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Filler
July 22, 1843
The North Carolinian
Fayetteville, Cumberland County, North Carolina
What is this article about?
T. J. Smith claims to have replicated Mesmerism effects using a common electrical machine, concluding that electricity is the agent in animal magnetism. He describes experiments inducing and awakening magnetic states with electricity and passes, replicated by others.
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THE AGENT IN ANIMAL MAGNETISM.
A writer in the 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 infers from this fact that electricity is the magnetic agent. He says:
"In the commencement of my examination of animal magnetism, the impression was forced upon my mind, that its agent was the same, or near akin to electricity. This led me to test, by actual experiment, their similarity. I have used a small, common electric machine, and with it, by repeated trials, succeeded in producing all the effects usually produced by the will and passes of an operator. I have put a subject in the magnetic state by the machine, and awakened the 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.
"These experiments, repeated several times, go to prove that electricity is the agent and produces all the marvellous results of animal 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.
"I have succeeded in putting a person in communion with the subject, by connecting him with the machine during the operations, and the person thus in communion had control alone over the subject--could excite the organs, paralyze the limbs, &c., and awaken the subject, in the same manner as when put to sleep in the usual way.
"Others have repeated the experiments with like success; and all who have witnessed them, were satisfied that electricity is the agent in all the mysterious effects of Mesmerism."
A writer in the 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 infers from this fact that electricity is the magnetic agent. He says:
"In the commencement of my examination of animal magnetism, the impression was forced upon my mind, that its agent was the same, or near akin to electricity. This led me to test, by actual experiment, their similarity. I have used a small, common electric machine, and with it, by repeated trials, succeeded in producing all the effects usually produced by the will and passes of an operator. I have put a subject in the magnetic state by the machine, and awakened the 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.
"These experiments, repeated several times, go to prove that electricity is the agent and produces all the marvellous results of animal 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.
"I have succeeded in putting a person in communion with the subject, by connecting him with the machine during the operations, and the person thus in communion had control alone over the subject--could excite the organs, paralyze the limbs, &c., and awaken the subject, in the same manner as when put to sleep in the usual way.
"Others have repeated the experiments with like success; and all who have witnessed them, were satisfied that electricity is the agent in all the mysterious effects of Mesmerism."
What sub-type of article is it?
Curiosity
Health Or Medicine
What keywords are associated?
Animal Magnetism
Mesmerism
Electricity
Experiments
Magnetic State
Subjects
What entities or persons were involved?
T. J. Smith
Filler Details
Topic
Electricity As The Agent In Animal Magnetism
Key Persons
T. J. Smith
Event Details
T. J. Smith describes experiments using a common electrical machine to produce Mesmerism effects, such as inducing and awakening magnetic states in subjects, interchangeable with will and passes. He concludes electricity is the agent, with replications by others confirming this.