Facts in Mesmerism; With Reasons for a Dispassionate Inquiry Into It - Chauncy Hare Townshend

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1843 edition. Excerpt: ...to the task of transmitting an influence, which, in some mysterious way, yet manifestly, seems to be connected with the nervous and vital forces. In some old systems of physiology leach part of the body had its separate spirits: there were the spirits of the knees, the spirits of the feet, &c. Could we adopt so fanciful a notion, we should say that the spirits of the hand are particularly potent. After the eye, the fingers seem to enjoy a fuller share of the sentient and motory power than any other part of the body. Seldom are they at rest, seldom are their functions suspended. The marvels of the painters', sculptors', musicians' skill depend upon their agency. Apart from their recording powers, the headwork of the poet and philosopher would be vain: to them belong all the triumphs of architecture, all the splendid results of industry; in fine, all the success of all the ingenuity of man. Their free and constant exercise seems more than anything to betoken life: the baby's clutched hand is a type of its unfolded beiug. The purposeless action of the same organ is a presage of death: "After I saw him fumble with the sheets," says Hostess Quickly, "and play with flowers, and smile upon his fingers' ends, I knew there was but one way." Shall the general feeling of mankind be in vain appealed to? if that be true which Shakspeare has affirmed, " One touch of nature makes the whole world kin," the influence of the human hand must be universally acknowledged. It has a language of its own; it can appeal from man to man; it can bless and it can curse: the most ancient belief connects it with authority and power. The holding up of Moses's hands gave victory to the Israelites. "And it came to pass, when Moses held up...