elapsed, the cataract appeared to expand, increased in volume, and pressed against the cornea; then suddenly burst into three parts, one of which entered inwards and above, the other towards the temple of that side, and the third projected downwards into the anterior chamber; and yet the triangular fissure appeared perfectly clear and black. From the novelty of the thing (it was the first attempt of this kind upon a living man,) it was deemed advisable to desist, and the patient immediately saw and recognised a finger held before him, while the left eye was covered, and likewise the faces of persons before him. He had experienced no pain during the operation, which did not last a full minute, nor did inflammation or any other bad consequences

ensue.

passed through the cornea into the upper segment of the lens, the positive conductor being put into the patient's mouth, and the galvanic current continued for a minute and a half. The upper part of the cataract disengaged itself from the iris, and the pupil contracted. Upon the same day also slight inflammatory reaction occurred, requiring for some weeks severe antiphlogistic treatment. On the 18th of December, the patient became affected with erysipelatous catarrhal opthalmia of both eyes, and in consequence, the palpebral conjunctiva appeared hypertrophied, and covered with large granulations. This condition, combined with great intolerance of light, was extremely obstinate. In the meantime, however, the vision improved, and the absorption of the cataract continued. After the inflam3d. The third case was that of a peasant mation had partially subsided, belladonna aged 40, of a feeble constitution. The patient was dropped into the eye; and then it could he suffered from considerable amaurotic ambly- observed that the lens was absorbed, but vision opia of the right eye, while the left was affect-prevented by the remains of the opaque caped with capsular lenticular cataract, and sule, which were easily removed by means synochia. The breaking down of the cataract of a needle. The pupil appeared a beautiful was attempted, but was of no use. On the black, and the vision was perfect.-(Lerche 17th November galvanism was applied (and in Berlin Med. Vereinstg. 1841, No. 35; Beithis time by means of a Becher-apparatus.) lage, s. 171, 172; also Hygæa, xv. Band. v. After half a minute, the adherent part toward Helt.) the internal canthus gave way, and an excavation formed around the puncture, while the cataract expanded and protruded. The patient complained of headache; and so the operation, which had lasted about two minutes, was concluded. Towards evening considerable inflammatory action occurred, attended with great intolerance of light, and constant severe pain, deep in the eye and head. For a considerable time great sensitiveness to "In the commencement of my examination light remained, yet the patient was able to of animal magnetism the impression was forrecognise small objects when the eye was ced upon my mind, that its agent was the turned away from the light, the pupil remain-same, or near akin to electricity. ing very much contracted. The operation "This led me to test, by actual experiment. was repeated on the 1st of December, but this their similarity. I have used a small, comtime only with the weak apparatus of two mon electric machine, and with it, by repeatplates, such as was used in the first trial, and ed trials, succeeded in producing all the effects the negative pole remained only one minute usually produced by the will and passes of an in contact with the eye. Even after this in- operator. I have put a subject in the magflammatory reaction followed, but in less de-netic state by the machine, and awakened the gree, and of shorter duration. The vision improved to a certain point, only there remained fragments of the cataract still in the pupil. After this had been expanded by belladonna, a few lymph filaments were discerned connecting the fragments of the cataract "These experiments repeated several times, with the edge of the iris, which were easily go to prove that electricity is the agent that and entirely removed by the needle. No un-produces all the marvelous results of animal pleasant consequences followed the last operation, and the patient was dismissed on the 6th of April, with perfectly restored vision.

The Agent in Animal Magnetism. A writer in the Rochester Daily Advertiser, who signs himself T. J. Smith, states that he has succeeded in producing the various effects of what is called Mesmerism, by means of common electrical machines, and inters from this fact that electricity is the magnetic agent. He says:

subject without its aid, by the usual passes.

"Again: I have put a subject into the magnetic state by the will and passes, and aroused the subject to all his powers with the machine only.

magnetism.

"The machine, in the first instance, put the subject into the magnetic state, and the passes restored again to the natural state. In the second instance, the will and passes produced the same unnatural state, and the machine restored the subject.

4th. The third was the case of a woman, aged 56 years, who had lost the sight of her left eye under severe headache. The capsular lens, which had the appearance of the mother of pearl, adhered in its whole circumference "I have succeeded in putting a person in to the pupil, the eye was tremulous, and the communion with the subject, by connecting conjunctiva injected. On the 15th of Novem-him with the machine during the operations, ber 1840, a cataract needle connected with the and the person thus in communion, had control negative pole-wire of a pair of plates, was alone over the subject; could excite the organs,

netic sleep.

said, It surely cannot be what I have done, but if so I can awaken him; then with a few reversed passes he awoke. . Well, this is strange,' said I, but I can put him to sleep again if it is real. I then seriously repeated the passes with both hands for one or two minutes, and placed him in the perfect mesmeric sleep. I then fixed my eyes on a lady on the opposite side of the room, the boy not yet having spoken for three days, and said 'Henry, what do you see? He gave a name un

Some persons who are very susceptible to magnetic influence, cannot wear magnetised steel rings on their fingers, in consequence of their constant liability to fall into the mag-known to me; I looked to his father, who Some pass into that state in one minute, while others of this class, feel no other inconvenience but that of slight shocks, which soon cease. The rings are magnetised with two poles—having a magnetic axis which passes through the finger, and a mag-ing for? netic equator at right angles to it.

Remarkable Case of Magnetism. Communication to the Editor of the Phrenological

Magazine.

BY THE REV. DR. BEECHER.

replied, it is her maiden name.' I then took you taste? vinegar speaking with great vinegar into my mouth, and said, what do tartness, and at the same time making many contortions of the face. The mother now whispered to one of the children, who left

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her seat, and I said, Henry, what is she goSugar, and I love it.' She went to the closet and brought the sugar. I put some in my mouth, which seemed to give him the same pleasure as if I had put it into his own. I then said, ‹ What kind of sugar is it?' Muscovado.'What is its color? 6 Well, sir, a kind of light brown.' A small glass In October, 1842, on my way to the Sy-jar with a large cork was now placed in my nod of Genesee, I spent the night at the hand, when immediately I observed the olhouse of Mr. Hall, at Byron. In the even-factory nerves affected, and the muscles ing I called on Rev. Mr. Childs. On enter- about the nose contracted at the same moing the room, I found his son, an intelligent ment. I said to the girl, What is it? To boy, aged ten years, then in a cataleptic fit, which the boy answered, Hartshorn.' 'How sitting in his father's arms, and his feet in do you know.' I smell it.' I myself neither knew nor smelt it. I then took out the cork and applied it to my nose, when he instantly placed his fingers on the part of his nose next to the forehead, and said, 'I feel it here,' just where I myself experienced the burning sensation.

warm water.

In a few moments he recovered. He frequently had from three to six fits a day. Had received the best medical attendance in the region. Was no better-daily worse. He lost entirely the power of speech for several days. Great fears were felt that he would never recover. There was a sore place on the back part of his head and on the spine, occasioned by a fall some months previous. When the fits passed off he became hungry, and not at all drowsy; and during the interval appeared preternaturally bright; and engaged in sports as usual.

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During all these experiments he sat on his father's knee, with his head down on his breast, and reclining against his father.

I now asked him what is the matter with you? My brain is sore.' Where? At the bottom of it.' Where it joins the spinal marrow? Yes,' What occasioned it? I fell from the great beam in the barn.' His After I had conversed a few moments, I mother here asked him, why did'nt you tell said, I would have him magnetised; to us before? I feared you would not let me which his father replied, I don't believe in it play there.' 'Can Dr. A. cure you?' 'No.' at all,' and the mother added, if you'll put Why not? He don't know any thing me to sleep I'll believe, and not without.' about it,' (very decidedly). • Can Dr. I replied, I would try it-it may do good, C.? No. Why? He don't understand and can do no harm. During this conversa- it.' Will the medicine you now use do you tion I made a few passes in front of the good? No. Of what is it composed?' child, chiefly with one hand, and without There is turpentine in it.' 'Does the Doctor any particular concentration of the mind or give it to you for tape worm? Yes.' Have will, and mostly with my face toward the you any? No. Would you like to mother. In less than a minute the father walk? Yes.' Well, walk.' He arose said, he is in another fit!' No he is'nt I promptly, stepped between the chairs, and declare; I believe he is asleep.' Much sur- said, well, sir, where shall I go,? < From prised, (for I had never magnetised one,) Ithe wall to the door and back. This he

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did, avoiding every obstruction, and, at my exactly the time by the watch, though by direction, returned and sat again with his fa- the clock in the room it was fifteen minutes ther. I now, without notice to any one, faster. Henry, how long ought you to placed my fingers on the organ of benevo- sleep? Well, sir, I must sleep two hours lence, thinking at the moment it performed and five minutes. Will you then awake? the office of Veneration, and said, Would Yes, sir.' Very well.' This I did for the you like to pray? With some lightness, he purpose of testing his knowledge of time, as said, No. Some questions were asked by stated by Townsend, an English clergyman, his mother and myself, about the bible, &c., whose work on this subject I had read. but no veneration appeared. I then recollect- I then said, Will you go with me to Mr. ed the true office of the organ, and said, Hall's? Yes.' Well, now we are there; Have you any thing in your pocket? He now we are in the parlor; who are here?" took out a knife. Give it to me for my little Mr. and Mrs. Hall, Mr. and Mrs. Bardboy,' which he did promptly. I removed my well.' Who else? He did not give their hand. Have you any thing else? I have names, but intimated that they were stranga pencil.' Will you give me that for my ers. He described the room and the posiother boy? It has no head.' Never tion of things, all of which I found correct mind, give it, won't you? I should not on going to the house shortly after. These like to. Well, but you will.' I couldn't persons were not in the habit of being there come it,' (with peculiar emphasis.) Azubah in the evening, but company having come in, said, ask him where the head of the pencil they were all together at that moment. As Where is it, Henry?' Well, sir, in this was in his own town, I did not deem it the parlor.' • Where?' On the window.' proof, and so said, Will you go to Batavia? Azubah: 'Why, I picked it up and put it there Yes' Now we are there now we are at to-day. (He certainly did not know this.) my house-now we will go into my roomI then said, Henry, can you get it? He what do you see?' I see a large table coarose and went into the parlor in the dark, vered with black cloth, and with books and and took the pencil case head from the win- papers scattered over it.' How large is it? dow, to the great surprise of us all. Indeed, It is about five feet long.' 'How many we were all so astonished that it seemed a book cases?' Three, sir."What sort of dream, during these and subsequent proceed- a stove? He could not describe this, for it ings. He spoke with a promptness, bold- was so queer a thing as not to be easily deness, and propriety, in advance of his years, scribed. Nor did I press him, for all his anand beyond himself in his natural state; and swers had been correct, and I was sufficiently so perfectly evident was it that he was in a astonished, for he had never seen my study, somnambulic state, that no skeptic, I verily and no other minister, I am sure, has such a believe could have doubted. table (5 feet by 3 1-2) or left it in such confusion as mine was at that moment.

is.

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At my request, he returned to his seat. I touched benevolence, and instantly he hand- I may here say, that during the whole peed me the pencil case. For my boy? riod of his sleep, he could hear the questions Yes, sir.' I then silently, and without any of others put to him, and would answer willing,' and with a feeling of curiosity to them, if I were willing; but if I willed see and test the matter, touched reverence. otherwise, or forbade him to speak, as I often His countenance at once assumed a softened did, he then would answer no one but myand solemn aspect. Henry, would you like self, not even father or mother; nor could he to pray? 'Yes, sir.' You may.' He hear their conversation with me, nor with commenced praying inaudibly. You may each other. pray aloud.' He then prayed in a low audible voice. On touching tune, he sung a tune, though not in the habit of singing. On touching combativeness and destructiveness, he raised his clenched fist to strike me. He was ignorant of phrenology, and also of my intention to touch any particular organ; nor did I in any case will the activity of the organ. I now took out my watch, and holding the dial towards myself, and above the line of his vision, his eyes being closed and his head bowed forward, and my hand also between him and the watch. Henry, what time is it? Eight o'clock, sir'—which was

I now left him for an hour, and went back to Mr. Hall's, giving him leave to converse only with his father. On my return I found him in the same state. He utterly refused to speak to any one but his father, and told him he should not have another fit till the following Sabbath, (this was Monday evening,) which proved true; but when that day came he had several.

At nine o'clock and three minutes, holding my watch as before, and standing eight or nine feet from him, I asked the time. He gave nine o'clock and five minutes. Look sharp,' said I. O! three minutes,' said he.

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We were now curious to see if he would should make the examination for ourself, awake himself at the two hours and five for ignorant aud bad men will not expose his minutes; and as the clock in the room devices. From experiment and observation, reached that time he did not awake, I said, I have no doubt, that, as a remedial agent, Henry, did you mean by my watch or by mesmerism is yet to accomplish much good, the clock ? By your watch, sir.' Very and no harm can result from it, except like all well.' At the exact moment, he opened his other blessings, it be abused. eyes and looked around, and that without any act or willing of mine; and what was very affecting and convincing, he could no longer speak at all, and was unconscious of all that he had said or done.

I have said that he had no return of fits till the next Sabbath. One day after that Sabbath, he came in to his mother much agitated, and apparently going into a fit, and making the passes, he solicited his mother to do it, who, merely to pacify him, passed her fingers over him, and soon he fell into a mesmeric sleep, and escaped the fit. After this he was so highly charged by his sister, that when she was in the next room in the closet, he would instantly taste any thing she tasted, eat what she eat, &c.

In ten days I returned and magnetised him again, and went through several of the above experiments. He always, while in the mesmeric state, declared that it benefitted him, relieved all pain, and would cure him.

Boston, June 28, 1843.

W. H. BEECHER.

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Observations on Spermatorrhea,

Or the involuntary discharges of the Seminal
Fluid.

BY W. H. RANKING, M. D. CANTAB., Physician to the Suffolk General Hospital. That important and most afflicting class of affections of the sexual organs, which is characterised by the frequent involuntary discharge of the seminal fluid, although sufficiently familiar to the majority of practitioners engaged in the large towns of this and other countries, has not met with such public notice on their part as it would seem to demand. For this reason, and to the great detriment of society, the treatment of the effects of sexual abuse or excess, exclusive of syphiltic and blennorrhagic affections, is too generally confined to a section of that horde of unprincipled pretenders, which the government of this country, to its shame, by tolerating, continues to patronise, and from whose obscene advertisements it condescends to derive a portion of its revenues. It thus happens that a subject fraught with the deepest interest, both as regards the individual and society at large, is rarely, in all its extensive details, submitted to honest and scientific investigation. It is to be hoped, however, that as the eye, the ear, the teeth, have one by one been rescued from the unclean grasp of quackI may add, I have since cured toothache, ery, so in its turn, this most wretched of all greatly relieved tic doloreaux, and removed the curses which man's imprudence entails other pains and swellings, as well as head-upon him, may be thought worthy the attenache. I am not, however, a full believer in tion of the educated practitioner.

After I left, at my suggestion, he was daily magnetised: his fits left him, his voice returned, the sore spots on his head and back were removed, and he recovered rapidly til! the family could no longer mesmerise him. A man in the village was found who could, and daily did, till he appeared entirely well. On omitting it he had a fit or two, and it was resumed; and when I last saw the father, he informed me that they considered the child cured.

regu

all which is affirmed of clairvoyance-what If a person after the age of puberty, and I see and know, I believe. In respect to ma- more especially if he have indulged in ny well authenticated facts, I neither affirm lar sexual intercourse, be from any cause innor deny. That there are many cases of duced to lead a life of perfect continence, he gross deception and imposition I fully be- will experience involuntary emissions during lieve. On such a subject it can hardly be sleep in greater or less frequency. The seotherwise. This, however, is a reason why cretion of semen being continuous, and not, men of character and intelligence should in- as is by some believed, accidental, upon erovestigate it, rather than otherwise. But it tic excitement, nature adopts this mode of is deception. Well, then, let us expose it disembarrassing the system of a product by a fair trial. But it is the work of the which ought, in correspondence with her devil. How do you know? What is the laws, to be expended in the wholesome sexevidence? What harm has it done? Oh, ual employment of the organs. Emissions, bad men have used it for bad ends! And therefore, occurring under such circumwhat is there in the world that has not been stances in robust individuals, so far from beso used? If it is the work of the devil, then ing injurious, must be regarded as a salutary we need not be ignorant of his devices, and provision. But, although beneficial, or at

least, harmless, at first, these nocturnal dis-ness, noises in the ear, palpitation, and cough, charges may, if the continence be prolong- present themselves in greater or less intensied, be, by an acquired habitude of the parts ty. The body gradually emaciates, especiconcerned, repeated to an extent which be-ally about the lower extremities. The ascomes positively injurious, and, as in the pect becomes dejected, the patient seldom case of other habitual discharges, then produce raises his eyes to the person he addresses as if inconveniences proportionate to their fre-conscious that the expression of his countequency, and the original constitution of the individual.

But the cases in which spermatorrhoea is consequent upon unnatural continence, per se are comparatively rare. The involuntary emissions which occur in such abundance as to constitute a really morbid phenomenon, are usually to be traced to one or other of the causes hereafter to be mentioned.

Symptoms.

nance would reveal his wretched condition. Digestion is impaired and accompanied by pain and flatulence. The bowels are invariably costive; indeed, I know scarcely any disease short of mechanical obstruction, in which they so obstinately resist the powerful cathartics. That this state of bowels is intimately connected with the emissions is shown by the fact, that upon the suspension of these the bowels at once resume their normal action. A case has lately come under From the almost insurmountable objection my care in whicb the bowels resisted twoto speak of their ailments which is generally minim doses of croton oil, but acted spontaobserved in the unhappy subjects of this com-neously and regularly after the cure of the plaint, it is difficult to procure a complete ac- emissions by cauterisation of the urethra.— count of its origin. The history of a case The urine is passed frequently, three or four of seminal emissions, however, will usually times perhaps during the night. The aspect be found to be somewhat as follows.-After of the genitals is generally though not ala greater or less amount of abuse of the geni-ways enfeebled. tal organs, either natural or unnatural, the I have seen the most complete impotence individual makes the discovery that he has be- co-exist with sexual organs of large size and come infested with seminal emissions during vigorous appearance, but usually the penis is sleep. The emissions are at first accompa- flaccid and without elasticity, the scrotum nied by erection, but soon occur with dimi- pendulous, and the testicles soft and tender to nished rigidity of the penis. If he at this the touch. After the lapse of a certain time time indulge in sexual intercourse he expe- if the disease makes progress, the nocturnal riences more than usual difficulty in consum-emissions cease, and the patient is buoyed up mating the act; he is frequently disappointed with the hope that his ailments are removed; altogether, or, if not, the erection is incom- but his increasing feebleness soon proves that plete, and ejaculation more than ordinarily his hopes are without foundation. If at this precipitate, and in some cases painful. As time, the patient's attention be directed to it, the disease advances the nocturnal emissions it will be found that an alteration has taken increase in frequency and abundance, at place in the character of the urine, it has length occurring without either erection or become turbid and nauseous to the smell. pleasurable sensation; in fact, the patient is The turbidity is not, as in chronic affections often only made conscious of them by the of the bladder, persistent throughout the entire sense of feebleness on waking, and by the act of micturition, but appears chiefly towards marks upon his linen. In sexual intercourse the end, the urine being clear at the comejaculation becomes more and more hurried, mencement. In other cases the seminal fluid, till at length mere contact with or even sight is not emitted till the bladder is emptied, when of the female will induce it, and complete a glutinous fluid is observed to accompany impotence is thus established. The pernicious effects of these discharges upon the general economy is soon evinced. The mind becomes enfeebled and incapable of protracted attention, the memory fallacious and uncer- The case is now complete, and in that contain, and the patient feels that he is no longer dition which, until Lallemand directed our fitted for his usual avocations. His disposi- attention to it, was utterly misunderstood.-tion undergoes an equal change, he becomes The medical attendant being misled by the morose and suspicious, fond of solitude, fact of the absence of nocturnal pollution, was lachrymose upon trivial occasions, and ex- invariably in such instances occupied by the hibits those apparently causeless contrarie- more prominent features of the case, which ties of temper, which are commonly received was considered as cerebral, cardiac, or gastric as evidences of hypochondriasis or eccentrici- disease, accordingly as one or other organ ty. Cerebral and thoracic symptoms, as giddi-happened to take the lead in the symptoma

the last few drops of urine. The evacuation of the bowels is accompanied by the same discharge, so that, in fact, there is a daily draining away of seminal secretion.