Absence Of Imagination #2

By Atom Bergstrom

Atom’s Blog

The MIND is a terrible thing to waste.

And we do, when we surrender it to MATTER.

<>

George Sandby was a British Vicar.

He drew down heavy heat from the Mainstream Medical Matrix for his acceptance of Mesmerism.

<>

The 1840s Assassins in Black wrote …

“Mr. Sandby looks forward, of course, to be victimized, like Galileo, by the Pope; but in this he will be disappointed. He will, we imagine, receive a quiet hint from his superior in the church, at home, to lay aside the mummeries of Mesmerism, and attend to the spiritual wants of his flock.”

<>

George Sandby (Mesmerism and Its Opponents, Second Edition, 1844, 1848) wrote …

“Suddenly the thought struck me that I would try Mesmerism. I had never attempted it as yet beyond the walls of my own house, partly from having no great faith in my own power, partly from an unwillingness to perplex my parishioners with an unpopular novelty; but as I had known some cases of great success in its alleviation of severe pain, I thought I would make a quiet experiment. I said nothing, therefore, to the mother or the sufferer on the subject (they had never even heard of such a thing before); but standing up by the bed-side, and addressing and comforting the afflicted parent all the time, I moved my right-hand gently before the patient’s face. I continued to speak to Mrs. B. during the process, for this reason, that as I had no great hopes of success, my wish was, that if I failed, they should not remark the action, but simply think that I was a little more emphatic and earnest than usual. This is the noticeable point in the story; because the parties have both stated since, that when I began they were quite unconscious of any thing uncommon in what I was doing.

“At the end of about four minutes I was almost certain that there was an effect. The writhing on the bed seemed less violent, the cries had settled into groans, and there was somewhat more of composure in the face. I left off speaking, — begged the mother to be still, — and pointed the fingers of both hands steadily before the face. In less than ten minutes from the time that I first commenced, the poor suffering girl was in a deep sleep!

“Here, then, was a sudden change from the late horrible exhibition! Here was, indeed, a present mercy for which we had to bless God! The room was now silent; the groans had ceased, only an occasional moan being slightly heard; the limbs so lately tossed to and fro in anguish lay perfectly still; the face was gradually becoming less flushed and looking more tranquil; and the distracted mother, who had been wiping her tears and wringing her hands, stood looking at me speechless and amazed. I was thunderstruck at my own success. Much as I had known, and seen, and read of the healing virtues of Mesmerism, here was an actual living fact which appeared to equal them all.

“Where was imagination here? The poor ignorant mother and daughter, in their humble cottage, had never heard of Mesmerism …..”

(To Be Continued)
.
.