sistent with that feeling. I would at the same time take the liberty of pointing out to you the evils that must arise, when a reviewer, instead of encouraging the free expression of opinion in relation to a subject upon which much darkness prevails, and on which, consequently, any opinion properly expressed should be received with thankfulness, avails himself of his power over the public mind to throw odium upon those who venture upon its discussion. In treating of such a subject as criminal jurisprudence, and in taking, as I have done, the unpopular side of the question, a writer could have no motive beyond the fulfilment of the dictates of his conscience. This consideration should at least entitle him to respect; and if he succeed in bringing forward a single fact in illustration of his subject which had previously been lost sight of, it should be conceded, looking at the momentous nature of his theme, that his labours have not been altogether vain.

"I feel entitled to press these considerations upon you, because, setting aside the correctness or incorrectness of my views, I think it will be acknowledged that the work in which they are put forth does not contain a single passage that would justify the tone which characterises your notice of it. Bold as its views may appear, I gave them unhesitatingly to the public, because I felt satisfied that where an earnest desire was manifested to arrive at truth, and at the same time to avoid the offence of treating the opinions of others with disrespect, an author, however much his doctrines might be disputed, would be sure of gaining from the press a friendly and considerate reception :-I need hardly say that this belief has been fulfilled to a remarkable extent; the only exception with which I am acquainted being furnished by the British and Foreign Medical Review.

Although it is unnecessary that I should trouble you with a remonstrance against each of the epithets which you have bestowed upon my doctrines, I must be permitted to conclude with one remark in relation to them. Believing that the precepts by which we are enjoined to love our enemies, to do good to them which hate us, and to hope for forgiveness only as we forgive others, contain the truest wisdom ever addressed to the human mind, it was natural that I should endeavour to promote as far as possible their practical adoption; and when I consider that these views have received the professed adherence of a large and increasing portion of mankind, during a period of eighteen hundred years, I cannot but feel that, however erroneous you may consider them to be, the terms you resort to in stigmatizing them as wild and reckless,' are not merely offensive, but singularly inappropriate."

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IV. Mesmerism; its History, Phenomena, and Practice; with Reports of Cases Developed in Scotland. Edinburgh: Fraser & Co. 1843. 12mo. Pp. 240.

This work, it appears, was compiled by the author, Mr William Lang, of Glasgow, in consequence of his having witnessed many of the extraordinary phenomena of Mesmerism exhibited in certain cases which had attracted a considerable degree of attention, chiefly, we presume, in Glasgow and its neighbourhood. It does not profess to contain much that is original, except the cases related in the fifth chapter; but the author is entitled to credit for the pains he has taken to collect, from various sources, a great deal of curious and interesting matter, relating to the past history and present state of Mesmerism, which is compressed into small bulk, and given in an easy and pleasing style. The book is thus very well calculated to amuse the curious, and to excite the attention of those to whom the subject is new, although it will scarcely convince the serious and philosophical inquirer after truth.

In his preface, the author avows his belief in all the ordinary phenomena of Mesmerism, and he gives implicit credit. to all the extraordinary facts, or apparent facts, which are brought forward, provided they have occurred under his own observation, or have been detailed by others upon evidence which he thinks satisfactory and conclusive. We are convinced that Mr Lang has examined into the facts and phenomena of Mesmerism with as much freedom from prejudice as he possibly could; we have little doubt that he set out in his inquiries with a determination to take for his motto, "Are these things so?" as he advises others to do, and with a resolution to discover truth, if possible, and to pursue it whithersoever it might lead him. But, even with this determination, it is still not at all impossible that, after entering upon the subject, and passing the threshold of scepticism, there has arisen in his mind, gradually and almost unconsciously, a disposition to attend to and believe every thing in the slightest degree confirmatory of his favourite opinions, and pass over hurriedly, or overlook altogether, every thing of a contrary description. We say, it is not at all impossible that this has happened; for it is just what takes place, to a certain extent, with all zealous supporters of a favourite theory. In such persons there appears to be a positive obliquity of perception, in consequence of which, and of preconceived notions, they see and report things as existing, which exist only in their own imaginations; and are thus disqualified to be impartial VOL. XVII.-N. S. NO. XXV. JAN. 1844.

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and accurate observers and narrators of facts. Although, then, our author strives hard to be considered merely an unbiassed and unprejudiced observer, and a faithful historian of actual occurrences, a very cursory perusal of his book will be sufficient to detect the numerous "false facts," and the many specimens of defective evidence, and of the misapplication of evidence, which it exhibits.

The work consists of nine chapters, the first of which contains a historical sketch of Mesmerism, and some account of Mesmer himself. The second gives a summary of the theories which have been proposed to explain the phenomena. The third treats of the phenomena and states of Mesmerism; the fourth of its application to medical science. The fifth details cases of its application to the cure or relief of disease. The sixth is entitled "Mesmeric Processes;" the seventh, "PhrenoMesmerism;" the eighth, "Trials of Mesmerism on the Brute Creation" and the ninth concludes the subject with a few general remarks.

The most interesting of the original cases detailed in the fifth chapter is that of Isabella D, which is given at great length. The patient was a woman of 28 years of age, "subject to convulsive fits of a very anomalous character, which had long withstood all the ordinary plans of treatment," and had amounted to the almost incredible number of from sixty to seventy in one day. She had not been out of the house for a twelvemonth, and could not do the easiest household work. A very minute account is given of her various ailments from the year 1824, and of the different means employed under many medical practitioners for her relief. It appears, however, that it was altogether a very extraordinary case; and although she was often benefited, and her complaints relieved, by the medical means employed, they soon returned, and reduced her to the unhappy state described in the report. It was at length proposed to try the effect of Mesmerism; and after sundry applications of the influence by Mr Dove, and the exhibition of many wonders of clairvoyance, a cure ensued. A very curious account is given of another girl, named Isabella forming case 2, who likewise exhibited all the marvels of clairvoyance to great perfection; visiting in imagination places she had never been in, describing places and persons she had never previously seen, and even relating what the people were saying-telling family secrets-and, in short, almost disclosing the wonders of an unseen world. With respect to the first case, Isabella D (the details of which we should have given, had our space and the objects of this journal permitted), we think there is sufficient evidence to

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prove, that, by means of acting in some extraordinary manner upon the brain and nervous system, either through the imagination or by means of Mesmerism, Mr Dove succeeded in greatly relieving, if not actually curing, a very singular and obstinate case of nervous disease. And this is all that can be said positively on the subject. The disease appears to have been formerly relieved, or removed for a time, by other means; and whether or not the mesmeric cure will be permanent, time alone can tell. Admitting, however, the cure in this case, and admitting also the correctness of all similar cases that have been brought forward (and they are not many), the questions arise, Do the whole amount to sufficient evidence that Mesmerism is a remedial agent deserving the excessive praise bestowed upon it by our author?-and do they warrant the strong expressions-nay, we must add, the abusive calumny--which he throws out, in every chapter of his work, upon the whole medical profession, because they have not, as a class, tested Mesmerism, and acknowledged its merits? To neither of these questions will any well-informed unprejudiced man answer in the affirmative.

By way of argument in favour of the truth of Mesmerism, Mr Lang gives a historical sketch of the opposition made to many discoveries in science and art, which were afterwards found to be true, and acknowledged by the world,-such as the Newtonian philosophy, the circulation of the blood, inoculation, vaccination, gas-light, certain medicines, as Peruvian bark, &c.; and because Mesmerism is, as he says, meeting with the same opposition-which, however, we deny -he seems to wish us to infer that it must be true as well as the others. Now, if such be his aim, this is far from being sound logic. It involves an evident petitio principii-a begging of the question. All that can be fairly said is, that Mesmerism may be true although opposed, not that it must be true because opposed. Have there not been numerous fancied discoveries which met with similar opposition, and were soon found to be no discoveries at all? Therefore, according to our author's mode of arguing, Mesmerism, meeting with the same opposition, must like them be false. Witness the history of witchcraft, of the philosopher's stone, and of the elixir vita; also the many wonderful discoveries for the cure of diseases and the prolongation of human life; the metallic tractors; the Portland powders for gout; Mrs Stevens' dissolving fluid (for which Parliament gave a grant of L.5000 upon the recommendation of the medical profession); iron for the cure of cancer; foxglove, prussic acid, oxygen gas, and a hundred others, for consumption-all adopted by many medi

cal men, who were of course " persecuted" for their support of them-but all now found to be utterly worthless. In short, most men would think that the medical profession deserve blame rather for being too credulous than too sceptical,-for being too eager to embrace new remedies than the contrary. The truth is, that medical men, as a body, have not been backward in testing all proposed new remedies, and that they have uniformly adopted and sanctioned such, as soon as the evidence of their efficacy was sufficient. They are unquestionably the best judges in these matters; the public, even the educated part of it, is not. Now, the evidence in favour of the remedial powers of Mesmerism, even in cases of unusual nervous affections, is not a tithe of what is necessary to establish any remedy; and the cases, reported to be cured or relieved by its means, are not one in a hundred of those given in support of every quack medicine. Many medical men are now testing it; and if its supporters would only state facts without prejudice, keep their eyes open, and refrain from personal abuse and calumny against a body of men who of all classes of society least deserve it, there is no doubt that truth would ultimately prevail, to the advantage of all mankind.

With respect to the case of Isabella D- we have no hesitation in saying, that the most wonderful part of the narrative regarding this woman-all that relates to the seeing without eyes, and hearing without ears-in short, the whole phenomena of clairvoyance—wants that degree of proof which will satisfy any unprejudiced and rational person, who calmly examines the subject. For establishing the truth of these most extraordinary phenomena, there must be proof without the shadow of a shade of suspicion. Effects so contrary to human reason and experience, must be supported by evidence much stronger and more conclusive than that which our author has brought forward. Nor can he find fault with any one for not believing him, since he has quoted, with approval, the following answer of some famous author to Coleridge-" I have seen what I am certain I would not have believed on your telling; and, in all reason, therefore, I can neither expect nor wish that you should believe on mine.”

Now, his readers cannot fail to remark, that the evidence is all on one side-it is wholly of the nature of an ex parte statement. No doubt it is admitted that the experiments sometimes failed, although no particulars of these failures are given. But the attentive reader will at once ask, Did it never occur to Mr Lang or Mr Dove, that there could be any deception on the part of the girl? Was this not possible? And, if possible, then, we maintain, every one is entitled, in such a