Miscellany: Pathetism

ptthetism is a word that sounds new in the ears of many: and since it has ]een used so frequently since the Rev. La Roy Sunderland delivered his first lecture in this city, there has been a good deal of enquiry as to the definite idea conveyed by the term. We have attended two of Mr. Sunderlands's lectures, and have been much interested in his experiments and explanations, illustrating this subject, and we here propose to sketch, as near as we can, the idea the lectures intends to convey by the term "Pathetism," and the theöry which it is the object of his lectures to illustrate. If we understand him correctly, then, he applies the term "Pathetism" comprehensively to all those phenomena which have heretofore been described as Animal Magnetism or Mesmerism, which terms. especially the former, he seems to regard as indefinite, or rather, as conveying an erroneous idea. In their endeavors to account for the various phenomena of somnambulism and its kindred states, in which human existence issometimes found to be, the disciples of Mesmer have advancedthe commonly received notion that these results were produced by the operation of a magnetic Jluid. The existence of this fluid, which hos of course rested on supposition alone, Mr. Sunderland does notbelievein; and enlirely discarding this idea of Animal Magnefism. endeavors to account for the phenomena heretofore ascribed to its agency, in a more philosophical and comprehensible manner. And he has succeeded in showing by his experiments that no such agency as a magnetic fluid is necessary for the production of the somnambulic results. For he has repeatedly produced all those states of mind and body, which Animal Magnetizers profess to produce by the magnetic influence, in such a manner as to exclude entirely the idea of any such agency asa Huid passing irom the operator to the patierít. He has succeeded in inducing the state of somnambulism in persons he has never before seen, without touching, without being near them, and without even looking at them. Mr. SunderlandartfcNu (if wc have rightly understood him,) that there is a certain relation which may be established between different individuals, which may be properly designated by the term, ?'Human Sympathy." And that there is ín all persons, to a greater or less degree, a snsceptibility to being affected by the influence of this sympathetic relation. - This susceptihility to the sympathetic influence, Mr, Sunderland supposes to depend upon the ganglionic system, and the degree of susceptibilïty, üpon the comparative strength of that system, asoped in the constitution of the individua Persons then having a constitution pecu iarly susceptible to this sympathy, may b impressed, by some other person of a essentially different constitution, with th "appreliensionf [as the lecturer expres sod the idea,] that some certain event i relation to them will Take place, in con sequence of certain means used for tha purpose. This apprehension, or, as w should say, imagining or faith, is producec by the power of sympathy, which is on of the properties of human existence by the influence of the operator up on the mind of a susceptible patiënt. - Henee, the operator, or pathetizer, know ing from the constitution of the patien O:at the somnambulic state can be produc cd in him, sceks to impress the idea upo the person that such a state will certainl follow the use of some certain [no matte what] particular means. This "appre hension," of this result is induced in th same manner that any person would see to impress the mind of another with any truth, of vhich he deemed himself pos sessed; - in the same manner that an ora tor would strive to impress his idea upon the minds of his auditors by gesticulation and the modulation of his voice. When this impression is eifectcd, and the apprehension of the patiënt thoroughly awakened, the power of sympathy bends. anc directs all the powers of mind and body to the realization of the idea apprehendec and they, from their own sympathy, yield to the influence of the apprehension. In this manner all the phenomena connected with somnambulism are produced. And we understand that Mr. Sunderland thinks, all those results that are common to persons in a somnambulic state may be produced upon the patiënt when awake. As cases in point illustz'ating this power of sympathy over human existence, he cited instances in which persons awake and in their usual senses have been remarkably affected by their minds being impressed with such apprehensions. - These cases we have not room fully to explain, but they are those in whichsons have been led to imagine [to use common but rather loose phrase] that cei t.iia events were to take place concerning these events have been produced. W hrve not time now to extend our sketa of Mr. Sunderland's theory in relation to some of the most inieresting phenomena connected with man's existence. Hi views are different from the commonly re cei ved ones in relation to this subject anc although we do not feel ourselve competent to judge ofthem in all thei hearings, so far as we understand them we regard them as giving a much more satisfactory explanation of a subject tha has been clothed in a great deal of mys tery, than any thing that has been beforo ad vaneed. It is, certainly, nosmall compliment to the lecturer, that no place in this city was scarcely large enough to hold the crowds who pressed to witness the wonderful developments of mind, which he seems to unfold with such astonishing facility. And, we have before borne testimony to his urbanity and candor, displayed in his manner of answering all questions put to him respecting the mysteries of his theory. . From our preceding account of that agency which Mr. Sunderland denominates Pathetism, or physical sympathy, it will have been seen that he rejects, in toto all the notions heretofore prevalent, as to the rcality of the elimination of any fluid, nervous or eléctrica!, from the operator into his subject. And we believe not a 'mesmerizer' or 'neurologist' has witnessed Mr. Sunderland's method of operating, but who has agreed with him, at once, that whatever the agency is, it is not, and cannot be be, a magnetic or ervoixs fltiid. Unlike all other operators, Mr. S. instead of selecting one subject, Irings his process to bear upon his finlire audiencel And consequently the resultsofhis experiments, performed in this way, have astonished and generally satisfied all whohave witnessed them. His andience last Monday evening, at the City Hall, were about a thousand, and all of them strangers to him. In commencing, he informed us, that during his lecture he designed to induce a number of cases of real somnambulism; that is, he would cause those in the assembly who were susceptible, to fall into a state of sympathetic sleep, and in that state, to risefrom their seats and cometo him on the platform'. And after fixing the attention of the audience for this pui-pose a few minutes, some fifteen persons (including both sexes) were found to be sound asleep. And now occurred a most extraordinary sight; it was to see one and a nother arise from thelr seats with eyes fast closed, and slowly approach the platform on which the operator was standing? Some of them seeming unable or unwilling to rise up and walk, Mr. S.went to them, andthey then followedhim to his place, and one of them went up from the extreme part of the hall, Room could not be found for them all upon the platform, and they were falling to sleep in such numbers, that he could not take care of them! Henee, the process was suspended, and Mr. S. went round through the assembly and restored those to wakefulness who had not taken seats upon the platform; and we have been credibly informed, thát some twenty or thirty other gentlemen and ladies were decidedly affected and disposed to somnolence, rigidity of limbs, &c. by Mr. S.'s method of operating on that occasion. Numerous and interesting phenomena were induced by the operator from the somnambulists around him upon the platform. One was thrown into a state of trance, or ecstacy, and was enraptured with views of the Saviour, and her deceased friends. She sung in tones, and in a manner which convinced, many at least, that the phenomena were real. - And they were brought on without any of the manipulations of mesmerisers or neurologists: thus demonstrating, that the notions about the transmission of a nerwovisjluid, have been altogether unfounded. . Our readers are aware that the usual process of inducing sleep, has been to sit before the patiënt, staring him in the face, or to place the tips of the iingers, according to Dr. Buchanan, upon the head, for the communi catión of "neur aura," it is soid. And when the manipulators have, in this way, induced sleep, or excited the cerebral organs of one or two persons, whom they have previously trained for the purpose, they have beenthought to have done wonders! But, it is certain, that Mr. S's. experiments must annihilate these silly practices. His theory i the only rational one we have ever heard, and when we see one taking hold on this subject as this gentleman has done, working out his assumptions, and demonstrating the laws by which he operates, and doing this upon fifteen or fifty persons, at a time, without contact, and even withoutever having seen them, no room is left to doubt as to tho rovolntion -nrhiuh hc sccuus destined to bring about in the views whicl have, heretofore, obtained on'this subject We have stated, that all the phenome na, usually produced by the mesmerisers and neurologists, by manipulation, Mr Sunderland induces without contact, or the use of any electrical or nervous fluid He even induces the state called second sight, in persons wide awake, and gives a most satisfactory explanation of witchcraft and ghosts, which have so much perplexed the minds of pious and even intelligent people. To the investigaron of these subjects he hasdevoteda series of years, and we agree with our neighbor of the Patriot, that he has, certainly, done more to enlighten our citizens on the interesting phenomena above referred to, than all who have preceded him, as far as we know, either in this or any other country.