mesmerism attempted on john hunter

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175 A CORRESPONDENT has favoured us with the following circular. It was addressed to a Member of Parliament residing in Ecclestone-street, Pimlico :- « Dr. Duncan begs to announce his resi- dence at No. 1, Watkin’s-terrace, Ebury- street, Pimlico, where, agreeably to urgent invitation, he intends to devote himself, as for many years past, to the general practice of medicine and midwifery. " In commencing practice in this neigli- bourhood, and on this account alone, Dr. Duncan deems it necessary to state, that he has been twenty years in practice, three of which he has lately passed on the Conti- nent, where he visited and minutely ob- served the practice of some of the principal medical establishments. " From a long and extensive practice, public as well as private, Dr. Duncan pre- sumes on a continuance of that distinguish- ed patronage with which he has hitherto been honoured. A long list of names of the highest respectability might be adduced in support of his claim to the confidence of the public, but the following may be deemed sufficient. Dr. Duncan has had the honour of attending, professionally, members of the families of " The Duke of Richmond ; the Marquis of Anglesey; the Marquis of Bath; the Earl of Aberdeen ; the Earl of Marybo- rough ; the Earl of Shrewsbury ; Lord Rodney; Sir Henry Halford, Bart.; Sir J. W. Gordon, Bart.; Sir Wm. Mansell ; Mr. Robert Keate, Surgeon to his late Majesty; Mr. Legare, American Charge d’Affaires; the Hon. Capt. Dashwood, R.N.; Lt. Col. T. N. Harris." As Dr. DUNCAN has given such a special re- ference to his residence at Number 1, Wat- kin’s-terrace, where-Heaven help the con- dition of our medical government!—our correspondent is very anxious to learn, where the doctor resided on the Continent, as well as previously to his entrance on his foreig n travels. MESMERISM ATTEMPTED ON JOHN HUNTER. I WAS asked to go to be magnetized, but at first refused, because the spasm on my vital parts was very likely to be brought on by a state of mind anxious about any event. Thus, at my country box I have bees, which I am very fond of, and I once was anxious about their swarming, lest it should not happen before I set off for town; this brought it on. The cats tease me very much by destroying my tame pheasants, part- ridges, &c., and rooting up my plants. I ssw a large cat sitting at the root of a tree,, and was going into the house for a gun, when I became anxious lest she should get away before my return ; this likewise brought on the spasm. Other states, where my mind is much more affected, will not bring it on. Now, I feared lest my anxiety for the event should bring on the spasm, and that should be imputed to animal mag- netism. But considering that if any person was affected by it, it must be by the ima- gination being worked up by attention to the part expected to be affected, and think- ing I could counteract this, I went; and ac- cordingly, when I went, I was convinced, by the apparatus, that everything was cal- culated to affect the imagination. When the magnetizer began his operations, and informed me that I should feel it first at the root of my nails of that hand nearest the apparatus, I fixed my attention on my great toe, where I was wishing to have a fit of the gout; and I am confident that I can fix my attention to any part until I have a sen- sation in that part. Whenever I found my- self attending to his tricks, I fell to work with my great toe, working it about, &c., by which means I prevented it having any effect on me.—Works of Hunter, by J. F. Palmer, vol. 1. Lectures, p. 337. UNION OF STOW. To the Editor of THE LANCET. SIR:—By the TriE LANCET of the 21st inst., Mr. Bree, of Stowmarket, has not " obtained his information from a correct source,"-at any rate, with respect to the Walsham district, even if he have from the other two Unions ; for he asserts, that Mr. Kent appoints Mr. Freeman to attend the parish of Walsham, and Mr. Bansham to attend the poor of Norton. Nothing can be more untrue. Mr. Freeman Zhes at Wal- sham, and Mr. Bansham at Norton, but JMr. Kent attends the poor of both those pa- rishes, and, moreover, he attends the poor of the parish of ElmswelI, which is nearly, if not quite, seven miles distant from Mr. Kent’s residence ; and consequently the poor haTe actually to go through Norton (where Mr. Bansham lives) in order to get to Mr. Kent’s for a dose of jalap. The poor of Norton have also to go four or five miles, and the poor of the two parishes of Hunston and Stowlanestoff (adjoining parishes to Nor- ton) have likewise to go to Mr. Kent, in- stead of going to Mr. Bansham, as they used to do before the base Malthusian law was put in force by Doctor Kay, Chadwick, aad Co. I am, Sir, your most obedient servant, J. H. October 23rd, 1837. This letter, which contains some not unimportant facts, has been authenticated by the writer.

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Page 1: MESMERISM ATTEMPTED ON JOHN HUNTER

175

A CORRESPONDENT has favoured us withthe following circular. It was addressedto a Member of Parliament residing in

Ecclestone-street, Pimlico :-« Dr. Duncan begs to announce his resi-

dence at No. 1, Watkin’s-terrace, Ebury-street, Pimlico, where, agreeably to urgentinvitation, he intends to devote himself, asfor many years past, to the general practiceof medicine and midwifery." In commencing practice in this neigli-

bourhood, and on this account alone, Dr.Duncan deems it necessary to state, that hehas been twenty years in practice, three ofwhich he has lately passed on the Conti-nent, where he visited and minutely ob-served the practice of some of the principalmedical establishments." From a long and extensive practice,

public as well as private, Dr. Duncan pre-sumes on a continuance of that distinguish-ed patronage with which he has hithertobeen honoured. A long list of names ofthe highest respectability might be adducedin support of his claim to the confidence ofthe public, but the following may be deemedsufficient. Dr. Duncan has had the honourof attending, professionally, members of thefamilies of" The Duke of Richmond ; the Marquis

of Anglesey; the Marquis of Bath; theEarl of Aberdeen ; the Earl of Marybo-rough ; the Earl of Shrewsbury ; Lord

Rodney; Sir Henry Halford, Bart.; SirJ. W. Gordon, Bart.; Sir Wm. Mansell ;Mr. Robert Keate, Surgeon to his late

Majesty; Mr. Legare, American Charged’Affaires; the Hon. Capt. Dashwood, R.N.;Lt. Col. T. N. Harris."

As Dr. DUNCAN has given such a special re-ference to his residence at Number 1, Wat-kin’s-terrace, where-Heaven help the con-dition of our medical government!—ourcorrespondent is very anxious to learn, wherethe doctor resided on the Continent, as wellas previously to his entrance on his foreigntravels.

MESMERISM ATTEMPTED ON JOHNHUNTER.

I WAS asked to go to be magnetized, butat first refused, because the spasm on myvital parts was very likely to be brought onby a state of mind anxious about anyevent. Thus, at my country box I havebees, which I am very fond of, and I oncewas anxious about their swarming, lest itshould not happen before I set off for town;this brought it on. The cats tease me verymuch by destroying my tame pheasants, part-ridges, &c., and rooting up my plants. Issw a large cat sitting at the root of a tree,,

and was going into the house for a gun,when I became anxious lest she shouldget away before my return ; this likewisebrought on the spasm. Other states, wheremy mind is much more affected, will notbring it on. Now, I feared lest my anxietyfor the event should bring on the spasm,and that should be imputed to animal mag-netism. But considering that if any personwas affected by it, it must be by the ima-gination being worked up by attention tothe part expected to be affected, and think-ing I could counteract this, I went; and ac-cordingly, when I went, I was convinced,by the apparatus, that everything was cal-culated to affect the imagination. Whenthe magnetizer began his operations, andinformed me that I should feel it first at theroot of my nails of that hand nearest theapparatus, I fixed my attention on my greattoe, where I was wishing to have a fit ofthe gout; and I am confident that I can fix

my attention to any part until I have a sen-sation in that part. Whenever I found my-self attending to his tricks, I fell to workwith my great toe, working it about, &c.,by which means I prevented it having anyeffect on me.—Works of Hunter, by J. F.Palmer, vol. 1. Lectures, p. 337.

UNION OF STOW.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR:—By the TriE LANCET of the 21stinst., Mr. Bree, of Stowmarket, has not" obtained his information from a correctsource,"-at any rate, with respect to theWalsham district, even if he have from theother two Unions ; for he asserts, that Mr.Kent appoints Mr. Freeman to attend theparish of Walsham, and Mr. Bansham toattend the poor of Norton. Nothing can bemore untrue. Mr. Freeman Zhes at Wal-sham, and Mr. Bansham at Norton, butJMr. Kent attends the poor of both those pa-rishes, and, moreover, he attends the poorof the parish of ElmswelI, which is nearly, ifnot quite, seven miles distant from Mr. Kent’sresidence ; and consequently the poor haTeactually to go through Norton (where Mr.Bansham lives) in order to get to Mr. Kent’sfor a dose of jalap. The poor of Nortonhave also to go four or five miles, and thepoor of the two parishes of Hunston andStowlanestoff (adjoining parishes to Nor-ton) have likewise to go to Mr. Kent, in-stead of going to Mr. Bansham, as they usedto do before the base Malthusian law wasput in force by Doctor Kay, Chadwick, aadCo. I am, Sir, your most obedient servant,

J. H.October 23rd, 1837.’ This letter, which contains some not

unimportant facts, has been authenticatedby the writer.