Neurypnology; or, The rationale of nervous sleep, considered in relation with animal magnetism

Front Cover
J. Churchill, 1843 - Hypnotism - 265 pages
 

Contents

I
xvii
III
8
V
21
VII
35
VIII
46
X
61
XII
65
XIV
134
XVI
145

Other editions - View all

Common terms and phrases

Popular passages

Page 15 - I now stated that I considered the experiments fully proved my theory; and expressed my entire conviction that the phenomena of mesmerism were to be accounted for on the principle of a derangement of the state of the cerebro-spinal centres, and of the circulatory, and respiratory, and muscular systems...
Page 22 - It will be observed that owing to the consensual adjustment of the eyes the pupils will be at first contracted, they will shortly begin to dilate, and after they have done so to a considerable extent, and have assumed a wavy motion, if the fore and middle fingers of the right hand extended and a little separated, are carried from the object toward the eyes, most probably the eyelids will close involuntarily, with a vibratory motion.
Page xii - A thrilling, extending from the chest to the extremities, was almost immediately produced. I felt a sense of tangible extension, highly pleasurable, in every limb; my visible impressions were dazzling and apparently magnified; I heard distinctly every sound in the room, and was perfectly aware of my situation. By degrees, as the pleasurable sensations increased, I lost all connection with external things; trains of vivid visible images rapidly passed through my mind, and were connected with words...
Page 23 - ... as happens with regard to the primary effects of opium, wine, and spirits. After a certain point, however, this exaltation of function is followed by a state of depression, far greater than the torpor of natural sleep.
Page xii - I lost all connection with external things ; trains of vivid visible images rapidly passed through my mind, and were connected with words in such a manner, as to produce perceptions perfectly novel. I existed in a world of newly connected and newly modified ideas : I theorised, I imagined that I made discoveries.
Page 1 - When we consider," says Mr. Braid, " that in this process we have acquired the power of raising sensibility to the most extraordinary degree, and also of depressing it far below the torpor of natural sleep ; and that from the latter condition, any or all of the senses may be raised to the exalted state of sensibility referred to, almost with the rapidity of thought, by so simple an agency as a puff of air directed against the respective parts ; and that we can also raise and depress the force and...
Page 54 - ... distance of fifty or even ninety feet, and bend from it, and, by making a back current, as by waving the hand or a fan, will move in the opposite direction. The patient has a tendency to approach to or recede from impressions, according as they are agreeable or disagreeable, either in quality or intensity. Thus they will approach to soft sounds, but they will recede from loud sounds however harmonious.
Page 17 - ... throwing out a magnetic fluid, or exciting into activity some mystical universal fluid or medium. I farther added, that having thus produced the primary phenomena, I had no doubt but the others would follow as a matter of course, time being allowed for their gradual and successive development. For a considerable time I was of opinion that the phenomena induced by my mode of operating and that of the mesmerizers, were identical ; and, so far as I have yet personally seen, I still consider the...
Page 78 - Of all the truths we know," says Mr. Stewart, " the existence of mind is the most certain. Even the system of Berkeley concerning the non-existence of matter is far more conceivable than that nothing but matter exists in the universe.
Page 12 - At the next conversazione, six nights afterwards, one fact, the inability of a patient to open his eyelids, arrested my attention. I considered that to be a real phenomenon, and was anxious to discover the physiological cause of it. Next night, I watched this case when again operated on, with intense interest, and before the termination of the experiment, felt assured I had discovered its cause, but considered it prudent not to announce my opinion publicly, until I had had an opportunity of testing...

Bibliographic information