other over an organ of the brain. the devotees to science for a century and a There are also many cases, in which the but-half, is a labor sufficient to deter the boldest. tons must be placed over different phrenolo- To raise a question as to the truth of what gical organs, and hence the necessity of a men have, from their youth upwards, been knowledge of their relative situations. The accustomed to believe, strikes the world as engraving in the first number of this journal, something that even the charitable pronounce page 49, giving a view of these organs, and preposterous, and others will regard as rank the preceding diagram, intended to give the heresy. The innovator may reason, though outlines of the magnetic organization of the never so logically, yet if he succeeds in exprincipal organs of the body, will be of great citing wonder only, he may esteem himself service to magnetisers, who have little or no happy-nay, if he do not call down the knowledge on these subjects. spirit of persecution he may regard himself We have traced these poles through the fortunate. Human nature is so constituted spinal nerves, under a very moderate power-self-love is so pervading that men do not of the instrument, and also direct magnetic like to be found in error. Envy makes the axes, between poles of the same, and of dif- individual, who happens to have struck on ferent and distant organs, as seen in the above figure, which accounts for the direct sympathies that are known to exist between distant organs, in the most satisfactory manner. The direct magnetic connection between the stomach and spleen, and the spleen and left kidney, accounts also, in the most satisfactory manner, for the introduction of some fluid into the kidneys, through a medium, other than that of the general circulation. the right path in advance of his fellows, her favorite mark. In short, although we admit that the age in which we live is more liberal than any that has preceded it, since the christian era, we must also acknowledge, and every day's experience strengthens the testimony on which the conviction is founded, that truth is the most unwelcome visitor that can knock for admittance at the doors of the hearts of men. Furthermore, it is There are other large poles in the abdo-much less laborious to adopt a venerable, men, besides those represented in the above and venerated error, than to make those toil figure-there are two in the solar plexuses, some researches which are necessary to es and two in the mesentary surrounded with tablish a new truth. The very labor of thinksatellites. There are also two poles in each ing is itself painful, so much so, in fact, joint, including those of the spinal column, that very few men take the trouble to think with axes connecting antagonist muscles, ab initio for themselves. There is somea knowledge of which, and of these muscles, thing so very respectable in the cloak of eris indispensable to a scientific and success-ror, that no matter how threadbare it may ful application of the buttons, in magneti- have become, it is most frequently adopted sing for lateral, anterior, and posterior, cur-as the most fashionable garb, and worn with vatures of the spine, acute and chronic rheu-a kind of triumphant, petit maitre, jauntimatism, paralysis, &c. Motions of the Magnetic Forces, and of the To men of that cast of mind which impels them to search out truths for themselves, and can practice the patience necessary in working out demonstrations, Sir Isaac New ness. To its assumers it never seems ungraceful, and it is but seldom that the popular voice pronounces it out of character. Notwithstanding, however, that we, of all men, need be most deeply impressed with the correctness of all this-it is the result of some forty year's experience-we lay before our readers the following dialogue. We adopt this style of composition from be- | According to the theory, therefore, they were hieving that it is most simple, and least ca- first put in motion by a succession of mirapable of being misunderstood; it also, in our cles, and are still prevented from falling into view, admits of greater certainty of expres- the sun by a perpetuation of those miracles. sion, an object which it is desirous to gain, inasmuch as we would avoid ambiguity. A. Do you know that motion is produced by the action of two forces, one of which repels and expands, and the other attracts and contracts? B. No, I don't know any such thing. A. You don't, therefore, teach any such thing in your college? B. No, indeed! There is only one force that produces motion; namely, that of gravity or attraction. A. How were the earth and planets first placed at certain distances from the sun, and how are they maintained at those distances without a repulsive force? B. The projectile force, according to the theory, is increased in the falling of a body through half of the radius of a circle, to an amount which would be equal to what it would have acquired by gravity alone; and in this way overcome the force of attraction, and thus prevent the plannets falling into the sun, "while in th other part of the orbit the solar attraction is exercised in an opposite direction.” A. I know that such is the theory, but it is remarkable, that since it tells about the planets acquiring projectile force in falling in one part of the orbit, it says nothing about its losing projectile force in rising in the other. But here it seems the solar attraction is B. When God made the earth and planets, exercised in an opposite direction. And such he gave each of them an impulsion in a are the absurdities, and resources of this mirright line, in which they would have al-aculous theory, so characteristic of the age in ways moved, but for the force of gravity in which it was formed, and so congenial to a the sun, which constantly draws, or attracts mind redolent of superstition and witchcraft. them out of that line into curved lines or orbits. B. I know that men of science have A. Each of these bodies had then a re-never been satisfied with Newton's Theory, pulsive force to start with, by the aid of a but they agree in the necessity of teaching it, miracle in each case, and, as the attracfive notwithstanding its complexity, in the abforce from the sun has been in action an im-sence of any other that is not subject to the mense period of time, these impulsions must same objection; for we can determine the have been tremendous, or those bodies would place of a planet at any time, and account have long since gone into the sun, and the for the variations in the motions of the author of this theory has established his planets, however minute, with the most claims to provident discretion in imputing perfect exactness. these impulsions to an all-powerful source. A. I know that such are the pretensions B. The theory to which you allude sup- of the advocates of this theory, and that poses a primitive projectile force in a right these pretensions increase pari passu with line, and the force of attraction, and that their absurdity. There is, however, an from a combination of these forces, results the curvilineal motion of the planetary bodies. It is true, these bodies would have long since fallen into the sun, if the projectile force were not increased by the increase of the force of attraction, in certain portions of their orbits. exception, in a distinguished mathematician, who acknowledges that "the planet is not in the place represented by the figures, but then it is not far from it.*" That is, not more than 10, 20, 30 or 40 thousand miles from it, (and we know that it is frequently at these distances,) and this is an example of their perfect exactness. A. So the force of attraction is so accommodating as to manufacture a projectile or You call the precession of the equinoxes, repulsive force, whenever and wherever it or retrograde motion of the earth in its orbit, may be necessary to suit the theory, and pre-" the effect of the solar attraction, that acts vent these bodies from falling into the sun. See Ena. Metropolitana. tion was opposed more than thirty years, by men of the best talents in Europe, and the opposition was at last given up, and the theory acknowledged to be true; and do you, at this late period, believe you can show it to be a false theory? Does not the apple as with more intensity upon the increased quan tity of matter at the equator, which it tends to draw into the plane of the ecliptic, but which maintains its inclination by the effects of its motion of rotation;" or, in other words, the earth staggers back from this cause, and barely maintains its inclination by the mo-well as other bodies, fall to the earth by the influence of the force of gravity alone? B. But these bodies fall in a vacuum. A. Yes, and so does that feather as fast, and mark the difference in time. mentum of its motion of rotation; and this is A. I do, and can, not only show the thea fair sample of the manner in which you account for the variations in the motions of the ory to be false, but also, that that apple, as earth and planets. Now, the intensity of the well as other bodies, have a repulsive force attractive force from the sun, instead of being constantly acting upon them, from the atso very great at the equator, as is here assum-mosphere alone, of 15 pounds to the square ed, is 66 1-2 times greater at the poles than it inch, which is abundantly sufficient to make is at the equator, and this difference is increas-them fall with great velocity, without the aid ng, and will go on increasing, until it amounts of the attractive force. to 90; for the intensity of the action of the forces of the sun upon those of the earth, is in direct proportion to the intensity of the B. Well, we will see if you can show the forces of the earth, and this intensity is minimum at the equator, and increases inversely theory to be false; and now, to prevent any as the squares of the distances to the magnet-misunderstanding in regard to it, I will state "That all particles ic poles in the arctic and antarctic circles, the theory as it is, viz. where it is maximum, as is shown by mag-of matter mutually attract each other, in the netic observations on the earth, and as is de- direct ratio of their masses, and reciprocally, monstrated by the magnetized ring. Besides as the squares of their distances." the heat upon the earth, which lessens the force of attraction, is maximum at the equator, and minimum at the poles, and yet you talk of the greater intensity of the solar attraction on the equator, in the presence of facts which are fatal to such an assumption. B. Yes, I acknowledge the attractive force B. I am aware that the facts are as you is magnetic, and if there is any other force state them—that the planets are not perhaps, in the particles of matter, I suppose it must exactly in the places represented by the be magnetic also, but I dont want to hear figures; and the manner of accounting for anything about motion being produced by the precession of the equinoxes may be er-heat and cold-about the expansive force of But you do not, I hope, seriously heat and the contractive force of cold-we intend to deny the truth of the theory of understand all about that. There have been a great many theories introduced by visionauniversal gravitation, or attraction. roneous. A. That I acknowledge is the assumption on which the theory is founded, and you I presume will acknowledge, that the forces which produce motion in the particles of matter are magnetic ? A. Yes, I do; for a theory of universal ry men, but they have all been found untenarepulsion would be just as true as that of ble when compared with the theory of unauniversal attraction. The absurdities in-versal gravitation. You must show that the volved in each, it could be easily shown, assumption on which the theory is founded, would be exactly equal. B. Well, I am astonished! as you please to call it, is false, before you can disturb the theory. A. Very well, there can now be no mistake in regard to your position or mine; and now here are some square magnets, and I A. So am I, that any man of common sense, should have ever believed so absurd a theory. B. Newton's theory of universal gravita- will dip the positive end of each into iron |