can be drawn fromthem.Allthese precautions by the Holy Roman
Inquisition,onthe other hand,indicatethegrowinginterest which
wasspreadingthroughoutItalythroughtheuseof magnetismand
theproblemsinvolvedin it. It was just at thisperiod that various
authorsbegan todealwith thismatter under theinfluence of French
andEnglishpublications. In1840inMilannewswasreleasedof the
formermagnetic seances attended by the celebrated French novelist
Honore de Balzac, which werereferredtobyGiovanniRajberti(
1805-61),thewellknown author if Il Gatto(Milano,1845), in his book
Il voLgoe Lamedicina(10)
inwhichhecriticizesthedoctrineofhomeopathyanddefines animal
magnetism as" one of somany systematized deliriums which
distinguishthedeviationsof thehumanreason". In achapter inthe same
book(pp.171 -173),entitled" L'uomo
grandeeilnano",areportisreferredtoconcerningamagnetic
experimentinwhichhehimselfwasaspectator.Balzac,inthe
summerof1838,whenhewastheguestofaMilanesefamily,
wantedtoexhibithismagneticpowersonavalet.Rajberti writes: -
"Scowling in a frightfulway like one possessed,he pointed at him,
making waving passeswith hishands, sweating and panting onaccountof
theintenseconcentrationof mindandbodyinthis work ",but
invain.Theattemptwasthenrepeatedonasubject better adapted to the
process,namely acertain Gattino, adwarf and
hunchback,butwiththesamelackofsuccess.Afterrepeated
attempts,however,Gattino began to show amore stupid expression than
usual,togapewithroundedmouthandtodroophiseyelids moreand
moreslowlyinagloomysilence. Balzac,irritatedbythelackof
attentionpaidby Rajberti,who at this time was reading a book,
stamped on the floor;Rajberti then hastened toaskthe dwarf" more
awake than ever"if hehad slept, but
herepliedthathewasabouttogotosleep.Afewwordswere
sufficienttoawakenhimcompletelyandthemagnetizerhadno further
success.Ba!zac was no longer heard to speak ofmagnetism. 1
In1842therewaspublishedinCorfuabook(11)onfacts
relatingtomesmerismbyAngeloCogevina,aphysicianand
surgeonandsuperintendentoftheCivilHospitalatCorfu,and
FrancescoOrioli,aprofessorattheuniversityanddirectorof the
IonianCollegeandacorrespondingmemberoftheInstituteat Florence and
of many scientificacademies inEurope.Inthisbook
werereportedseveralcasestreatedwith magnetictherapy. 1For Balzac' s
interestin occultismscc A.Cabani:s,Balzac'ignori(Paris,dJgg) ,
pp.65-80. 142 Thephenomenaof magnetism,indeed,werebeginningtobe
much heard of,and were exciting great interest and, attracted by
the novelty,thereweremanywhoactivelyorpassivelysupportedthe
practice of mesmerism initsvariousformsandmanifestations, with
aconsequently increasedproduction of publicationsonthematter.
In1847 theHoly Office intervened again,with thedecreeof 28 July in
which it expressed itself in the followingterms:"'When free
fromallerrors,sorcery,explicitorimplicitinvocationof demons,
theuseof magnetism,thatistosaysolelyasamethodof serving
physicalendsthatareotherwiselawful,isnotmorallyforbidden,
providedthatitisnotdirectedtoanunlawfulpurposeorinany
evilwaywhatever..
"Theapplication,then,ofprinciplesandmethodsthatare
entirelyphysicaltomattersandeffectsthataretrulysupernatural
inordertoexplainthesephysicallyisasinthatisaltogetherillicit and
heretical"(8,p.563). On account of this decree the reading and
distribution ofa certain number of bookson magnetism was
forbidden.Animalmagnetism in Italy, however, was the subject of
numerous studies by respectable persons such as physicians,
scholars and literary men, but at the same
timeitwasalsopractisedbyunscrupulouspersonssothatsideby side with
objective worksof acertain scientific value there flourished other
publications that were superficial,biased and oflittle worth or
were exclusively inspired by controversial aims.
Interestinmagnetismwasnaturallygreateramongphysicians on account of
the possible therapeutic attraction which this doctrine
seemedabletooffer.Thusforexample,Dr.C.A.Calderini,at
firstscepticalof l\lesmer'stheory,wasconvertedtoitafterhaving
beenpresentatthepublicperformancesgivenat Milan in1850by
thecelebratedmagnetizerAugusteLassaigne,thehusbandofthe
famousFrenchsomnambulePrudenceBernard.Withthecooperation of
severalphysiciansin thatcity he submitted toaccurate
analysisaseriesofmagneticphenomena(12) .Followinghis
example,Dr.PietroBeroaldi,DirectoroftheCivilHospitalof
Viccnza,carriedoutvariousexperimentsandanalysedaseriesof
mesmericphenomenainthesamehospitalin1851(13).1 The sympathizers and
followersincreasedandvariousmagnetic societies flourished in
imitation of those already existing at that time
inFranceandabroad,withwhiehtheymaintainedcontact;
magneticsittingsalsoincreasedandalsotheoreticalandpractical
coursesinmagnetism. 1For afull eraccount seepp.j 53If. 143 The
first magnetic society in Italy was the Societa Bio-M agnetica,
foundedinGenoain1853byGiacomoRicci.In1855therewas fouudedinTurinthe
FilomagneticabyFrancescoGuidi who in1856 published in Turin the
journal Lucel'vlagneticaof which
hewasdirectorandeditor.In1856PietroD'Amicofoundedat Bolognathe
:rvIagneticad'ItaliaofwhichD' Amicowas president and which had
amongst its members Victor Hugo, Bargoni thej"'Iinister of Public
Education, Professor A.Palagi the Director of the Observatory of
the University of Bologna,etc. Amagnetizerof national
fameoftenfelttheneedtohaveat his
dispositionhisownpaperforthesupportandpropagandaof his
claims.Thusthereflourishednumerousmesmericreviews,which
generallyhadashortlife.InTurin,forexample,therewereIl
iVlagnetofilo(1854-5)continued
asIlj\/esmerista,thepreviouslymentionedLuceiV/agneticaandIliHagnetologoof
Guidi.AtGenoathere
appearedLaSalute(1865),directedbyD'Amico,theorganof the
SocietaI\tIagneticaof Bologna.Therearose,moreover,forsocial
gatheringsand study,magnetic
circles,magneticacademies,athenaeumsand
magnetichospitals.Examplesof thesearetheCircolo
MagneticoandtheIstituzionediBenefieenzaM esmericadirected byBorgna
andGuidiat Turin. FrancescoGuidiwascertainlyoneof
themostactiveexponents of Italian mesmerism.In1851,withthe
enthusiasm of aneophyte,
hewrotehisfirstbook(9)issuedinTurininwhichheshowedhis faithand
hishope forthesuccessof animal magnetism,expounding the advantages
to be derived from it and examining the therapeutic, psychological,
moral and social aspects.In 1852he again published at Turin
atranslation(14)together with personal notes,of aFrench bookby
L.M.Hebert(IS)'To Guidi weowetheI talian works of
thetypethenprevalentregardingmesmerism.Inhisnumerous
workstheauthorhad recoursenotonlytoasmallgroupof
sympathizers,butindicatedhiscleardesiretoobtainconverts.In1854
there appeared at Milan atreatise(16)on the theoretical and
practical aspects of animal magnetism, in which he expressed in ten
lessons thecourseinmesmerismwhichhehadheldinvariousItalian
cities,followedby other works.l\1esmerism,whichat firstwasthe
privilegeof thenobilityandthemoneyedmiddleclass,wasinthis
"\'aypopularizedandbroughttotheknowledgeofthemajority and this
wasperhapsthe reason why workson it were placed on the
Index.Guidihadtowageahard struggleontwofronts:onthe one hand he
wasattacked by alleged magnetizerswith fewscruples,
suchasZanardelli,G.Demarchi,P.C.Demaris,Ruatti,G. 144
Pertusio,B.Fenoglio,L.Berrutti,Guastalla,etc.,whomhetried
repeatedlytoexpose:ontheotherhandhewasattackedbythe Medical Council
of Turin which requested from the local government
repressivelawsagainstthemagnetizers.Guidiinconsequence
began,incontrasttosomeof hiscolleagues,toavoidmajordissentions and
resigned from the Societythat he himself had founded and which
inashort time ceasedtoexist.
Ontheoccasionoftheanniversaryofthebirthofl\1esmer,
namely23May1855,GuidifoundedtheSocietaMesmerica
d'lstruzione,PropagandaeBeneficenza,modelledonthatofthe
l\tIesmericInfirmaryinLondon.1 Afterafewmonthsof lifethis
institutionseemstohavebroughtsatisfactoryresultstothepoor patients
who came thereand wouldperhaps havehad amoreprosperous future if it
had been financiallysupported.Later Guidi left Piedmont forSavoy,
Switzerland, France and later Milan, where he
foundedanIstitutoZoomagneticodiPropagandaedIstruzionein which
magnetic and somnambulistic cureswerepractised.
THERISEANDDECLINEOFINTEREST In the second half of the nineteenth
century there wasagrowing interest in mesmeric
practices.Contemporary with Guidi, Cogevina,
OrioliandTerzaghimaybenotedothermagnetizers,suchas
JacopoSanVitale,famedastheNestorofItalianmagnetizers,
PietroGatti,thefirstexponentofanimalmagnetisminGenoa,
C.Dugnani,thefirstItaliantohaveamedalof honourfromthe
l\1agneticJuryof EncouragementandReward2 inParisin1850,
PietroD'Amico,consideredbymanytohavebeenthefirsttrue
magnetizerinItaly,11.Poeti,Bonajuti,Butti ,Consoni,Danzi,
Vandoni,A.Berti,besidesmany others whoexhibitedforthemost
partinthetheatres. Notwithstandingtherepeateddeclarationsof
themoreserious practitionersof
mesmerismonthescientific,positiveandnatural character of thenew
doctrine,notafewpersonssought or hoped to 1Thc London
IVlcsmcricInfirmary was founded inJanuary 1846 at thc house of
Henry G. F.i\foreton, sccond Earlof Ducie(1802-1353), who
wasLordin-waiting totheQuecn.Four yearslatcrthe committee
scntoutanoticctoall donorsand subscribcrs that thchouse was opento
reccive patients.Two male mesmeristsand
Onefemalewereappointedandanumberof strikingcureswcrereported,andin
1351theArchbishopofDublinandthefifthEarlStanhopebecameVicePresidents.[Ed.]
Jury Magl1 troubleensuedandCrocq wasthrownoutof thehouse.
Inhistextbookonhypnotism,inwhichhcrevicwedthewhole fieldof
hypnoticresearchesandtheoriesasit wasknownat theend of
thelastcentury,hekepttohisopinioil.thattherewasnosuch
thingasextrasensorypcrception.Thoughhekeptanopenmi11d
regardingthewholefieldof parapsychology asit
wasthcndevcloping(ESPinvestigationinFranceandEngland,theremarkable
mediumisticphenomena of aphysicalnaturc of EusapiaPalladino, 38
ctc. )therewasnothing,hcwrote,thatcouldconvincehimof the
existenceofparanormalcognition."Ihavebeenpresent,"he writes,"atagr
eatnumberof publicperformanceswhereitwas
claimcuthatmentalsuggestionwouldbedemonstrated.Ihavc,
however,incvcryinstancediscoveredthetrick,oftenonlyperceivablewiththegreatestdifficulty,thatguidedthesomnambulist.
These somnaml.mlistswereby employing akindof agreed
uponalphabet"(30 ,p.439).
Alittlefurtheronhegoesontosay:"Hence,Ihavecometo
theconclusionthatI,,-illnotcategoricallydenytheexistenceof
mentalsuggestionbutthatIdogrcatlydoubtthatitreallyexists
fornothingof anexactnatureprovesitsreality"(30,p.440).
Crocqshowsthesamescepticismtowardsthec1aimsof Col.de
Roehastohaveprovedtheexistenceofwhatthelatterterms
"extcriorizationof sensibility"andconsequentlythcrealityof the
vitalmagncticfluidsodeartothemesmeristsofthefirsthalfof
theninetecnthcentury.FromthestartCrocqdoubtedthatthe
explanationsubmittedbyRochasof whathehadobservedduring
hisexperimentswithsomeofhis\vasthecorrect
one;incriticizingRochas'sclaimshecoinedthetermpseHdoexteriorizationtodenotethattherewasno
questionof arealexteriorizationof
thesensibilitybutthatsuchphenomenacouldeasilybe
attributedtosuggestionandunconscioustrainingof
thesomnambulistswithwhomRochas....I'orkedforyears(31,pp.312- 313).
Therefore whatRochasregardedasindicationsof thcexistence and
manikstationof thefluidicandsupernaturalefRuence(considered
bythemesmeriststobethecauscof allkindsof
remarkablemagneticphenomena)wcrequitewithoutfoundation. It
isCrocq's merit tohavebcenthe firstto direct aquestionnaire
toagrcatmanyprominentinvestigatorsofhypnoticphcnomena
notonlyinEuropebutalsointheUnitedStates.NoseientiJic
valuecanbeattachedtosuchacollectionofopinions,howcver
prominentthemen may havebeen who expressedthem,but it does
showthatonmanyinterestingpointsinconnectionwithhypnotic
researchandtheoriesthercexistedawidedivergenceofopinion about the
true significance of certain observed phenomena occurring
duringhypnosisandsomnambulism.Thereislittlepoint,after
morethanhalfacentury,intryingtounravelthiscomplicated
tangledskcinoffal seandcorrectobservations,wishfulthinking
andunsatisfactoryexperimentalconditionswhichformedthebasis of
certainclaims.Inretrospect,however,itcanbesaidthatof
allthevariousphenomenaindiscussionduringthe'nineties,such 39
asthetransfertbyapplyingmagnets,theinfluence of va riousmetals
onthebehaviourof thehypnotizcc.l subjects,theinfluenceof drugs
fromadistance,Baraduc'spolarizationtheoryofthevitalfluid,
etc.,onlyonesurvivesuptomoderntimcs.Thatphenomenon,
alrcadydi'icusscdinCrocq'sccnsusofhypnoti sm,isextra'iensory
perception.Certainly,eventodayitsexi,tencei"deniedbysome
andaffirmedbyothers,anditsrealityisstillanopenquestion,
butitisconstantlydebatcdwithacrimonyanditshowsnosigns of
beingbanishedtothelimboofdiscardedtheories,hypotheses andphenomena.
Inconnectionwiththethemeof thispresentwork,mesmeric
andhypnoticproceduresandparanormalphenomena,itseemsto
metobeaquitesignificantfactthatDelboeuf'sandCrocq's
experiencepointstotheconclusionthatparanormalphenomena
areveryrarelyproducedbymesmericmanipulationsalone.Here we have
twomen,each outstanding in his owndepartment, medical
andnon-medical,whointhecourseofmanyyearsmusthave observedhundredsof
casesof hypnoticallyinducedsomnambulism
andsimilarconditions,declaringthattheyhadnevercomeacross
acaseofparanormalcognitionoroneindicatingaparanormal
physicalinfluence.Delboeufmentionshavingbeenpresentat
severalpublicdemonstrationsof mesmerismatLi egewheresuch
famousmesmeristsasDonato,HansenandLeonshowedtheir remarkable
influenceontheir somnambulists and subjects recruited fromthe
public.But these demonstratiom did not impressDelboeuf
inanywayasshowingtracesof paranormallyinducedbehaviour
orextrasensoryperception. If weraisethequestionwhyDelboeuf
andCrocqduringtheir
longseriesofexperimentswithhypnotizedsubjects(Delbocuf
adoptedtheprocedureoftheoldmesmerists,makingpassesand
suchmanipulationstoinducemagneticsleeporsomnolenceinhis
subjects,whileCrocqmadeuseofthemoremodernmcthodsof
hypnotism)nevercameincontactwithanauthenticcaseof
paranormalphenomena,wecanonlyadvanceourpersonalopinion and suggest
that they were either very unluckyinnot finding agifted
subjectamongthehundredswithwhomtheyworkedorthatthey
werementallysoaversefromtheideaoftheexistenceofextrasensoryperception(clairvoyance,telepathy,etc.)thatthcyunconsciouslyinhibitedparanormalphenomenaintheirsubjects.
Thereisagooddealofresemblancebet'vveenestablishingthe existenceof
thephenomenonof causingblistersandotherorganic
changesbysimplesuggestionandestablishingparanormalphcno40
mena.Bothtypesofphenomenaseemtohavebeenrareand
dependentontheconstitutionof thesubjectandperhapsalsoon
thementalaptitudeoftheexperiment er.Dclboeufcouldnot
producesuchphysicalchangesamonghisownsubjects,though
somewithwhomheworkedduringseveralyearswcrehighly
suggestible.Theonlytimehesawtheproductionof blistersby
suggestionwasduringhisvisittotheSalpetrierewhenunder quite
goodconditionshecould followthedevelopmentof theblisterafter
Charcothadsuggestedtothesubjectthatapieceof burning\vax
haddroppedontoacertainspotonherwrist.Thoughthewrist
hadbeenbandagedandglycerineappliedtothespotindicated
afterashortintervalblistersbegantoshowthemselves.Bythe next
daytheblisterhadbecomesoenlargedthat it was1inch long
andlinchbroad(2 7,pp.136- 137).IncidentallyitwasDelboeuf
who,thenjuststartinghisstudiesof animalmagnetism,'wasthe
firsttosuggestthatthe stigmatizationof thefamousBelgianLouise
Lateauwasduetotheactionof theimaginationonthebodyand
thatthestigmataweretheproductof auto-suggestion.Although
thegreatVirchow,indiscussingthecaseof LouiseLateauin1876
hadcriedout:"itisei
therafraudoramiracle",theyoungprofessorDelboeuf,knowntobutafewof
hiscolleagues,hadgivenit
ashisopinionin1869(JournaldeLiege,22December1869)that
suchstigmatashouldnotbeconsideredasamiraculouseventbut
asnaturalprocessesof mindinfluencingthebody.
Crocq,ontheotherhand,neverhadtheopportunityof
observingasinglecaseof vesiculationbysuggestion.Althoughhe wasaware
that some of hiscolleagues were lucky enough toproduce
suchblisteringeffectsbysuggestingtothesubjectthathe\vas
beingburnedonacertainspotonhisbodyorthatavesicatory
hadbeenappliedtoacertainplace,Crocq,withoutdenyingthe possibilityof
suchbodil yeffectsbypure suggestion,Lelievedthisa
veryrarephenomenon,theproductionof whichonlysucceeded
withhystericalpersons.Inthisconnectionhealsoremarkedthat
LouiseLateau'sstigmata,certainlytoberegardedasauthentic
andnottheresultof fraudulentpractices,shouldbeexplainedas
theresultofauto-suggestionandthattheirproductionwasonly
madepossiblebyLouise'spathological,hystericalconstitution(31,
pp.436-437) . It isratherremarkablethatthetwoBelgian leadersin
hypnotic research during the last twodecadesof the
nineteenthcentury both
declaredthattheydidnotcomeacrossonesingleparanormal
phenomenon,notwithstandingthefactthattheyexperimentedon D41
alargescalewithhundredsorsubjects.De1boeuflivedwithan excellent
subject inhishouse forseveral yearsand had cvery
opportunitytoobservehergirts,ifany,ofaparanormalnature.He
couldinduceanykindofinsensibilityinthissubject(herfirst
parturitionhappenedundcrhypnosiswithoutherfeelingtheleast
pain)andsheobeyedanypost-hypnoticsuggestion,butshenever
gavehimoneinstanceof havinghadaparanormalimpression.
Ontheotherhandwehavethecaseof thefemalesubjectof
11.A.Denis,abusinessmanlivingat Verviers,whoissaidtohave had
frequent paranormal impressions in relationto events occurring
tohimself,towhom sheseemstohave been much attached.These paranormal
impressions did not occur during experiments especially
conductedtofindout whetherextrasensoryperceptionexisted,but
weremoreorlessof aspontaneousnature.1-1.Denispublished
hisexperienceswiththissubject in an article(32)pointingoutthat
agood deal had tobe taken for granted in thismatter and depended
onhisowntrustworthiness.Still,hedescribedsomeinteresting
caseswhichseemtobewellsupported.1-1.Denisapparently
treatedhissubjectinaccordancewiththeoldmesmericprecepts,
basinghimself ontheconceptof thevitalfluid.
Inthefirstcasementionedheremarksthaton13May 1893
hevisitedCol.deRochasinParisandwaspresentatsomeexperimentsconductedwithRochas'ssubject,NIlleLux,withaviewto
demonstratingtherealityoftheexteriorizationofsensibilityand that of
theastral,thefluidicbody.Afterhisreturnto Verviers,he
decidedtostartexperimentswithhisownsubject,MlleAloud,in
ordertoseeif hecouldobtainwithherthesame resultsasRochas
hadhad.On29Mayheenteredhissubject'shouse(shelived aboutaquarter of
amileaway fromhisownresidence)and found
herinbedandasleep.Hewastoldthat shehadbeenindisposed
forsometime.:M.Denisputhimself atonceinmagneticcontact
withherandorderedhertodescribeherailmentandprescribe
medicinesandaregimetocureherself.Thisshedid.
"Suddenlyshetoldme,"1r1.Deniswrites,"asif inadream:
'\rVhenyouwereinParis,youstaredwithgr.eatcuriosityata
woman'.Verymuchsurprised,Iaskedhertoexplainherself
morefully.'Youlookedatawomanwhowassingingtrills.' '\rVhere did
thishappen?''In alarge hall where there were quite a lot of
people.You used all kinds of glasses in examining this person.' "
"Thisiswhathappened.In the evening of 13NIay,one of my
relationsandmyselfdecidedtovisitEldorado'!Atacertain [1 Amusic
hall.] 42 momentaladyappearedonthestage,namedMUePolaire,a singer in
whom Ibelieved to recognize the subject of Col.de Rochas,
despitethefactthatthethiel.layerofpowderandrougehad changed the
expression on her face.Iexamined her from adistance
withgreatcarebutcouldnotsatisfymyselfthatshereallywas
identicalwiththesubjectof Rochas.... Thedetailabout" using
allkindsof glassesinexaminingthisperson"isverytypical,for
nottrustingtomyownspectacleswhichIdeemedinsufficientfor
mypurpose,Imadeuseofthosebelongingtomyrelationwho
accompaniedme,hopinginthiswaytoseemoreclearlyifMlle
Polaire,vasorwasnotRochas'ssubject.
'"Didthesingersecmeamongthespectators?'Iaskedher.
'No.''\rVhatmoredidyouobserve?''Thatyouwereaccompaniedbyapersonyouesteemhighly.'
"ContinuingtheconversationIaskedher:'Didyous.eeme somewhere
elseinParis?''Yes,inalong street;youwere walking
veryfast,nearlyrunning.''Can'tyouremembersomedetailsof
thatstreet,sothatIcouldrecognizeit?''No,thatstrcetwasn't
finelooking,but neither wasitugly.'
"Ipresumethatthestreetshewastalkingaboutmusthave
beentheRuedel'Universite.Iwalkedrightdownitfromthe
BoulevardSt.GermaintotheRueJacob.Thestreetseemed
endlesstome,asIwasverymuch in ahurryat thetime.Bynow very much
interested,Iwentonquestioningmy subject.'Did you seeme somewhere
else? ''Yes, you were together wi th agentleman
whowasmakingagreatmanymovementsinfrontof awoman.
Heheldanobjectinhishands,theinfluenceof whichuponthe
womanwasvisible.' " I twascertainly Col.de Rochasandthepiece of wax
inwhich hehaddissolvedtheeffluencesof
hisprojectedsubject[sujetexterioriseJ.'Onwhichstorydidwefindourselves?''Youweren't
onastory.'Thisisquitetrue,sincetheexperimentswereconductedonthegroundfloor"(32,pp.1-
3). M.Denisnowrecalledhissubjecttothewakingstateand
orderedherduringthesomnambulisticconditiontonotedownin
writingalltheimpressionsshewasgoingtoreceiveinfuture.
AnothercaserelatedbyM.Denisisthefollowing(32,pp.8ff.). "On
27or28SeptemberIwassojourninginParis,andthere
Icutmyfingerwhileliftingupachest.\rVhenIreturnedtoVerviersaweeklater,mysubjectinthesomnambulisticstatetoldme
thatshehad seenmeonthatoccasion.Ireprimandedher fornot
notingdownherimpressions,andIthenandtherehandedhera 43
pentorectifyimmediately\dmtshehadforgotten.The (allowing
dialogueensued:'Sir,IsawyouinParis;youhadhurtyourself
andwerebleedingprolllsely.You\\ CITillauaelstate. ''DidI hurt
myself sobadly?''0, certainly!'' \ \l hichfinger\\ ashurt?' 'It
wasbet\-,'eenthefirstandsccondphalangeofthelefthand.' 'What
isthenameof thisfinger ?''The index.'(Allthesedetails
arecorrect.)'Continue,'Isaid.'You
werebusytakingmeaSUl'ementsinasmallroom.''Did Ihurt myself
whiletakingmeasurements?
''1\0,itwasafteryouhadtakenthemeasurements,but youalsotook
measurements afterthe accident.''Do yourcmember
thedate?''No,no!''Duringwhichpartof thedaydidItake
thefirstmeasurements?''Inthemorning.''AndwhendidI
hurtmyfinger?''Duringtheafternoon.''Didyouseewhowas
withme?'HereIwasthinkingof
mydaughterwhotwicebandagedmyfinger,asthebloodwasrunningprofusely.'No,but
Ididseeamanwhoputsomethingonyourfinger.'
"Somewhatsurprisedthatmysubjectdidnotmentionmy daughter
whohadtwicebandaged my fingerand not remembering
thatsomebodyelsehadattendedtomyfinger,Iagainputthe
question:'Areyousurethatitwasaman?''Yes,'sheanswered.
"IthenrememberedthatoneortwohoursafterIwounded
myfinger(Idinedduringthatinterval)Iwenttoachemist's
shopwherethemanhadcoveredthefingerwithcollodionin
ordertopreventthewoundgettinginfected,
"Althoughmysubjecthadnotnoteddownherimpressionsat
thetime,Iamconvincedthat shedidhavethematthetimeIcut
myfinger,soprovingtheirparanormalnature.Thereasonfor my conviction
isthat at thevery momentthe subject hadperceived my
bloodrunningprofuselyshe startedpacking herportmanteaux.
vVhensheawoke fromher somnambulistic sleep she found- without
knowingwhathadhappenedandwhathadmadeherpackher bags-her
valisesfullypackedandthecupboards in greatdisorder.
Astonishedatwhathadhappened,shetoldherneighbour,Mme
C.G.aboutit,thatistosaybeforeIreturnedtoVerviers.It is
possiblethatwheninthesomnambulisticstateshehadperceived
mewounded,theideaforceditself uponhertodepartdirectlyfor
Paristohelpandnurseme."
:M.DenisobtainedawrittenstatementfromMmeC.G. attestingthat before
hisreturntoVerviers, !v1lleAloud,the subject,
hadtoldherthattothesubject'sgreatastonishmentthelatterhad
foundherbagsfullypackedandherapartmentturnedintoutter
confusion(32,p.10). 44
Inhisarticle1\1.Denisquotesseveralothcrcasesofalleged
telepathiccontactbetweellhisandhimself,alloC whichhehim'i.df
consideredor aparanormalnature. Duringthelastdecadeof
thenineteenthcentury,twoBelgian
writerspublishedbooksinwhichtheyreviewedthevariousproblemsconnectedwithhypnosisandmentalsuggestion.T
hefirst of thesewasAlbertBonjean,amanof
legaltraining,whoexperimentedwithanumberof
excellenthypnoticsubjectsandable
toinduceinthemalltheordinaryphenomenaof mesmerismsuch aspositiveand
negative hallucinationsand even casesof elementary
stigmatacoupledwithbleedingoncertainpatchesof theskin(33, pp.100ff.
).from his account it would appear that he endeavoured
toobtainmentalsuggestionvvithmanyoj' thesubjectswitlI\\Ihom
heworked,butwasneverabletoobtainresultswhichleelhimto
believeinitsreality(33,p.274)
AlthoughBonjeanwasclearlyimpressedbyOchorowicz's bookl on mental
suggestion,he remainedhighly sceptical and stated that at
themomentof writinghehadvery littlebelief inthereality of
mentalsuggestionandfeltinclinedtoadmitthatmanyexperimentswhichhadbeenconductedtoproveitsexistencewerenot
completelywater-tight.H ewentontosaythatinadditionhis
ownscepticismwasbasedonthemanyexperimentshehadconductedwithhisownsubjectsduringseveralmonths,allof
which testswereeithercompletelynegativeorhadgivenresultsof avery
doubtfulnature(33,p.274).Unfortunatelyhcdocsnotdescribe
thekindofexperimentsheconducted,butstatedthathenever
lostheartandcontinuedtheworkwiththesameenthusiasmas whenhestarted.
It ispossiblethathisdisbelief
inmentalsuggestionwasstimulatedbyhisexperienceswiththefemalesomnambulist,Lully,and
hermesmerist,whoclaimedapparentlythathissubjectwasa
highlygiftedclairvoyantandwasabletodemonstratethoughttransmission(pp.261ff.
).Bonjeanbelievedthathehaddiscoveredthetrickbywhichthesomnambulistandhermanager
communicatedwitheachother.Contrarytotheperformances byPickman
andZamora,Lully'smesmeristhadtoknowfirstwhat
hissubjecthadtodivineandsuchaprocedureis,of course,very
suspiciousandsuggeststhatsomehowtheremustbeasensory contact between
thetwo.On the other hand,Lully'sperformances
hadmadeagreatimpressionandcertainFrenchinvestigatorslike 1 DeLa
suggestionParis,1887.Thesecondeditionorthisworkwas publishedin1889.
45 Grassetand Sa.baticrof theUniversity of
l\10ntpellierwereinclined
tobelievethatLull),hadgenuineparanormalfaculties,although
itseemedthatGrassetwasnotaltogethersatisfiedthatevery
possibleprecautionhadbeentakentoexcludenormalcommunicationbetweenLullyandhermesmerist.1
FromBonjean'saccount,itseemsthathefirstmetLullywhen
shewasgivingherperformancesatafairinVerviersinBelgium.
CarefulobservationconvincedhimthatLullyandhermesmerist
communicatedwitheachotherbylip-reading.Themesmerist
alwaysplacedhimself at somedistancefromthe somnambulistand
facingher,whilethelatterwasseatedonachairwitheyesclosed and
seemingly inahypnotictrance.Her eyeswereneither covered
norblindfoldedandsuccesswasobtainedeverytimeaslongasno
screenwasplacedbetweenthetwoandtheonecouldfreelysee the faceof
theother.ButassoonasBonjean got achanceto place himself
betweenthetwosothatLullycouldnolongerseethelips
orhermesmerist,thenherpowersimmediatelydisappeared.
AnothersuspiciousfactthatBonjeannotedwasthatthemesmerist
refusedtofollowhissuggestionandturnhisfacetothewallduring
theexperiment.ThesefactsstronglysuggestedtoBonjeanthat silent
moving of the lips on the part of the mesmerist gave the subject
alltheindicationsthatsheneeded.
Bonjean,aswehavesaid,appearedtohavegainedmuch
successinproducingstigmataandbleedingonthesubject'sskin
bysimplesuggestion.Inconformitywiththeviewsconcerning
thissubjectwhichweregenerallyheldinhisowntime,heconsideredsuchphenomenawithintherealmofnormalpsychology,
although,owingtotheirrareoccurrence,somelatenineteenthcenturyinvestigatorsofhypnoticphenomenaquestionedthe
possibilityof producingsuchorganicchangesbysuggestionalone.
Indeed,suchphenomenainducedsolelybysuggestionseemtoday
tohavebecomesorarethatsomemodernparapsychologists,not
knowinghowtoexplainsuchchangesthroughknowledgeobtained
1ProfessorJ.Grassetof themedicalfacultyoftheUniversityof
Montpellier was one of the many Frenchmedicalmen of theperiodwho
was keenlyinterested
intheproblemsofoccultismgenerally.Hehadlittlecriticalfacultyandis
well known for his connection with the case of Anna Briou, whose
claims to demonstrateeyeless-visionwereexciting
considerableinterestinFrench circlesbetween
1896and18g8.ArmandSabatierwasanotherwriterofarathersimilarsort
whoaskedsuchquestionsastowhetherthematerialuniversewaseternaland
howsoulsweremade.Bothof themhadhad,asfarasisknown,notrainingin
thedetectionof simpletrickssuchaswcrecommonamongsttheperformersof
theperiod.[Ed.j 46
inthefurtherunderstandingofpsycho-somaticmanifestations admitthat
theyfeelinclinedtoregard suchphenomenaasres ulting
fromccrt(linparanormalfactors,forexamplejJS)dlOkinesis(3 -I, p.1'2]
) . Thesecondof thesetwoauthors,H.Nizet,discussedthecase
fortherealityorotherwiseofmentalsuggestionatgreatlength
without,however,comingtoadefiniteconclusion.Inhisbook
(35)hepreservesanopenmindonthewholequestionandstates
ashispersonalopinionthattheexistenceofmentalsuggestion
cannotbeconsideredsofarasproved.Quotinganumberof
personswithanexcellentreputationbothinthefieldof psychology and
psychiatry who regardedmental suggestionasafacthe appears
nottomentionanypositiveornegativeexperimentswhichhehad madehimself
inthisspecialfield.
Summinguphisownconclusionsonthesubject(35,p.loB)
hestatesthatalthoughexperimenterslikeOchorowicz,Richetand
othershaveconvincedthemselvesthatmentalsuggestionisafact,
hehimselfisoftheopinionthatoneshouldstillreserveone's judgment
andpostponeaffirmingitsoccurrenceinviewof thefact
thattheexperimentalfindingssofarcannotbeconsideredconclusive.Indeed,inthismattertheHippocraticaphorism,Experimentumfallax,judiciumdifJicile,shouldalwaysbekeptinmind.
Inthecourseof hisdiscussion,Nizetdevotedsomepages(35, pp. 12
7ff.)totheperformancesof stageperformerslikePickman andZamora,at
whosestagedemonstrationshehimself waspresent
whentheyweregiveninBrussels.NotingthatLombrosoappears
tohavebeenconvincedofPickman'stelepathicfacuities,Nizet
declaresthathehimselfwasratherimpressed,although,ashe pointsout,
care shouldbe exercized in view of the factthat Pickman
wasanexcellentprofessionalillusionist.InthisconnectionNizet's
rather simple state of mind isillustrated(35,p.128)by hisstatement
thatPickmanappearedtobequitesincereduringsomeofthe
experiments.FordemonstratingmentalsuggestionNizetstates that the
subject was isolated and thosetaking part in the experiment
thenagreeduponakindof simulatedtheftormurderasthiskind of game
appeared to be the most conducive tofavourthe emergence of
mentalsuggestion.Thus,forexample,itwasagreedthatone of thecompany
shouldactthepartof thepersontobemurdered, and the knifewith
whichthe murder wassupposedtobe committed
wasplacedamongothersimilarknives.Noguidanceorcontact
wasmadewiththepersonwhoknewwhatthesubjecthadto indicate and it
issaid that the experiments were successfully repeated 47
timeaftertime,whilethosewithcontactdidnotsucceedmore
oftenthanthosewithout.AccordingtoNizet(35,p.128),Pickman,dUl"ingtheseexperiments,appearedtobeinakindof
light trance(conditionseconde )whichcouldnotbeconsidered,according
tohim,eitherasastateof hypnosisoroneof fullawareness.He
doesnotseemtohavediscussedthetheorythatthisallegedcondition\vasjustpartof
Pickman'sperformanceinordertodeceive theinvestigators.
AlthoughNizetseemstohavebeenimpressedbytheseBrussels experiments he
was certainlynot convinced thatthought-transmission
wastheonlyexplanation.Hebelievedthattheexperimentswere
notconductedillamannerwhichcouldbeconsideredentirely satisfactory
andthatthey shouldbe repeatedwith stillgreater care.
Hedeclared,therefore(p.131),thatdefiniteconclusionsshould
notbedrawn fromthesetests,but atthesametimeheappearedto
agreewiththeopinionof thosepresentattheexperimentsthatthe
mannerinwhichthedemonstrationswereconductedwereof such
anaturethatdoubtwasinclinedtoshiftandgiveanaffirmative
answerasregardstheexistenceofmentalsuggestion.
Nizetheldthesameopinionwithregardtotheperformances of
ZamoraandstatedthathewasasgoodasPickman,quotinga French casein
whichZamora wasableto discovertheburied spoils of
atheftwhichthepolicehadbeenunabletotrace.Nizetwas
naturallyalsointerestedinthequestion of theinfluenceof
medicamentsatadistance,whichhadintriguedsomanyof theFrench
investigators.Likeothercriticalenquirershehadtoadmitthat
theexperimentspersonallyconductedinthisfieldonlygaveconfusedanddoubtfulresults(35,p.123).
If wereviewthedevelopmentof mesmerismandhypnotismin Iklgium during
the whole of the nineteenth century andthe existing evidenceof
thcrealityof paranormalphenomenaappearingwith
thehelpofmesmericorhypnoticprocedures,theconclusioncan hardly be
avoidedthattheparanormal wasbut rarely encountered,
especiallywhenhypnoticandmesmericresearchescametobe
conductedbyeminentmenofthemedicalandscientificprofessions.WefindthatinBelgium,asintheNetherlandsinthe
sameperiod,hardlyanyofthesemenencounteredreallyparanormallygiftedsubjects.Itcannotbesaidthattheywerenoton
thealertforsuchphenomena.Theyrecognizedthepossibilityof
suchphenomenabuttheysimplydidnotmeetwithcasesof,say,
extrasensoryperceptionunderconditionsadequatetoconvince themof
itsexistence.Apparentlyitdidnotmatterwhetherthe 48
mesmericorhypnotictranceorsomnambulisticsleephadbeen
inducedby"magneticpasses"orbymethodsproposcdbyBraid
andhisfollowers.Onehastheimpressionthatparanormalgifts
areengrainedintheconstitutionof somepeopleandthat,if
conditionsarefavourable,theymayemerge,whateverthemethods
usedtobringthemout.Amoreorlesseroticbondbetweenmesmeristorhypnotizerandthesubjectmay,itseems,greatlyfavour
theappearanceofparanormalphenomenaifthereexistsaconstitutiQnalaptitudetoproduce
such phenomena.It ispossiblethat
thespecialrelationshipexistingbetweenmedicalmenandpatients
treatedwithhypnotismattheSalpetriereandNancywerenot
conducivetosuchphenomena.Theseconditionswereprobably
betterinspiritisticcircleswhereitwasacommonpracticethat
the"mediums"weremagnetizedandthusentranced. REFERENCES
ThefollowinglistisinnoSenseabibliography.It issimplyashort-title
listof booksandarticlesmentionedinthetext.Althol(ghinmanycases
thetitlesareabbreviated,enoughisgiventoenableanyreadertofollow
upthereferenceif hewishestodoso.
I.KLUGE,C.A.F.,VersueheinerDarstellungdesanimalisehenJHagTlCtismus
alsHeilmitlel.Berlin,1811. 2.S Y S T E ~ I
Eraisonnedumagnetismeuniversel,d'apreslesprine/pesdeAf.
Afesmer...Paris,1786. 3.1\1.,M
.T.D.[i.e.A.A.Tardydej\Jontravcl].Lettrespourscrvirde suitea
l'EssaisurlatMoriedusomnambulismemagn';tique.Londres, 1787. 4.P* *
*,l' abbe[i.e.I 'abbePetiot?].AutresreL'eriessurIemagnetisme
animal,a unaeademiciendeprovince.Br:uxelles,1784.
5.LETTREdeAfr.A.dAIr.B.sllrIelivreintitute:Recherchesetdoutes
surIemagnetismeani mal[ByM.A.Thourct].13ruxelles,1784.
6.j\LUINE,E.H.,Demagnetismoanimali.Gandavi,1829.
7CREMMENS,D.&TARTE,.1.,Lepropagateurdemagnetismeanimal.
Bruxdles,1841.
8.LAFONTAINE,C.,Afemoi1'esd'unmagnitiseur.2vols.Paris,1866.
9MAG:'en Belgiqne.llnu{ciles,
14.L\FO:-/TAINE,C.,L'ArtdemaglllJliser.3cd.l'aris&Gcneve,1860.
15.l'vloUTIN,L,Lemaglli lismeIWlIlain.4ed.Paris,1920.
16.AHRENS,H.,COUTS dej)s)'c/lOlogie...2vols.Paris,1836- 8.
17.TANDEL,N.E.(AUnts. ..
jmb.j)aTl'Acad.roy'.desscienceselbelles-lellres
deBrlltelles,TomcXV,2Cpartic,1841- 1842).llruxelles,1843.
18.ROBIANO,L.;'vI.G.[calledAloIS]Comlede.AhHller,Galvanielles
lheologiellS.Bruxelles,1845. Ig.PETETIN,].H.D.
,Eleclriciteanimale.. ,Paris,1808. 20.EHRENWALD, ]., "The
telepathichypothesisand doctrinalcompliance
inpsychotherapy."(Amer.J OUT!!. of PS)'cllOlhera/J}',1957,XI,pp.
359- 379) 21.COYTEUX,F.,Exj)oj'ed'lInsyslerne suivid'uneIlufo
riedes senlimentsauperceptions...3ed.Bruxelles,1855.
22,HOLSBEEK,H.van.,LeUressurlemagntlismeanimal.Bruxelles,1863.
23.DUR;\NT,V.,LapilelIlagncliquevitaleel5011
applicalionauImih'menldes malades.Bruxelles,1874.
24,DURANT,V.,AppeTrudeLa doclrinemedicaledumagnetis
mevital.Schaerbeek,1875.
25.PERTY,l'v1.,DiesichtbareunddieuT/sichlvareWell,DiesseilswidJell
seits. LeipzigundHeidelberg,1881.
26.DELBoEuF,].R.L.,!HagnelisellTSelJHedicills.Paris,1890.
27.DELBoEuF,].R.L.,"Une visitea laSalpetrii:re."(RevuedeBelgique,
1886,Ann.18,tomeLIV,pp.121-147:258- 275. ) 28.DELBoEu!',]. R.
L.,;"L'hypnose et les suggestions criminellcs."(Bullelin
del'Academiero),aledeBelgique,1894,3ser.,XXVIII,pp.
2g.DELBoEuF,.1.R.L.,Lemagnetismeanimal.A propos d'unevisiled['icole
deNallc}'.Paris,188g, 30.CROCQ.,
.1.(fils),L'H),pnolismeellecrime.Bruxelles,1894.
31.CROCQ.,.1.(fils),L'Hypnolismescienlijiqlle.Paris,1896.
32.DENIS,A.,"Quelquesphenomenesdetelepathie,"(Annalesdes
SciencesPSJ,chiques,V,pp.1- 32.) 33.BON]EAN,A.,L'
H}jJ1lolisme,sesmppoTlsavecledroitellalhirajJcutique.
Lasuggestionmentale.Paris,1890.
34,WEST,D.].,PsychicalResearchloda)'.London,1954 35.NIZET,H.,L'
H),pnotisme.Etudecritique.Bruxelles,1892.
36.CONRAD,Dr.,Lemesmtrisme,oulesmerveillesdumagnelisme.Bruxelles,
1875. 50 HypnotismintheNetherlands 1800-1900 I NTRODUCTION
DURI:-.IGthe second half of the eighteenth century educated classes
in theNetherlandswerealreadywellacquaintedwiththepossibility
oftheexistenceofparanormalphenomena,andinterestingand
sometimesevenheateddi scussionscanbenotedinthcliterature
ofthetimeproandconthercalityofthcsephenomenaandtheir
bearingonthegenerallyacceptedphilosophicalandreligious
viewoflife,particularlyinrelationtothephenomenonofprecognition.
\Vhenfinally,severaldecadeslater,mesmerismwith
itsremarkablephenomenaofsomnambulismmadeitsappearanceinthe
Netherlands,these phenomena,acertain number of which certainly
appearedtohaveatypicalparanormalcharacter asdefinedtoday,
failedtoimpressthescholarsinthesamewayasextrasensoryperception(ESP)didinthetwentiethcentury.ESPatthebeginning
ofthelastcenturywasonlyonemoreproof of therealityof that
mysteriousagency,animalmagnetism.
Mesmerismandthedoctrinesofanimalmagnetismdidnot spread to the
Netherlands fromthe south, from France and Belgium,
butfromtheeast,fromGermany,andatatimewhenthepropounderof
thetheoryof the" universal fluid",Dr.F.A.Mesmer,
waspassinghislastdaysinasmallSwisstown. Althoughoneof theschoolsof
animalmagnetism,thatof Barbarin,had already successfully penetrated
asfar asOstend,the final invasionof thc Dutch frontiersby
thecurative doctrinesof 1-fesmer andPuysegur wasdefinitelyhindered
forthetime being by astrong
oppositionfromtheDutchmedicalauthorityof LeidenUniversity,
ProfessorF.]. Voltelen,whofiercelyattackedthetheoryof animal 51
magnctism.MentioningthesetheoriesVoltclenwentsofara . ~to
usesuchter msas"fiur y-tal
cs"and"fraudulentinventioll",includingboth Gassner and Mesmer in
hisdenunciation and speaking of
thelatter'sshamefulfrauds(schalldelijkebedriegerijen)inVienna
(1,p.54;65(in Dutchtranslation) ). Earl yintheninet eenthcent
uryanimalmagnetismanditsconcomitant somnambulism(Puysegur's
method)hadagreat voguein Germany,and severalfamousand
authoritativemedicaldoctorsof that country,suchasC.A. F
.Kluge,D.G.Kieser,etc.,wrotelong
volumesaboutthewonderfulresultsobtainedwhiletreatingtheir
patientswithanimalmagneticmanipulations,atthesametime
describingvariouscasesof
typicalparanormalphenomena,collectivelyascribedto"clairvoyance".Dutchmedicalmenbecame
greatly impressed by the enthusiasm of their German collcagues and
now startedexperimenting seriouslywith thehypothetical magnetic
fluid.Owingtotheresultsapparentlyobtained,themajorityof Dutch
physiciansand philosophersalsobccamehighly enthusiastic. Holland
now entered into itsgolden age of mesmerism(1814- 1818) . Animal
magnetism then became a subject forgeneral discussion and, just
ashappened during the beginning of the Spiritualistic periodin
manycountries,allkindsof privatecirclesstartedexperimenting 'with"
thefluid".Attea-parties,clubsandsocialgatheringsitwas thesubject
brought up fordiscussion, while it seemsthat the numbers of young
women who consented to be brought into a somnambulistic
statewerevery large..
Themedicaltreatmentbyanimalmagneticmethodsapplied
bytheGermanandDutchdoctorswassimilartothatwhichdevelopedoutofPuysegur'sdiscoveryofsomnambulism.This
methodgenerallyconsistedinmakingvarious"passes"overthe
patient'sbody,layingonof hands,or staringfixedlyintotheeyes,
\\'iththepurpose of gettingtheailing personintoasleepycondition and
aiming at the development of somnambulism which would make
itpossibleforthepatienttotalk,answerquestionsandwrite.Just
asnearlyacenturylaterCharcotdistinguishedvarioushypnotic
stages,each with itstypicalphenomena and symptoms,sothe early
mesmeristsdistinguishedatleastsevenorcightsomnambulistic
conditions.Inthefourthor fifthstageof thelatterclassificationit
wasbclic\"edthatthepatientbccamelucidor clairvoyantandthat
hethenwouldbeabletodemonstrateallkindsof supernaturalor
superhumanfaculties.Someof
these,asdescribedbytheoldmesmerists,wouldundoubtedlyfallwithinthemoderncategoryof
the paranormal.Duringmagnetictreatmentallendeavourswere 52
directedtowardsevokingthe somnambulist statc,asitw a ~believed
thatinthisconditionthcinstinctiveandspiritualfacultiesofthe
ind.ividual wouldbe soheightenedthatthe patient wouldbe able to
diagnosecorrectly hisillnessand prescribethefitting medicinesand
cures,evenif thatpatientdidnothavetheslightestknowledgeof
anatomy,physiolog)"pharmacology,etc.Theseideaswerebased 011the
assumptionthat animal magnetism would inasense loosen a man's soul
from the fleshly,earthly bonds, so that its natural capacity to
know and understand pl'actically everything in this universe would
come into fullplay.In thiscondition of being more or lessfreefrom
thebody,thesoulcouldthengiveallnecessaryindicationstocure
completely itsbody'sailments. It shouldherebe emphazisedthat it
wasnot themesmeristwho mustbe considered asthetherapeutic agent but
the patient himself.
Bymanipulatinghimaccordingtosomemagneticmethodthe patient
wasbrought intoastatebythemagnetizer which,soit was believed,
allowed contact in amore direct way with his soul or spirit,
andthishigherandimmortalpartof man couldthenbeconsulted
astothebestwaytoridthepatientof
hisillnesses.Suchasomnambulistcouldsuccessfullytreatnotonlyhimselfbutalsothose
sickpersonswho werebroughtintocontactwithhim.It isindeed
interestingtoremarkhowmanycureswerereportedinthosedays,
especiallyof nervouscomplaints,bywhatwenowwouldcall
autoposthypnoticcommands;forinstance,thepatientinasomnambulantstatewouldsay:"If
Idrinkapintof magnetizedwaterthis
evening,tomorrowmorningat8o'clockmybowelswillbewell opened"(if the
patient was suffering from serious constipation)and,
similarly,menstruationcouldoftenbeinduced.
Suchphenomenaandmanyothersreportedintheliteratureof the time
ashaving been observed during the somnambulant ,tate, or
oneresemblingit,wereconsideredtobesupernormal,provingat
thesametimetherealityofthatsemi-spiritualagency,animal
magnetism.Anumberof thesephenomena,however,themodern
parapsychologistwouldnot classifyasparanormal. The phenomena that
were considered in the beginning of the last century as part of the
somnambulant stateand atokenofthewonderfuleffect of animal
magnetism(but which Ido not wishtoregard as
strictlyparanormal,andthereforewillnotbediscussedinthis
section),are: 1.Thepatientcouldpredictcorrectlywhcnattacks\vould
comeon,or whenthe
curewouldbecomplete.Predictionsconcernedwiththeeffect of medicines
fallinthissameclass. 53
2.Theso-calledphenomenonofald.osco/Jia,rathercommonin t.heearly
period ofIn the somnambulant conditionthc
patientwouldoftcndescribcanatomicaldetailswhichheclaimed to
seeinhiso\vnor other people'sbodies.Hc washeardto say that
heperceivcdhisbrains,nerves,bloodvessels,intestines,andwhat
waswrong withthem.He would givedescriptionsaboutthethicknessof
hisblood,of itscolour,thecondition of hislungs,etc.Such
autoscopicimpressions,however,ncverexceededthepatient'sanatomicalknowledgeorfancies,orwhatwasknowntothemedicine
oftheperiod.Judgedbyourmodernstandardsandscientific
findings,practicallyallsuchautoscopicimpressionsandclaims, regarded
inthose daysassound evidenccforclairvoyance,arc quite unevidential.
3.Theoldermagneticliteratureoftenmentionsatransference of
thesensorychannclsof perception,suchasseeingorhearingby thepitof
thestomach,thefinger-tipsorshouldcrs.Suchatransfercncewasforthe
older mesmeristsasure signthatthe subjcct had
developedahighdegreeofclairvoyance.Ishallonlycitesuch cases of
sensorial transference when sufficient cvidence isforthcoming
thatallnormalsensorycueswereexcluded.Thisisveryoftennot
thecase,forthemcsmeristsweregenerallytooeasilysatisfiedthat the
somnambulist wasnot able to perceivebynormal mcans.They hadlittle
ideaof thepossible of subjectsinthehypnotictranceand similar
states. 4- Another phenomenonthat wasconsideredatypicaloutcome of
the wonderful effectsof animalmagnetismwasthat generally the
subject was enrap/Jortwith the mesmcrist and only heard and reacted
tothelatter'svoice.\Vhenotherpeopleprescntintheroom
screamedatthesubjectatthetopoftheirvoiceshewouldthen
remainabsolutely deaf and show no signs of having heardthe
slightestnoise.\Vhenthephenomenafromthiskindofra/J/Jortare
obtainedwithinthepossiblereachofthesubject'ssensorium(for
instance,ifthemesmeristmagnetizesapieceofstring,andany
persongettingholdofthisstringautomaticallyestablishesra/Jport
withthesubject)then,ofcourse,suchphenomenaarestillwell
withinthedomainofnormalpsychology.If,hmvever,sucha
rajJPortisbroughtabout,withoutthesubjecthavingtheslightcst chance
ofknmving about it bynormal means(e.g.the string isheld
ortakentoanotherhouse,adifferentpartof thetown,ctc. ),then there
issome reason to regard the positive results ofsuch experiments
assomeevidenceof ESP. 54 THEDUTCHGOLDE NAGEOFANIMA LjvlAGNET l SM (
13q- r8r8) One of the firsttobecome intercsted in animal magnetism
and its application asatherapeutic agency wasthe lawyer P.G.van
Ghert, who probably camc into contact with thetheory in Germany
during thefirstyearsofthenineteenthcentury.\Vhenhereturnedto
Hollandhe startedtoexperiment withthe" fluid"andtotreatthe siekat
Amsterdam by meansof themagnetizing methodsthenvery
muchinvogue.Inr8r4vanGhertpublishedareport(2)of a
successfultreatmentofalady,lastingafullyear( r80g- r8ro),
duringwhichshe\vasregularlymagnetizedtwiceorthreetimesa week.This
lady,who quickly developed into an excellent somnambulist,directing
her cure and prescribing forher various ailmentsin the somnambulant
stage,alsomay have some paranormal faculties.Some cases showing
jJrimafacie paranormal characteristics are givenbelowintranslation.
For example, in acase of what seems liketravelling clairvoyance,
vanGhertreportsthat,atasitting,agentlemanwhowaspresent hadan aunt
living at Doetinchem(atownroo mileseastof Amsterdam).Van Ghert
requested the patient to go tothat town and have alookaround.
"'Very well,'sheanswered,'butfirstyouwillhavetotellme
whereDoetinehemissituated.''InthecountyofGelderland.'
Lookingroundaboutherforafewmoments,shepointedwithher
handinacertaindirectionandasked,'Is Doetinchemtobefound inthat
direction?''Indeed.''Is it avillage?''No,alittletown.'
'Throughthetownthererunsabroadstreet,doesn'tit,andthe
townlooksrather neat and clean.'Thereupon she gave adescription of
t\\ostreets,askingus,'Doesn'tthe gentleman'saunt liveinthat
street,onthe lefthandside?''Yes.''Isn'tthereahighstoopin front of
the house?''No.''Then Imust bemistaken,andtheaunt
mustliveinthehousenextdoortotheoneIhave justmentioned.
Hasn'tthehouseastep-roof?''Correct.''Thishouse'sstoopis
flushwiththe ground,and it seemstomethat there isalittle bcnch
onit.''Correct.''Flankingthehouseisapassagethatrunsquite
straight.''Indeed.''On theright hand side of thehousethere are
twowindows,they seemtobe sliding-windows, and on thetop story
threewindows.''Quite correct.''How many windowsdoyou see
onthelefthandside?'the patient wasasked.'I canonly seeone,'
sheanswered.'Therearethree.''Thereisaroomontheleft
side.'"Right,enterthatroom.' 55
"Thesomnambulistnowgaveadescriptionoftheroom,the
chimney-corner,awritingdeskwithaclockplaceduponit,etc.
Therewasnothinginthesubj ect'sdescriptionof theroomandits
furniturethatdidnotcorrespond\\'ithwhatthegentlemanpresent
remembered aboutthatroom.But it should be mentionedthathe
didnotrememberalldetailssummedupbythesubj ect. "\Ve
askedherhowmanywindowsshesawinthisroom.
'Three,'sheanswered.\Vhenseeminglystandinginfrontof the house, she
had stated that this particular room had only one window.
'Thereisinthisroomaportc-brisee[folding-doors].''Correct.'
'ThedoorseemstohaveawhitishtintbutIcan'tseetheexact
colour.Nextdoortothis roomitseemsthe living-room issituated.'
'Right.''Twomirrorshangintheliving-room,thelargerone against the
wall,the smaller one againstthe side-panel.''Correct.' 'There isa
gentleman in the house who appears to livethere.''No.'
'Still,thisgentlemanveryoftenfrequentsthehouse.Nearbythe lady of
the house sitsa servant girl.''Yes, that ispossible.''Doesn't the
lady wear spectacles?''Indeed.''She can alsoknit very well, doesn't
she?''Yes, agreat deal of her time istaken up by knitting.' 'There
isa little dog in the house.''What isthe dog like?''White,
Ibelievewith brown markings.It hasacollar on with littlebells.'
'Correct.''There is also another dog with longish hair.''That may
be.''The lady isvery fondof reading.''Yes,that istrue.''There
isastaircaseinthepassage.'' j'vlaybe.''Thekitchenissmallbut
niceandclean.Totherightisasmallback-yard.''Quiteso.' 'In
thatback-yardisakindof stockadeonwhichdish-cloths,etc.
arehungtodry.''Correct.''Attachedtothehouse,outside,isa little
gate.''That may be so.''It isalittle gate wherethe men go
tourinate.'':Maybe.'''(2,pp.89- 90) \
'VeshouldkeepinmindthatvanChert'streatmentof thisand
otherpatientsoftentooktheformofpublicseancestowhichhe
invitedmedicalmen,professorsand othersinordertodemonstrate
tothemthewonderfuleffectsof animalmagnetism.Some of these
effects,rarenodoubt,may,if true,be consideredof aparanormal
nature,althoughinthosedaysthey wereregarded asquitenormal. The
followingcase seems again one of travelling clairvoyance, or
someotherfacult y,thesubjectbeingthesamepatientmentioned above.The
seance took place on1June 1809,and ishere described (2,p.119). "One
of the gentlemen present,alieutenant, askedthe patient if
shecouldhave alookat hisfamilyand seehow they fared.'I shall
havetoknowfirstof whatkindof personsthefamilyconsists,and 56
wheretheyal lh"e,' sheremarked.' In thecounty or Gelderland, where
myuncleand mybrothers and sisters live.''Youhave gota sisler
wholooks very pale ... agirl moping allthe lime, withoutthe
slightes t for suchastateof mind.'' Correct.'Your other
sisterisnotapretty girl.''You areright,sheisindeednothandsome.''
Sheisdisfigw'edbyhavinghadsmallpox.'' Correct.'
'YouruncleisaLallandthin man.''Indeed.''lIe isagrumpy kindor
man.''COITect. 'Hishealthisat averylowebb.''Yes,
sn1guess.''Heisalliht!timethrowingupphlegm. ''Yes,he
docs.Ihaveabrother,havealooka thim. ''Isn' themiserl y ?' ' Yes, as
avaricious asInever eX'-periencedbefore.''You have more
thanoncekickeduparowwithhim.''Oh,yes.'' YOllareat vari
ancewithrum,areyounot?''Yes.'"Duringoneof these seances,onf7
June,one ofthe visitorspresent askedthe patientto go and see
hisbrother.;and sisters.What she said she saw,however, wascompletel
y'vTong.\Vhensherequestedbythesame gentlemanto Imvc:alook at
hismarriedsist er,living a t'5Hertogenbosch(70
frolllAmsterdam)thesomnambulistwasmore
successful.Shedcscribedlhcsisterashavingalittlebaby,still
beingsuckled, andappearing tobe agirl.The sister also seemed to
suffer[rom an ulceratingbreast .After an enquiryhadbeen made, it
wasfound lhat what was saidabout the sisterwascorrect(2,pp. 138-
139). Agreatimpressionwasmadeontheeducatedinthe Netherl
andsbythepublicationof
abookdevotedtoanimalmagnetism,writtenbythreefullyqualifiedmedicalmen,oneofwhom
wasaprofessorof the'Universityo[Groni ngen(3)
.Thebookappearedintwovol umes,thefirstin 1814andt.he secondin1818.I
t wasreallythisfirstvolume whichpavedtheway for the applicati on
ofarumalmagnetismforI..herapeuucpurposesinHolland.T he approval
given byProfcssorC . Bakker to mesmerism encouragedthe
wholemedicalprofessiontostartexperimentingwithitandto
publishtheresultstheyobtained.T hough,indeed,mentionis madeinthefi
rst vol ume(p.82)of paranormal
phenomenaoccurringinthemagneticsleep(telepathy,precognition,etc.)
,asdescri bedinmanypublicationsonthe subject,the a uthorsthemselves
didnotgiveanyins tancesof paranormaloccurrencesexperienced
bythemsel ves.Inthesecondvolume,however,someexampl esof
suchparanormaleventsarequoted. Though somemaythink tllatthepr
edictionoftheoccurrence of certainsymptoms0 1' attacksof
ailmentsthesomnambulistisgoing tosufferintheneal'Ordistantfu
tureshouldnotberegardedas E 57 -........
paranormal(precognition),still,asamatter of interest,Iamgoing
tocitehereone suchcase,leaving ittothereaderto judge forhimself
whether suchpredictionsinthesomnambulant stateshouldbe considered"
normal"or"paranormal".
BakkerreportedthatA.G.,25yearsoldandsufferingfrom
complaintsoftheoesophagus,hadbecomeagoodsomnambulist during her
treatment withmagnetism.Being inthesomnambulant
stateon16November1816,thepatientbecameuneasyandthen remarkedthat
shewouldhavecolickycramps onChristmasDay in
theeveningat7o'clock.Thesecrampswouldnothaveany connection with her
present illness,but would be the result of catching
acold.Nevertheless the colicky cramps would have tobe treated
withmagnetism.On24Decemberthemedicalpractitioner,Dr. 'Volthers,had
somereasontobelievethat he wouldbecalledtohis patient
thenexteveningat7 o'clock,forthe patient ""ouldthenbe
attackedbycolickycramps.Everythinghappenedaspredicted.
Thoughtheattackwasratherasevereone,itsoonabatedafter magnetizing
manipulations(3,ii,p.(76).
Inanothercasewhichsuggestsclairvoyanceortelepathy,the
patient,A.G.,was askedwhy her sister who was expectedtoarrive that
day fromone of the islandstothe north of Hollandhadnot yet come.The
somnambulistansweredthat shehadbeendetainedat
Zoutcamp(aplaceabout25milesfromthesomnambulist'shouse) by askipper
with\vhomshewasbargainingaboutthepurchaseof golden pippins.The
truth of this vision was completely verified some
timelater(3,ii,p.177) Another case(3,ii,p.181) with the same
sensitive might perhaps be interpreted asone of precognition.On
3.January she stated that shehadto be bled on 5 January at10o'clock
inthemorning.The blood-letting shouldbe slightbut it wouldbe
necessarytodoit,for
shewasgoingtohaveabadfright.Thecauseofthefrightshe
wouldonlytelltohermesmeristwhenthetwoof themwouldbe
alonetogether.Shethentoldhimthat shewasgoing tobe greatly
frightened by aburglary tobe committed inthe house she was living
in.Sheproceededtonamevarioushomeremediesthat shouldbe
administeredtoher inordertocalmherafterherfright. Thenextday,4
January,thesomnambulistgavethefollowing explanationof
whatwasgoingtohappenthatevening.Theman who was going to burgle the
house would try to get hold of foodstuffs . But when the
somnambulist discovered him he would hit at her with apieceof
clothorasackthathehadinhispossession,andby so doingthelamp shewould
becarryingwouldbestruckoutof her 58 hand.The light
wouldthenbeextinguished;thethief woulddrod
whathehadstolenandmakehisescape.Shecouldnotseehim clearly but only
asin aflash.Butnever wouldthethief return and try
againtoburglethehouse.Amomentbeforeanddirectlyafter
thelightwasextinguishedshe'Nouldscream;thiswouldhappen
between8and9p.m.andthere wasnothingthat couldbedoneto
avoidwhatwasgoingtohappenaspredicted.Noattempt should
bemadetoprevent the burglary andherdiscoveryof it.The next day she
wouldhavemuchto say againsthavingherself bledbut the
blood-lettingmusttakeplaceinany case.
Beingconvincedthatthepredictionwouldberealized,both
BakkerandvVolthersdesiredtobewitnessesof whatwasgoingto
happen.Afterthemasterofthehousehadbeeninformedthat
aboutthet-imementionedabove something wasgoingtohappen in hishouse
without hissuffering any harm, the twoproposedthat they
shouldbeallowedtoenteraroombehindhisshopsurreptitiously, in order
tolook through the glasswindows,while keeping themselves inthe
dark,andthen seewhat wouldhappen.Asthe master of the house was
completely convinced of the honesty of A.G .,hisservant, and of the
truth of what she had pronounced in the magnetic sleep (of whichhe
had had quite alot of experience), he willingly consented.
Butwhenafewminutesbefore8o'clockthey",'erepreparing to
entertheroombeforetheappointedtime,aservantof
theshopownersuddenlyknockedattheirdoortoinformthemthatthe
maidservant(t he somnambulist)had met with an
accident.Directlytheyarrivedatthehousetheyheardwhathadhappenedfrom
the maidservant.She had gone to the back of the store-room to pack
awaysomeutensilsandhadheardsomebody walkingabout,when
suddenlyamanhadapproachedher,hadstruckatherwithan empty
sackorapieceof cloth,therebyextinguishingthelampshe
wascarryingwhichfelltothe floor:whenshehadletout ascream the man
had dropped a sack,half filledwith salt whichhe
wascarryingandranawayasquicklyashecould.Afterinvestigatingthe
store-roomthetwodoctorsfoundthe sack of salt andthe lamp lying
onthe floorasindicated by the maidservant.They alsoheardfrom
theshop-owner whythe gardenbackdoorhadremainedopen.
Theauthorsofthetreatisereviewedhereneverseemtohave thoughtthat
their somnambulist might havehoaxed them andhave
stagedthiswholerobberysceneinordertoimpressthemwithher paranormal
faculties.vVeknowthathystericalpersonsmayeasily tell storiesand act
fraudulently only tomake an impression on those
withwhomthehystericalindividualisconcerned.Ontheother 59 hand,no
indications canbe brought forward in thiscase supporting
sllchafraudulentact,andalthoughthiscannotbeconsi dereda
well-evidencedcaseor precognition,itoughttobeconsideredin relati
ontoother cases.
Forinstanceas.imilurcasct3,ii,p.(78)isquotedbythesame authors,agai
nconcernedwithaprecognitiveimpressionthatthe somnambulist was
goingtohurt hl.rsclf;lt acertain hOllr of theday. It appearsthat at
9a.m.onthe morning of In November1816the patien
tpredictedthatonthesameafternoonbetween4p .m.and 5 p.m. she would
knock her head against adoor and inj ure it rather
severely,causingattacks0('dizziness.Owin1;t.oUlisinj uryher
clairvoyantfacultieswouldremainin aheyanceLhcnextmorning, Ig
Kovember.On that day their patient had bouts of dizziness and
herbead showedarathernasty wound,causedbytheaccident the
daybefore.The membersofthebouseholdwboknewabouther prediction had
advisedbel',making useof somepretext or other,to
remainscatedquietlyinherchairduringthetimethepredi cted
accidentwasgoingtohappen.Thishad alsobeenherintention, but at
aquarter to fiveinthe afternoon asuddenbustleand movement inthe
householdbusinesshad made her forget her intentionto
remainseated.She ran swiftlyto aroom at thebackof thehouse, and
knocked herhead agains t one of the doorsof acloset-bed which
hadbeenleftopen. Intheearly daysof animal
magnetismitwru;usualtoprescribe magnetized water forthe
patienttodrink as il wasbelievedtobe an excell
entmedicinefo!'allkindsof ailments.Themesmcristmade passesover bot
tlesof ordinary water , 0 1' various other manipulations
whichwerethoughttochargethewaterwithmagnetism.If a
patientwantedto{al lintoasomnambulantstaLeorde('psleepit
wasoftenenoughlor himtotouch abottle of water magnetizedby hisor
her mesmerist.One of the phenomena that continuedto be a subject of
grea t wonderwasthe fact that many somnamb ulists were
abletodistinguishbetween magnetizedandnon-magnetizedwater, in wha
teverwaythe experimenttotestthis power wasmade.I t is
possiblethat,atleastinsomeinstances,akindof ESPmayhave functionedin
distinguishing between manipulated and non-manipulatedwater.T
hisfacultywasconsideredgreally( 0supportthe hypothesisthatanimal
magnetismareal source of energy.The authorsof the bookwe are here
quoting mention somecaseswithin
theirownexperiencewberebyasomnambulistwasableunderall
circulllstancestoperceivethedifferencebetweenwatermagnetized ornot.
60 In thisca;e they stated (3, ii, pp. 20 ff.)Ulat the somnambulist
C. alway!;knew,inwhatever\\uyormannerthcytestedher,howto dis
tingtish betweenthe two kinds ofwatc:l'.She claimed to perceive
thedifferencenotbytastebutuyacertainfeelinginherstomach.
Indirrcrentiatingbel\\ecnthet wokinds,it
didnotmakeanydifwhcUlersheor magnctizedwater with whichthey s
pliedhel'daily.Inordertotesther sensitivitytomagnetismthey
severaltimessentheroncorbothboltlesWlmagnetized
;butinvariablythepatientthenclaimedthatthewaterdidnothavethe effect
onbel'andtherehadnotbeenanyrelief. Inher s,omnambulant stalc and
\\ithher clairvoyantfacul tiesin operation .JlC would always know
which of thcm had magnetized thebotLleor glass of\\,ater, and also
how oftenthey had made passes i n doing so.\Vhencver she was given
water thal had been magnetized
bysomebodyotherthanherownmesmerists,sheinvaria.blygot
severega!ltricspasms.SheU1endeclaredthatthewaterhadbeen
treatedbyastranger,andwasevenabletosaywhothatstranger was.
Onacertainday sheinformedthemthat ashrubgrowingina
tubintheroomhadbeen\\'atercdwithmagnetizedwater.After
makingenquirie;;theyfoundIhattheinformationwascorrect and
thatbymistaketheplanthadbeenmoistenedwithmagnetized waterat
atimebetweenherlast somnambulantl>tateandtheone before. The
abilitytodistinguishmagnet!zed water,at leastinthe case
mentionedabove,appearstopointt.owardsESPifthe factsareas
slated.Thegastriccramps,indicatingtha tthewaterdrunkhad
beenmagnetizedbysomel.>odyothertbanBakkerand'Voltbers, might
possiblybe regardedassymboLlzingthe indigestibility ofthe
water,becauseitwaschargedbysomebody magnetism.In this
case,therefore, we fi nd ESP impressions manifestingthemselvcs
bymeansofmotorautomatism,asmaybethecaseindowsing,
table-tilting,planchcttc-writing,elc. Aninter
