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■ 1

PSYCHOLOGY

AND

Mesmerism Explained

PROr. VILLIA/n SEYMOaR

PHRENOLOGIST and PSYCHOLOGIST

AUTHOR OF "KEY TO CHARACTER," 'KEY TO PHRENOLOGY,' &c.

TORONTO
KoBBRT S Peniston, Pkintek. j Court Strbet,

PHRENOLOGICAL SYMBOLICAL HEAD

INTRODUCTION.

This Work beinrj tlio jj^encral prinv^ii^los of n course
of private instructions {;iven to his l\svciiolo^ical Class
in Toronto, December, 1888.

In submitting it to the ptibHc, tlie Author desires
only to state, tliat in , presentini,' tlie facts con-
tained herein before the minds of his pupils, he has
endeavoured to present the truths (of nian\ years
investijration of the Phenomenon of Mind) candidly
and clear. Independent of the prejudices that might
become excited against him, from the various stand
points of Faith. Feeling confident that Truth is of
more importance than any Ism. and that Nature is but
an expression of the Divine purposes, he has been bold
to declare wliat Nature has revealed to his conscious-
ness. And by so doing trusts, that he lias thrown some
light upon many of those subjects which has long been
mysteries to the masses; by presenting the principles of
Psychology so clear that they canHie grasped by the
most superficial minds, as wril as interesting to the
profound thinker.

Trusting that in the publication of these lessons the
book may have its desired effect upon mankind in
general.

I am, yours truly,

THE AUTHOR.

PSYCHOLOGY

- - AND - -

MESMERISM EXPLAINED.

ADIES AND GENTLEMEN:

We have met this evening to cx-sewler a subject
worthy the closest and most scientific m\'\ igation of
every candid thinking mind in Church ar-J State. Its
principles form the basis of all the xe and '-irtue,
happ'i. jss and misery, in this and :ti die lafi ^bich is to
come. Void of its phenomenon, thisVoifcloi ours would
become piiysically and morally inactive; social inter-
course, commercial transaction, and rd^gions sentiment
would be unknown, and man (the brigiitness of whose
genius, and the power of whose inteUtsrt. tecornes the
pride and glory of the Universe i would maniiiest but as
little intelligence, as a piece of marble statoar^. But
how superstitious the masses: how sarcastic the would-
be wise, who surrounded by its phem?!nQenoa, and ever
acting upon its principles, would attempt cither to deny,
or redicule its philosophy, or attribute its power solely
to the influence of the Devil. Such petsons are con-

Prof. Seymour's Psychology

tinualh' exposing tliei' ignorance of Nature's laws, and
are attempting to deny by ungrounded theories, the
practical reahties of life. All nature is subject to the
laws of Attraction and Repulsion, or in other words
th? positive and pegative forces. These great powers
of Attraction and Repulsion, are not confined to what
is known as the physical or external world, hut are
carried through all the f::.o:r sentiments and etherealized
conditions of the unseen, intellectual and spiritual
eleiuents of nature. And like as in the physical world;
the relation^vhlch exists between cause and effect, may
manifest itselt in a thousand varied forms, througli the
force of circumstances, or conditions; so to in the un-
seen or intellectual realm (through ignorance or design)
that same great power of mind will- become the cause
of evil, or of good, in proportion to the conditions upon
which an elfect is produced. And in my furtiu-r attempt
to elucidate this subject, there are three principle con-
ditions which I propose to consider, and attempt to
present clearly before the minds of this class.

1st Animal Magnetism.
2nd Clairvoyance.
3rd Independent Clairvoyance.

And in these three principle condiiions of l^vchology,
I think arc embodied all we know of the manifestation

and Mesmerism Explained.

of mind in this world, or of the possibiHties or reaHties
of an existence beyond the fffave. Not that we may
expect to understand all of the phenomenon of Psychology
in these three lessons, but rather that we may grasp the
key that shall unlock the door, whereby we may enter
into Nature's eternal storehouse of knowledge. Now
that we may fully comprehend the principles inculcated
in these lessons of Psychology: it is right that we shall
have a clear understanding of the definition of terms, or
what is meant by the language used.

Hence by Animal Magnetism, we shall understand
that phenomenon which is produced by the impression
upon the consciousness of an individual, through the
use of one or another of the external senses; either tliat
of seeing, hearing, tasting, feeling or smelling.

By Clairvoyance we shall understand an impression
produced upon the consciousness of an individual,
independent of the use of any of the external senses;
where the thoughts of one mind is conveyed and im-
pressed upon another through what we may term Mental
Telegraphy.

And Independent Clairvoyance, an impression pro-
duced upon the consciousness of an indivitlual where
there seem to be no direct communication or sympathy

Prof, Seymour's Psychology

existing; — hence this evening our subject will be that of

Animal Magnetism

or the phenomenon of impression, produced upon our
consciousness through the use of one or another of
our external senses. Hence without stopping to
investigate, or to attempt to ehicidate the distinction
between Mind and Matter in their primary elements
or component parts, suffice it is to say that which
we shall call Matter, is the tangible formation of
organic structure, which it is possible to analyze by
a knowledge of the law of chemistry, and can be
reduced to its primary elements. And Mind, that part
of nature, or of ourselves which we cannot analyze by the
present knowledge of chemistry ; yet through the
operations of nature, we are conscious of its existence in
an intangible form. Investigation and experience has
taught us tiiat the physical, or what we call the material
(independent of what is known as Mind) is in, and of
itself destitute of volition, and that Mind (that invisible
principle within), whatever may be the component
elements which constitute its existence; is the life-giving
power that animates, controls, and to which all the
physical involuntarily responds. As we have said
Animal Magnetism can only be recognized through
the use of one or another of man'n external senses. It

■ts

and Mesmerism Explained.

is the involuntary response of the body to the decision
or most positive idea of the Mind; and its effect for
good or evil, will be in proportion to the nature of the
circumstances or conditions by which, and through which
a response is produced. The body (like all other forms
of physical matter) independent of Mind being void of
volition; whatever be its position when the activity of
Mind is suspended (as in sleep), it must of necessity
remain in such a position until the activity of the Mind
is partially or wholly restored to consciousness; whence
the body again responds to the active conditions of the
same. Tiiis, then being true, that the body responds
involuntary to the most positive ideas of the Mind ; in
order to produce the phenomenon of Animal Magnetism,
an impression must be produced upon the consciousness
of the individual, which excites the Mind or concentrates
it upon on'' subject. •This may be tlone through con-
fidence or fear, also by what is known as the power of
facination. Where the Mind becomes excited through
fear, it is always done on the part of the operator by a
threatening or commanding .ippeal to the selfish pro-
pensities. Where the Mind becomes excited t hrough
confidence, it is done by persuasion or argument brought
to bear upon the faculties of reason. Where the phe-
nomenon is produced by what is known as the power of

Prof. Seymour'' s Psychology

facination, it must be done by the cone jntration of the
mind upon one subject or object; hence will depend
entirely upon the development of Concentrativeness.

QuKSTioN UY Class, — Would you kindly tell us the
object of iiKikiiig pusses in front of the snbjeet, or of making
tlicin close their eyes, count their pulse, or look at a disk,
wJiieh is sometimes i^iven to subjects to hold in their hand?

Answek. — All tiiese different modes of operatmg are
used to concentrate the mind of tlie subjects, or in other
words to attract their attention from everything else
except the one subject of being controlled by the
operator. So long as the eyes of the subject to be
controlled are wandering from object to object, so long
will the attention l)e jiroportionaliy diverted; hence
uncfer such conditions it is always hard to get the
control oi tlic person to be mesmerized.

Question. — Caii all people be mesmerized alike, or by
the same method of operating p

Answer. — No! Some persons are easily facinated by
the power of concentrating the mind upon an object,
others are more easily controlled by expostulation or
reasoning upon the subject in which you desire them to
become interested, others can only be controlled through
the propensities of fear or sellishness.

cDid Mesmerism Explained.

Question. — Havt: you any method of diicniiininir
this (/ijfen')ici' in individiiah 7C'itho:tt h(iviii<^- to try the
various twpirinifnts ?

Answer. — Yes ! We can determine these differences
by a knowledge and ohservence of Phrenological devel-
opment ; persons who are the most easily facinated, are
these in whom the organ of Continuity (or Concentra-
tion) is largely developed ; hence there is a fullness in
the back part of the head, where that organ is said to
be located. {Sn- Symbol ica! Head. poi'. 5.) '^"hose in
whom tile organs oi Causalit\-, IndividuaJitN' and Com-
parison are largely developed, which gives breadth and
fullness to the front jiart of the head; are those with
whom we have to expostulate, or reason. Persons who
are controlled througli feni'. are usuallv those in whom
the organs of Reason are small, and in whom the organs
of Cautiousness and \'itativtness are large. Also per-
sons of excitable temperament are usualU controlled
through fear.

QuKSTioN.- Is fhi po-^LL'cr to mcsmtrizc another person
a peculiar i^ift bestowed upon the operator, or is it some-
thiiii^r u'liieli (ill persons can obtain ?

Answkk.- It is no special gift of Nature to any parti-
cular iJerson; but should rather be considered as a
natural phenomenon which manifests itself in thousands

Prof. Seymour's Psychology

of instances where there are no pretensions at what is
known as mesmerism whatever , even where there is no
living operator, except the force of circumstance which
surround the individual who becomes Psychologized.

Question. ^ — Cciii yon <(ive us any facts which will
ilbistrate the truth of what you have just stated ?

Answer.— Yes! To begin, let me illustrate the in-
voluntary response of the body to the condition of the
mind ; and perhaps we cannot bring forth a more strik-
ing illustration to show the force of this position, and to
place it upon a natural basis, than that of a mother
with her ciiild; who is strong enough, old enougli, and
able so tar as piiysical ability is concerned, to walk
alone, but still the child dares not venture. What are
the circumstances connected with this fact ? Wiiy is it
the child who has the physical ability, does not venture
and walk alone ? Is it because there is no disposition,
no desire, no will force. Nay ! We see all these attri-
butes manifested in the make up of the child ; but
these powers are become subject to a perverted " faith
or confidence." The child's faith has become perverted
by the motiier, through the force of circumstances
brought to bear upon its reason. Instead of the mother
endeavouring to instill upon the mind of her child a
belief in the power of its own existence, she has been

and Mcsnicrisni Explained.

continually (through conditions and languaj^e) remind-
ing it of its liabilities and weakness. I'or example— she
has been fondling the child in her arms, until
domestic duties demand that she should drop the child
and attend to otiur matt* rs ; she j)lac(s the child
against a chair with a precaution, "don't let go," for
fear of falling. Now the most i)()sitive idea that rests
upon the mind of the child through the force of ciicum-
stances brought to bear upon its reason, is the idea of
danger. And ni response to this idva the l)otl\' answers
by holding on tenaciously to the chair, until fmally a
little dog or kitten enters the rtioin, moves around and
attracts the attention of the cliilii, until il looses its hold
of the chair, and changes its position to watch the kitten ;
the little animal passes out of the door leaving the child
with its hack towartls the chair, and when the curiosil\-
of the child has sid)Sidetl, it remembers the icKa that the
mother gave, and m responsi' drops dcjwn ujnm the
door. This is no res:)onse to will foiee; mitliLi the
mother nor the child willed it should fall. It was snnply
a response to their ideas, and to llicir iailii 01 eonli-
dence. And in coulirmatiou of this point U t us look at
them still farther. The .'atlur has lelt his h.-mc in iIk
morning fjr Jiis daily business, and the nioili< 1 eoneeives
how nice it wouUl be if the babv' eould walk l)\ ilr lime

Prof. Seymour's Psychology

papa, returned. Hence she stands the child against the
wall, goes back far enough for it to take one step before
it is enabled to reach her and fall into her arms. And
in the full confidence of its acconiplishtnent herself, and
from the position she holds toward the child, she inspires
confidence in the mind of the child, and it takes that
step. She changes her position, holds on to her confi-
dence, inspires the child with her own ideas and the
child takes two steps, and on until it walks across the
room. Now this interchange of confidence (which the
force of circumstances reveals to us) between the mother
and the child, docs not die out at once, but grows
stronger, and becomes more settled, the oftener the
phenomena of walking is jjroduced, until the wonted
excitement and interest which accompany every new
phenon. non is lost, and the walking of the child becomes
to the mother a natural consequence. But while the
mother is busying lierselt elsewhere, the chikl in the
hall, at the foot of the stairs, desires to see what there is
in the upper story ; and in response to the faith which
has been established in its own ability, the child starts
upstairs and climbs step after step until having reached
near the top, when the mother comes to the foot of the
stairs, and seems to realize the dangerous position of the
child, she at once exclaims: "My dear you will fall."

and Mesmerism Explained.

The child believes it and in response conies tollinj^ down
the steps. Hence we discover clearly in this the in-
voluntary response of the body to the positive ideas of
the mind.

Let me give you another illustration, which not
only manifests the response of body to mind, but
also illustrates the fact that under mesmeric excitement,
the manifestation of physical power becomes more
intensified. Two men are working in a quarry when a
scale of rocks from the clefted side fell down, and a rock
rested upon the limb of one of the men, weighing about
seven hundred pounds (700 ths). The partner who is free
from the rock, looking up discovers another avalanche
about ready to fall ; his ordinary power of lifting is con-
fined toalK)ut three hundred pounds (300 Ihs) but in this
moment of excitement, the only idea that strikes his
mind with force, is that ol danger and necessity (danger
of Ijeing covered with the second fall, and necessity of
removing the first.) Hence without a niouicnt's con-
sideration of how much force is recjuired to remo\e the
rock, the body responds to the idea of necessity, and
the work is done. This fully illustrates the principle,
upon which persons, whose minds are excited, through
the influence brought to bear upon them in mesmerism,
manifest greater strength and accomplishes more than

Prof. Seymou/s Psychology

seems possible under ordinary circumstances. And as
both are similar in character and manifestation, both
are natural.

Again; to show you tlie rationality of the power of
facination. I mij^ht ilhistrate it in this way: — Persons
watchinj; the flow 'of a stream of water, become faci-
nated by its playful friskings as it dances over the rocks.
and in a moment of intense interest find tliemselves
bending toward the water, or in some cases actually
drop into the stream. I have no doubt that many of
the so-called suicides at the FaUs of Niagara have
been the result of the power of facinatiuii. P'acinated
by the grandeur and majesty of the stream, until they
have actually lost sight of evervthing but the onward
flow of the waters, and iiave been drawn through this
power until they have been impelled to mingle with the
same; without any mtentions. or even a diought of com-
mitting' suicide. I remember ai one time standing upon
the Suspension Bridge and watching the falling of
the vaters. untd aitmiring its beauty and majestic power,
I felt as though I would like to mingle with its great-
ness; and twice I found myself unconsciously rising to
jump over the railing ; and hatl to leave the bridge for
fear of committing what might be termed an uninten-
tional suicide. Thus it is that facination is brought

aud Mesmerism Explained.

3S
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about by becoming absorbed in any one subject so as to
be forgetful of everything else. Hence the object «>!
closing the eyes, counting the pulse, watching a spot, as
seen in the ilhistriiUon i.sv< pui^i 26. No. 8) where the per-
son mesmerized becomes facinated by watching the linger
of the operator so as to follow him around the room.

Take another illustration of the power of facination.
Persons with large concentration taking up a book to
read; becoming interested in its contents, we find them
often so absorbed, and charmed with its subject matter,
as to become what we often call absent minded, or for-
getful of everything else, and entirely itidilferent to their
surroundings. Such phenomena we call facination. and
IS the same in nature and principle as that shown in our
illustration, where the subjects mesmerizetl are so ab-
sorbed as to be inc^^fferent to the o[)inions of the audience,
and for the time lost Ut everything except the subject,
or object, presented to their consciousness by the opera-
tor ; {si'i' pdi^f 2L', No. 7 and S). We might give many
more similar illustrations to show the power of con-
centration or facination. but suffice it to say that it is
the power of concentration by which we are enabled to
suspend sensation, subdue pain and greatly relieve the
sufferings of humanity in general. It is recorded of the
great statesman, Henry Clay, on one occasion being

Prof. Seymour's Psychology

very much indisposed, and rather unable to speak ; a
gentleman on the floor in Congress made a severe and
personal attack on Mr. Clay, who whispered to a gentle-
man w^ho sat next to him, and said : " I must answer him,
but I beg of you not to let me speak over half an hour."
Mr. Clay commenced, and was soon on wmg soaring
higher and higher in his sublime eloquence, and pouring
forth language like the thunderbolts of heaven, in the
defence of his own manhood. He became fascinated
with the subject of his own defence, until he forgot his
indisposition. His half hour expired, and the gentle-
man by his side pulled his coat, but Clay paid no atten-
tion to the signal. He kicked his limbs but it made no
impression. He ran a pin several times half its length
into the calfs of his legs. Clay heeded it not ; spoke
two hours, sank exhausted into his seat, and rebuked
the other gentleman for not stopping him. He had felt
nothing. The concentration of mind had called the
electricity of his system to the brain, and he threw it off
by mental effort, and in proportion as sensation was
called to the brain the limbs were robbed.

But let me turn from the power of fasci mtion or con-
centration, to that :)f " Confidence and Fear."

To illustrate tl phenomena of Mesmerism through
confidence upon tl basis of the natural conditions of

and Mesmerism Explained.

the Mind, let me give you a few exampJes: — Sup po si ng
I should be on the sidewalk, waiting for a stteit* car ; I
advance to the curb-stone, and stan<!iTii: xh^^^ vncb the
toes of my slioes about three inches t-ui A.»»<rr its edge»
there is no danger of falling, simply hecanse I ha\'e
confidence in tny ability to stand : and in the next place,
iJ I should tip over, there in no danger of being hurt,
from the distance of the fall. F.ut suppose instead of
standing upon the curb-stone 1 should he standi";! upon
the top of a build'.ng, throe hundreti feet hiigii; instead
of going forth and standing with my toes out over the
edge ; if there was no fence around the e<4ge I would
not venture within three feet of the hriiak. Why?
Simply because my confidence has In . destroyed
by the idea of danger. Now, suppose there he an iron

fence placed around the edge which is strong OMiagk to
protect my falhng out ; I can go forth m oonfidence,.
stand up c'ose to the fence, althougli I do not exactly
touch it, and in confidence I can look over the precipice

without the slightest fear of fallinj

»g-

Again, let me give you one illustration naore. A man
of a sane mind (who is not under the mflutr : i [ lor.i
may walk a hundred yards over a two : > -.ui. sus-
pended three inches above the floor: i .: .: ::ie same
rail be suspended one hundred feet above i?>e i^iooc. and

11^

Prof. Seymour's Psychology

the same man dare not attempt to walk it ; simply
because the idea of danger again has destroyed his
confidence in his own ability. There is as much surface
to walk upon, with the rail suspended one liundred feet
in the air, as when it was down within three inches of
the Hoor, and the law of gravitation is the same, but
the difference lies in the confidence of tlic mind. Now
place the rail in another position, let one end ot the rail
be placed upon a burning ship in mid-ocean, with the
other end placed upon a rock ; the rail furnishes the only
means of escape for this same individual, who failed to
attempi .o walk it over a chasm one hundred feet deep.
And now as the flames play round, and the danger
becomes eminent, he nervously views the path of escape,
which at first appears narrow and dangerous, hut as the
peril of his situation advances — he knows to remain is
death ; the ship shows signs of sinking, his pathway of
escape begins to widen before his imaginations, until
the danger of travel is lost, and in confidence he again
enters upon the rail (as when within three inches of the
floor) and crosses over in safety.

We miglit give many more illustrations to show the
involuntary response of what we term Matter to Mind,
and the power of facination, as well as the confidence
of Mind and the influence of fear, in all the various

ri I ■— FTl'ia lIMnWWMlMIMll ■

and Mesmerism Explained.

phenomenon of life, based upon the principles of
Psychology, and synonomus with what is known as
Mesmerism ; such as I'olitical and Religious excite-
ments, Revivals, etc. For so far as we know there are
but two laws controlling and governing the entire uni-
verse — that is the law of Mind and the law ot Matter;
or in other words, the law of Chemistry and that of
Psychology. Hence every phenomena must come either
under one of these great laws, or both ; whether it be
done in the name of God or man. But we think sufili-
cient has been said on this point for the present, to
fully explain that what you have seen on the platform,
in the various shows of mesmerism, is nothing more or
less than the phenomenon of every day experience, and
that a knowledge of its principles can do us no harm,
farther than the knowledge of any other power or force
in Nature, which may be used equally for good or evil.
And furthermore; than this, if this '.h' a power which
may be used for good or evil, (and such it is) then it is
important that its knowledge should become more uni-
versally known by those whose desire is, for the well
being of the community in which they ma\ reside, or
for the improvement of scciety in general.

In further consideration of the subject of Animal
Magnetism, let us turn our attention for a while to that
part known as Magnetic Healing.

26 ' Prof. Seymour's Psychology

■liit

I' I

ill!'

ifl;

itiit
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and Mesmerism Explained.

Magnetic Healing.

This part of our subject cannot fail to be of interest
to us all. And in consideration of the truth of this
part of the phenomenon of what is termed Animal
Magnetism; let me state, that all Nature is governed
by the laws of Attraction and Repulsion, or in other
words, by positive and negitive forces. These suttle
forces or laws in Nature which we call Attraction
and Repulsion, are governed by the affinity (or same-
ness) or the lack of affinity (or sameness) which
exist between what may be termed the combination
of atoms or molecules which goes to make up organic
structure. Where this affinit}' or sameness exist
between the different particles of matter, there is
what we term the law of Attraction (or in other words,
the disposition to unite or blend together.) Where
there is no affinity existing between the nature of the
different particles of Matter, there is what may be
termed the law of Repulsion, which has a tentlency to
destro}^ the harmony which would otherwise take place.
If then this position be true, that this law of Attraction
and Repulsion is universal through all the kingdoms of
Nature, Mineral, Vegitable and Animal, and that like
attracts like ; then we think we are prepared to give a
rational solution of the truth of this part of the pheno-

Prof. Seymour's Psychology

lli

f[!

menon of Animal Magnetism. As we examine this
Magnet which I now hold in my hand, together with
this piece of steel, we at once discover that there is a
similarity in their nature; in consequence of which there
is a magnetic attraction existing between the two, by
which, when brought into close connection, so far as the
posit've and negitive forces are concerned, the two
become one; differing ouly in power or force in propor-
tion to the size of their own individualitj'. Now wiiat
is true of tiie magnet ami steel, is also true from the
sameness of the nature of two human bodies; and what
is true of the body, in this sense, is also true of the same-
ness or magnelisni of the mind. Hence i>v the laying
on of hands, or by tlie association of tiie minds of
individuals, we reach tlie same results, as when a
combination is produced in any other department of
Nature. Where this sameness or affinity exist, there
will be a blending of forces which has a tendency to
build up vitality ; but where there is no atfinity, tiiere
will be a disturbing inlfuonce, whicli has a tendency to
repel each other. As a proof of tiiis position, how often
have you felt the society of tiiose of whom you know-
but little, to be so repulsive to your feelings, tliat you
have no disposition to associate. Others seem to bring
witli them a soothnrj influence that draws you closer to

\i\

and Mesmerism Explained.

their side. I contentl that all these involuntary likes and
dislikes are but the residts of the Animal Magnetism
that we are constantly throwin^^ off from our bodies,
by wiiich (althouf^h seeniinj^ly inperceptable to our
external senses) the dojj^ can scent his nuister, and
determine the course which he pursues, although there
may be various other influences brought to bear upon
its sense of smell.

This law of iMagnetism is a vcrx important one to be
considered; fori beHeve main' of the infirmities that
afnict humanit}' are largel\- due to a w.uit of ,111 under-
standing of its princi[)](!S, and the right api)lication of
the same. 1 believe that if- this law of Magnetism was
more fully understood and acted u))on. there would be
far greater harmony in the domestic circle ; the health
\of parents and children might often be preserved — where
now sickness antl discord so frequently prevail. I'\)r if,
as we have said (and as all Nature seems to j)rove) this
law of Magnetism exists in the liuman organism ; the
weak must naturally draw front tiie strong, until both
have become ecpial ; that is wiieu brought into close
commuuimi, and so loii.sj; as this (^inalilx exist, there will

be perfect harmony between indiv icliials, because of the
reciprocation which exist ir, their nature. But if

through the activity of either the intellect or the pro-

iXJ^

" 1

Prof. Seymour^s Psycholo^v

pensities (which seems to he the battery, which com-
municates or attracts the electric or magnetic forces of
physical, as well as our mental nature) one should gain
the advantage of the other in m gnetic attraction, the
chances are, that through thelawof development, or what
has been termed "the survival of the fittest;" the
stronger will rob the weaker until one becomes stout,
robust and healthy, while the other grows weaker and
weaker day by day. This frequently occurs with
children sleeping together, as well as between husband
and wife. I am acquainteil with a lady w-hom I con-
scientiously l>elieve has innocently caused the death of
three husbands, by this law of magnetic attraction.
When first married she was fast wasting away with
Consumption ; siie married a husband with a ■';ood
degree of Vital Temperament ; in a year or two, instead
of the wife sinking with Consumption, the husband was
the afflicted subject, and the wife grew strong and
healthy. In a few years the husband died of Consump-
tion, and after his death, during the widowhood of this
lady, she again showed signs of Consumption, and began
to waste away. She again married a man of good
healthy appearance, and again herself grew healthy.
But to the astonisament of everybody who knew them,
the second husband grew consumtive and died. And

and Mesmerism Explained.

so of the third, And now in her old age the same lady
is said to be sinking fast of consumption. I have no
other solution to this phenomenon, but that through
.nagnetic attraction ; this lady has lived and enjoyed
physical strength for so many years, simply upon what
she has drawn from her husbands, and in proportion as
she has drawn upon the vitality of her husband ; hav-
ing no power of supply in herself, the expenditure ot
vitality in both was more than the nature of the hus-
band could support, and as a consequence, when the
fires of his vitality had become exhausted, the embers
naturally died out. Hence I hold that it is not always
wise that even husband and wife should sleep together,
nor that cliildren (whose temperaments does not
harmonize) should be compelled to sleep in the same
bed. By tlie same law it is wrong for' the young to \
sleep with old persons. I have slept in tiie same bed
with persons when in the morning I have got up seem-
ingly more tired than when I went to bed. At otlier
times with different persons, I have laid awake two-
thirds of the night in pleasant conversation, when I
have got up in the morning without scarcely realizing
that I had been to sleep at all ; yet have felt perfectly

rested and refreshed.

Now, having brought forth these arguments which

itrr

1:1 '

Prof. Seymour's Psychology

must ( I have no doubt) accord with similar experiences
of your own ; we shall be the iietter prepared to
understand the rationality of Magnetic Healinj^. And
in endeavourinpj to mak(i clear this part of our subject,
'.ve niif:fht ask 'n'luit is JwnltJi, iduI wJuit is (Jisaisc ? To
which we answer : Health is an even ballance of the
forces between botly and mind ; and disease is a want
of ballance between these forces ; or in other words,
health is the harmonious distribution (jr circulation of
the blood and nerv(! Huid in the nerves, veins and
arteries. There is (so to speak* a state of commerce
or bank account i^'-un.ii, on between our mental and phy-
sical natures. And when the balance is such that
the mental can draw ujion the physical, or the piiy-
sicaJ can draw upon the inentrd, without over taxa-
tion of either, man will i)e found in a liealtln condition.
But the moment eitlxn" of these forces are exhausted,
there will be a stati' of im;iUal or physical bankruptcy,
and the whole nerxous system becomes disoredered, as
a result ut which nervous prostration, or fexerish excite-
ment is manitested. And hence tliis want of ballance
brings with it tin; need of help. As force is j)roduced
by a combination of positive atoms; and as in nerxous
prostration, these j)ositive atoms in the patient have
become exhausted, the business of practicing physicians

and Mesmerism Explained.

have been to endeavour to ascertain and administer to
the necessities of invalids, such compounds as shall
contain these positive elements which the nature of the
the patient requires, and thus to stimulate the physical,
that the mental may again draw upon it, that amount of
vital stemina, which it recjuires to produce a sanguine
condition. In the case of fevers, etc., the skilful phy-
sician endeavors to administer into the stomach of the
patient, a compound composed of negitne atoms, de-
signed to absorb the surplus positive atoms of the sys-
tem, which in themselves, are feverish, stimulating or
exciting, and through the aid of digestion, physics, or
the law of evaporation, these positive atoms are carried
off, and the system assumes its normal condition of
balance. And now having glanced at the natural influ-
ence of medicine, 1 think we may be the better prepared
to understand the reasonableness of the process, and in-
fluence of Magnetic Healing, or what has been known
as the laying on (jf hands ; for, as it is a universal law
that where there is an affinity, the negative will absorb
the positive until botii are ecjual ; it must be conceded
that this law of Attraction exists between the physical
and mental forces of our being, and then, being brought
into communion with one another, mankind are capable
of administering to, or drawing from, each others forces.

III

34'

Prof. Seymour^s Psychology

And as nervous prostration is a negative condition
beneath the normal, by the laying on of hands a person
in a normal, healthy condition, is capable of communi-
cating to the necessity of the weak. For the negative
condition of the patient, will as naturally draw from the
strong, as the loadstone draws from the magnet, until
both become equally charged ; and as fevers are a posi-
tive condition of the system " beyond the normal," the
normal condition of the healer, will, by the laying on of
hands, absorb these positive atoms, until the fever of the
patient becomes abated. As proof of this, the Magnetic
healer often hnds him or herself prostrated after treat-
ing the weak ; and excited or feverish after treating a
fev^erish patient.

Question. — Is tluri- any other condition, injluence or
powtr, which nitiy be brow^ht to bear upon a patient,
except the laying on of hands, as a curative agent, in what
you term Animal Magnetism ?

Answer. — Yes ! As a condition, apart from the lay-
ing on of hands, from the laws of reciprocity, which
exist l^etween the lx)dy and mind of an individual, the
faith or confidence of the mind of the patient often
restores the health of the body. This position is beaut-
ifully illustrated in what is termed the miracles of Jesus
Christ, spoken of in the Bible, | See Mark, 5th ch. and

and Mesmerism Explained.

25th verse), where a woman who had an issue of Mood
twelve years, and had suffered many tilings of many pliy-
sicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing
better, but rather grew worse, when she had heard of
Jesus she C3me in the press behind, and touched his gar-
ment, for she said : " If I may touch but his clothes I shall
be whole," and straightway the fountain of her blood was
dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed
of that plague. And Jesus turning to her, said :
"daughter, thy faith has made thee whole ! "

This is but a sample of the many works of Jesus,
spoken of m the Gospels, but sufficient to show the re-
sponse of Matter to the faith of the Mind. But some
one will say that Jesus was Divine, and tlu- reason this
woman was healed m this e.xtraordinary way, was
because she had faith in His Divine power. But we
must consider that if Jesus was Divine, (and such we
believe Him to have been), still He did not attribute the
curing ot the woman to the influence or His Divine
power, but rather to her faith. And in all that Jesus
did, He has left us an example that we should tread in
His steps; and said, that greater things than He did,
shall men do it they believe. Hence He has not only
given us to understand that faith is required on the part
of the patient, but also on the part of the operator.

'— :?■

'i;

Prof. Seymour'' s Psychology

\ \

Question. — Does the faith or confidence of the operator
have any infiueuce upon his own magnetism^ or the mag-
netism of the patient ?

Answer. — Yes ! When the mind is positive, which
is a condition of confidence, the electric forces of the
body are more active ; hence the magnetism of the body
becomes more powerfully directed.

Question. — Have you any other evidence where per-
sons have been cured through faith, except those spoken of
in the Gospels ?

Answer. — Many instances are on record of this phe-
nomenon, where persons have made their complaint a
subject of prayer, and in answer to faith in prayer, have
been restored to health. But I will cite one or two,
where the confidence or faith has seemingly not bten
directed to God ; but rather has been placed entirely in
the ability or power of the Magnetic healer. In Pitts-
burgh, Pa., in the month of Januar\', 1884, an old lady
came to me in the hall, after one ot my lectures, on the
subject of Psychology. She had been troubled for years
with Rheumatism in her right arm, and could not lift it
to her head. She told me that she had not been able to
raise her hand to put on her own bonnet, m ^o comb her
hair, for several years ; but stated 5he l/eJ ieved I could

and Mesmerism Explaifud.

help her, and in response to her faith, I told her to visit
me at my rooms, which she did ; and, after raaidng a few
passes over her arm, she raised it to her head, moved
it around as though nothing had ever beea the matter
with it, ana when I was in Pittsburgh last Sprini^ she
told me she had never suffered from Rheumatism in th«it
arm since. The lady's name is Mrs. Doathin. An-
other lady in Wilmington, Del., in the winter of 1S76,
by the name of Longbottom, who lived on East Seventh
St., had been troubled with Sciatica, and had suldiered foi
years. For full six months, before I went there, she
had not the use of one of her legs. \ visited her on
Thursday evening, stroked her limb with my hand a few
times, and the following Saturday she was wdl ; and
walked, and did her own marketing, several squares
away. At another time I was in Chicago, and <» my
way home to Philadelphia, I was to stop over at Pitts-
burgh to lecture. When I got to the hotel in Pittsburgh
I found a telegram waiting for me, which staled th^.: my
wife was very sick, and that it was necessary kx me to
hasten home at once. I at once cancelled my engage-
ment, and took the evening train for Philadelphia.
When I got home I found her so weak, (the resok of
Hemorrhages), that she was unable to rise in the bed.
No sooner had I got into the room, than she said :

Prof. Seymour's Psychology

'• Now I shall get well." I laid my hands upon her and
sue at once declared she felt strong ; in a few minutes
she was fast asleep, and, only three and a half hours
after I entered the house, got up, went to the dinijig
room, eat her breakfast with the rest of the family, and
did not go back to bed again until the evening ; when she
seemed quite well. I might go on to tell you of many
other instances that have come under my notice, of a
similar character ; but as we shall have occasion to speak
of this more fully under the head of " Faith Cure," we
will let what has been said already, suffice for the pre-
sent.

Question. — Is there any difference between what you
describe as the power 0/ fascination , and what is generally
termed Impression ?

Answer. — There is some difterence ! What we have
spoken of as the pt^ver of Fascination, is the result of
Concentration, hence a person who becomes fascinated
always becomes in a negative state, and is the subject
of control ; and in this state may be the recipient of an
impression ; but the impression is always the result of
a pocitive condition. This is true of all impressions in
nature, whether they come from within ourselves, and
are conveyed to other objects or persons ; or whether
they come from without, and fascinate themselves upon

and Mesmerism Explained.

our own being. Hence if we would ward off the influ-
ence of diseases betore they have made a deep impres-
sion upon our natures, we must meet the positive with
the positive; that is to say, we must make up our minds
positively, and firmly, that we will repel its influence; and
in proportion as mind is superior to matter, so will the
positive conditions of the one overcome and control the
other. So long as we remain positive, there is but little
danger of our contracting disease of any kind ; but when
we become fearful of our surroundings, we are then in a
negative state, and are susceptible to impression.

Question. — Have you any facts in your experience in
proof of this position ?

Answer. — Yes ! I know of no part of our subject
which is more susceptible to demonstration, than the
doctrine of impression ; and before giving you any spec-
ial demonstracions in my experience, let me call your
attention to this phenomenon in a general way : Some
loathsome, and dreaded disease, breaks out in a com-
munity, it enters a dwelling where there are four or five
persons in a family ; the majority of its members are
afraid of the diseast . and in proportion are in a negative
state, hence w)k "» the virus of the disease begins to be
emitted, those wlio are the most sensitive, (because the
most fearful and negative,) are impressed with this virus

Pvof. Seymour^ s Psychology

and are smitten with the disease. The Nurse, Doctor,
and in case of death, the Undertaker, who have to come
in closer proximity with the disease, so far as external
conditions are concerned; neither of them contract
the disease ; and wliy ? Simply because their minds
were so positive as to be proof against it. So far as its
contagious influence is concerned, (apart from these pos-
itive and negative conditions of the mind), there must be
more danger of the Doctor, Nurse, and Undertaker, than
of the different members of the family, because of their
immediate contact with tiie disease. This position is
not only true of Small Pox, but of Epidemic Fevers,
Colds, and diseases in general. In still further proof of
this position, I will cite a case in my own family, where
the positive condition of the mind not onl}- demonstrated
its power to ward off diseases, but actually repelled and
expelled the disease, that had already fascinated itself
upon his body. My son, a boy then about nine years
of age, who had travelled with me during one or two of
my lecturing tours, and had listened to my teachings,
until he had gotten a fair idea of the principles involved,
was taken with the Measels, and when they were about
fully developed, this boy said to his mother: "Ma, I
don't like these things about me." His mother said:
" Well Charley, you will have to bear with it, until they

'?'%

and Mesmerism Explained.

ttvt

are gone» and you get well." Charley said, " I don't
think so ! don't you know what papa says ; that it you
make up your mind to do a thing, and are positive that
you are right, it will be so ! Now, I think if I were to
take a wash-tub, and go out under the Hydron out
doors and wash these things off, I would be well." His
mother tried to persuade him of the danger of taking
cold, but he still persisted ; when his mother told him,
if he must wash them off, take some warm water and do
it indoors, in the bath room, but Charley still stuck to
the idea of going outside, until his persistence overcame
his mother, and she consented. He went out, and
Deing the fall of the year, it was rather cold weather,
still he washed the measels off; his motlur rubbed him
down quite dry, and in a little while after, he said :
" Now i feel better ! " The next day he went to play as
though nothing had happened. There seems to be no
other solution to this phenomenon, save that the positive
condition of the mind, balanced the circulation of the
blood and nerve fluid, so as to expel the iuHuence of the
disease from within the system; and repelled the influ-
.^i>!"e ot the weather, and tlu' chilling impression of the
vrater from without. This was done in res[)onse to the
jiujicy/e impressions of the miiul of the boy upon his
own body; but it is also possible that the positive con-

:§"<

Prof, Seymour*5 Psychology

dition of the mind of the Magnetic Healer shall produce
similar effects upon the body of the patient. And by
the same conditions of mind to control the electric
forces of the nervous system, so as to suspend sensation,
(or feeling,) that an amputation may be performed
upon a patient without the sense of pain or suffering ; or
in other cases, where parts of the nervous system have
become paralized ; to impart strength and action to the
parts, that must otherwise lie comparatively dead and
useless. And this ?-io, in cases where the patients
themselves have but lui no confidence in the power

of magnetism, save a mere .^rillingness to try the .experi-
ment, which renders them passive, by being free from
prejudice. m

Question. — Have you any incidents in your experience,
which you can give us in favor of this position of perform-
ing amputations, and of curing paralysis ?

Answer. — Yes ! Right here in the City of Toronto,
on the 14th day of Dec, 1888, Dr. J. Hunter ■ ,mory,
33 Richmond Street East, invited me to his office to try
an experiment of this kind upon a gentleman by the
name of Charles Armstrong, who lives at 247 Spadina
Ave. The operation to be performed was the amputa-
tion of a finger. I went to the Doctor's office at the
time appointed, and was introduced to the patient, and

and Mesmerism Explained,

'Hi

the object of my presence was made known. Mr. Arm-
strong stated that he objected to taking Ether, and was
willing that I should try my power of magnetizing the
arm ; but at the same time he said, he had but little
confidence in my success, as he had been tried by sev-
eral professional mesmerists, and had never been con-
trolled. I told him, I did not intend to mesmerize him ;
but simply intended to control the circulation of the
blood and nerve fluid, so as to prevent his suffering.
When he had seated himself in the chair, and the
Doctor was reaa^,^ commencing with the tips of the
fingers of my right hand, at the end of his fingers;
and with the assurance of mind that the blood in
his hand would receed back into his arm, as I drew
my hand back over his arm. I moved slowly back-
ward, and when I had drawn my hand clear back
over his arm to the shoulder, I told the Doctor I was
ready. I then placed my right hand upon the patient's
forehead, and the left hand just back of the hand that
was being cut. The finger was taken off", aud the pat-
ient was conscious of all that was going on during the
operation ; and, according to his own testimony, (not
only given to those who were present on the occasion,
but also before the Canadian Institute, on the 22nd of
the same month,) he did not feel the slightest sensation

Prof. Seymour's Psychology

of pain during the entire amputation, nor in sewing up
the flesh, until the last stitch was being put in ; which
took place after I had withdrawn my influence from
him. Nor was there a loss of more than from about 6
to 8 drops of blood, during the ten or flfteen mfinijl^' s that
must have expired in sewing up the wound.

Another Case of Partial Paralysis. — About two
months ago Mr. Saul, of No. lo Buchanan Street,
called on me one morning, to go and see a lady in this
city, who lives at No. 12 Maplewood Ave. When I got
there, I found her suffering with Rheumatic pains in the
arm, and shoulders. One of her arms was partially par-
alized, so much so that she had not been able to raise
it above her vaist for about 16 or 18 months. I took
hold of her hand with my left hand, and commenced
rubbing her arm down straight trom her shoulder, upon
the naked skin. In about ten minutes after I entered
the house she was able to raise her hand to the top of
her head, and put it back to the back of her neck, and
has had tlie use of her arju ever since., I could give
you many more instances of a similar character, but as
these are within reacli of your inunediate confirmation
by appealing to these persons (wiiose names and ad-
dress I have given), I think them sufficient to illustrate
the truth of our position ; that the electric forces of the

ajtd Mesmerism Explained.

body of the patient will yield to the positive control of
the mind of the Magnetizer, who produces an impres-
sion, through the electric forces of iiis own body.

Question. — W/iy du yon use the tips of yoitr fingcrc, ?

Answkk. — Because the extrc.miti(^s of our bodies are
the direct outlets of Magnetism —the fingers, toes and
hair — and in these parts there is more magnetism con-
tained than in any other part of the body. Hence I
contend that ladies would be much more healty, if they
wore short hair ; from the fact that the hair contains
more magnetism, than any other part of the body.
By combing the h^ir, tiiey throw off that magnetism ; and
when this exhaustion takes place, the magnetism which
was before in the system goes up to take its place and
the body suffers the loss. Hence it is that some ladies
become more tired after combing their hair, than doing a
hard day's work at something else.

Question.— r/.s animal ina<rnetisni dpplict.ble to all
kinds of diseases ?

Answer. — Yes! For so far as I can understand
there is but one great and final cause of disease, and
than that is the disturbing or obstruction of that fluid
in the nervous system which we call electricity. I ep-
dorse the statement of Dr. Dod's " that disease be-
gins in the electric forces of the nerves, and not in the

I ll'i.

Prof. Seymour's Psychology

blood. They begin in the invisible and finest sub-
stance of the body, and end in the gross. Hence the
same cause that produces Monomania, produces entire
derangement, Fits, Headache, and even the common ex-
citement of the brain in a public speaker. The same cause
produces Consumption, Dispepsia, Liver Complaint,
Spinal Affections, Pleurisy, Cholera, Dyserftery, and In-
flammations and Fevers ol every kind." In proof of this
position 1 assume, in accordance with the principles of
Phrenology, that the brain is the organ of mind, and
that the mind is not transmitted through the entire nei -
vous system, as some people contend ; for if this were so,
then the loss of a limb would be proportionately the
loss of mind ; but such we find is not the case. Persons
who have lost an arm or a leg, have just as much men-
tality left after the limb has been taken off as before.
Hence we contend that the rtiind is not equally distrib-
uted through the whole nervous system ; but rather has
its seat in the brain. And that from its Citadel, (the brain,)
it sends forth its commands, to all the various parts of the
body., by the agency of electricity, which passes from
the brain through the nerves ; which serves as so many
telegraphic wires. Then upon the basis that the body
moves only in response to the conditions of the mind ;
in order to excite action of any part of the body, there

and Mesmerism Explained.

must be the communicatiion of electricity or motive
power, from the mind to the part where action is intended.
Hence by an exertion of the mind, the electric forces are
stirred into action, and by direction of the mind are con-
veyed to the different parts. But if any impression has
been produced upon the nerves, leading from the brain
to any part of the body ; Vt^hich has caused a spasmodic
collapse, then the electricity cannot pass through that
nerve ; heixe the power of action and control is lost.
But let the obstruction be removed, and again the mind
wills ; electricity passes from the mind to the hand, foot,
or any other part of the body, and action is agam re-
stored. Under this head perhaps I could not do better
than give you the description which Dr. Dods has given
in his lecture on Electrical Psychology ; regarding the
circulation of the blood and nervous fluid ; which I re-
gard as the ablest production of the kind that has ever
come under my notice. He says ; " The philosophy of
the circulation of the blood is one of the grandest themes
that can be presented for human contemplation. While
discussing the matter, it will be clearly made to appear
hew electricity is gathered from the surrounding ele-
ments, carried into the system, and stored up in the
brain to feed the mind with impressions. But before I
proceed to notice the philosophy of the circulation of

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Prof. Seymour's Psychology

the blood, and the secretion of the nervous fluid, I will
first make a few observations in relation to the nerves
and blood vessels soiliat I may be distinctly understood.
I have alreatly slated, that the brain is the fountain
of the nervous system, and that both its hemispheres
are made up of a congtries of nerves. That both pass
to the Celebelum; and the spinal marrow continued to
the t>ottom of the trunk, is but the brain continued.
In the spinal marrow, which is the grand conductor
from the brain, is lodged the whole strength of the
system. From the spinal marrow branches out thirty,
two pair of nerves, embracing the nerves of motion and
those of sensation. From these branches out others, and
others again from these ; and so on till they are spread
out over the human system in network, so fine that we
cannot put down the point-of a needle without feeling it;
and we cannot feel unless we touch a nerve. We see
therefore, how inconceivably fine the nervous system
is. In all these millions of nerves there is no blood.
They contain the electric fluid only, while the blood is
confined to the veins and arteries." He then remarks:
"That the air we breathe, as to its component parts,
is computed to consist of twenty-one parts oxygen, and
seventN-nine parts nitrogen. Electricity, as a universal
agent, prevades the entire atmospere. We cannot turn

and Mesmerism Explained.

the electric machine in any dry spot on earth, without
collecting it. Oxygen is that element that sustains
flame and animal life. Neither can exist a moment
without it ; while nitrogen, on the contrary, just as
suddenly extinguishes both. The atmosphere in this
compound state, is taken into the lungs. The oxygen
and electricity, having a strong afinity for moisture, in-
stantly rush to the blood, while the nitrogen is disen-
gaged and expired. The blood being oxygenized and
electrified, instantly assumes a bright cherry-red appear-
ance, and by this energizing process has become purified,
and prepared for circulation. The lungs, and the blood
they contain, are both rendered electrically positive;
and we know that in electrical science, two positives
resist each other and fly apart. Hence, the lungs resist
the blood, and force it into the left ventricle of the
heart. The valve closes, and the blood passes into the
arteries. Hence arterial blood is of a bright cherry-red
hue. It is by the positive force of electric action, pro-
pelled through every possible ramification of the arter-
ial system, till all] its thousands of minute capillary
vessels are I charged. Along these arteries, and all
their thousands of capillary branches, are laid nerves of
involuntary motion, but no nerves whatever attend the
veins, "Why is this so? Why is il,that the nerves.

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Prof. SeymoUr^s Psycholo^

like so many telegraphic wires, are laid along the whole
arterial system, in all its minute ramifications, but that
none are laid along the venous system ? I press this
question ! Why do nerves attend the arteries while none
attend the veins ? I answer ; that nerves are laid along
the arteries to receive the electric charge from the posi-
tive blood that rolls in them, which charge the blood
received from the air, inspired by the lungs. But as the
venous blood is negative, it has no electricity to throw
off; and hence needs no attendant nerves to receive a
charge, because thai very electric charge, which the
blood receives from each inspiration at the lungs, is
thrown off into the nerves by friction, as it rolls through
its destined channels in crimson streams. At the ex-
tremites of the arterial system^ — at the very- terminus of
its thousands of capillaries, the last item of the electric
charge takes its departure from the positive blood, es-
capes into the attendant nerves, through them is in-
stantly conducted to the brain, and is there basined up
for the use of the mind.

The arterial blood, having thrown off its electricity, as
above described, assumes a dark, a purplish hue. It
enters the capillaries of the veins, which are as numer-
ous as those of the arteries. The blood is now negative,
and as the lungs, by new inspirations, are kept in ^ posi-

and Mesmerism Explained.

five o.. .e, so the venous blood returns thiCNigfa the
right ventricle of the heart, to the lungs, on the same
principle that the negative and positive forces rush to-
gether. There it is again electrified and oxyigexuzed,
changed to a bright cherry red color, is again rendered
positive, and is thus purified and prepared once more
for arterial circulation, We now clearly perceive that
it is electrically the blood circulates, and electrically it
recedes frcm, and returns to, the lungs through the two
ventricles of the heart. ^

From the arguments already offered, it will bedeaxly
perceived by every philosophic mind, that the circulat-
ing system is, in reality two distinct s^'stems. The
first is the arterial system that carries the /»o«77r7 iW*/,
which is, as before stated, of a bright cherry -red ct^or,
and is ever flowing from the heart to the extreiiiitie&
The second is the venous system, that carries the wr^a-
tive blood, which is of a purple color, and is ever jBowing
from the extremities to the heart. To these two circu-
lating systems, the heart with its two auricles, two ven-
tricles, and valves, is exactly adapted, so as to keep the
positive and negative blood apart, and to re<;ulate the
motion of both. The nerves of involuntar}- motion are
laid along the arteries to receive the charge of electricity,
from the positive blood that flows in them. These

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Prof. Seymour's Psychology

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views of the circulation of the blood are strengthened
by the fact, that the blood contains a certain portion
of iron ; and we well know that iron becomes a magnet
only by induction, and looses its magnetic power the
moment the electric current passes from it. Hence the
blood, through the agency of the iron it contains, can
easily assume a positive state, at the instant it receives
the electric charge from the air at the lungs. It can then
pass into the arteries, and by friction throw off its elec-
tricity into the nerves, and again assume a negative
state, as it enters the veins.

I now consider the electric or magnetic circulation
of the blood, philosophically and irresistibly proved. The
heart does not circulate the blood, nor on the contrary,
does the blood cause the heart to throb. The heart and
lungs both receive their motion from the cerebellum,
which is the fountain and origin of organic life and in-
voluntary motion. Hence the involuntary nerves from
the cerebellum throb the heart and heave the lungs; and
the electricity contained in the air they inspire, circulates
the blood, and supplies the brain with nervous fluid.

Perhaps, however, the enquiry may arise ; What
proof is there that the involuntary nerve, from the cere-
bellum, throb the heart and heave the lungs, and that
the blood is not made to circulate from the same cause ?

MAMata^MriMMk

and Mesmerism Explained.

This double interrogation is easily answered. Insert,
for instance, a surgical knife between tL* ointsof thever-
tebraj, and cut off the spinal marrow below the lungs and
heart — all the parts below this incision will be so com-
pletely paralized, and voluntary motion and sensation so
entirely destroyed, that we have no power to move the
limbs by any volition we may exert ; nor have we any
power to feel, even though the paralized limbs should be
broken to pieces by a hammer, or burned with fire.

Yet in these immovable and unfeeling parts the blood
continues to circulate as usual, through the veins and
arteries. This is proof positive, that the blood is not
made to flow by any power whatever invested in the cere-
bellum, but by the positive and ucgative forces of that
electricity contained in the air inspired by the lungs,
But let the spinal marrow be severed above the lungs
and heart, and both will be instatitly paralysed and cease
their motions ; yet the last inspiration taken in by the
lungs, will cause the blood to circulate till it floods
the right ventricle of tlie heart with venous blood, and
empties the left ventricle of its arterial blood. This is
proof, (the most irresistible), that the heart and lungs are
moved by an involuntary nervous force,, original ting in
the cerebellum, while the blood is circulated by thc/>o.>;-
itive and negative forces of that elcctrir' v which is
taken in with the air at the lungs.

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Prof. Seymour's Psychology

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The lungs merely act a9 a double force-pump to bring
in the surrounding atmosphere, extract from it a pro-
per supply of the vital principle, to feed the bright and
burning flame of life, and to reject and expire the dregs
unfit for that end.

And now having given you what I consider to be the
most rational theory of the circulation of the blood, we
may be all the better prepared to understand the true
philosopny of disease, and the rationale of its cure, by
electricity or magnetism. If, as we have before said, all
diser ses are caused by the electricity of the system
being thrown out of balance, and such we believe is the
case, then, in order to understand the methods of cure,
or of prevention, we should understand the conditions
by which, or through which, the electricity of the sys-
tem may be disturbed ; and we believe this may be done
either by mental or physical impressions. By mental
impressions which act directly upon the nervous fluid
of the voluntary nerves ; or by physical impressions,
which act more directly upon the nerves of involuntary
motion. The whole nervous system being- filled with
electric fluid ; the mind controls all that is contained in
the nerves of sensation and of volition, which have their
seat, or centre, in the cerebrum ; hence any disease
which may be contracted in the voluntary nerves of the

and Mesmerism Explained.

body, maj' be overcome by the positive condition of the
mind of the person afflicted, as well as by the influence
of the Magnetic Healei'. For this electric fluid being,
(as shown in the circulation of the blood,) tiie power that
moves the blood, as well as the servant, or agent, of the
mind; health being the result of a balance of circula-
tion. When the nervous fluid or electric forces of the
body are equally balanced, tiie cirulation of the blood
will also be equally balanced, and Judith nuist be the
consequence, but when the nervous fluid is thrown out
of balance, the blood will, in like manner, be thrown
out of balance, and discdsc will be the const(iuence.
And the disease will be nnldor intensified, in proportion
to the disturbance of the electric forces ; whether this be
done by the impression of the mind or by the external
forces of nature.

In illustrating this part of our subject still farther, and
to show, if possible, the truth of thi' position more
clearly, let me, tor a few moments, call }our attention to
a few of what we call those special diseases, which
afflict humanity. In the first place we will consider'
the affliction of

INSANITY.

caused by a mental impression. A man with a large
' *velopment of Acquisitiveness and Cautiousness, (as

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Prof. Seymour^ Psychology

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shown in Symbolic Head, page 5 ), works hard and accu-
mulates a fortune ; with one half of which he provides for
himself and family a home. He puts the balance intoa
bank for safe keeping, but the bank breaks, and he loses
his money. His mind becomes troubled and excited ;
and, like as in the case of Henry Clay, in proportion as
the mind becomes excited, the electricity leaves the ex-
tremities and rushes to the brain, the blood follows after
it ; a fever is engendered in the brain ; and if the man
broods over his misfortune he soon becomes a mone-
maniac. Now suppose in additton to the loss of his
money, a f.re breaks out and destroys his property, his
mind becomes involved in still greater distress ; the
increased excitement of his mind calls forth a greater
amount of electricity, and ftow of blood to the brain,
until ho becomes entirely dethroned of reason, and is at
once a raving maniac. Now, then, if by Magnetic
Attraction, or by the positive condition of the mind, we
are enabled to control the electric forces of ourselves, or
of one another; is it not reasonable to suppose, that by
the same law of Magnetic Attraction and Repulsion, the
electric forces of an insane person could be controlled.
And if so, when the electric forces were again equal-
ized, or when the undue excitement of the brain was
removed ; which must take place as soon as the electricity

and Mesmerism Explained.

was removed; there would be again a sanguine condition
of both body and brain, and the man is at once cured
of his insanity. ^

But, suppose again, that the brain had been unifoVmly
balanced, when the tidings of such misfortunes had
reached him ; instead of brooding ovsr his loss, he would
have brought his reason to bear against his Acquisitive-
ness, and would have repelled the electric forces of the
organs of Acquisitiveness, and by the exercise of Hope
and Reason, would have prevented the malady altogether.
And, now suppose, instead of their being an abnormal
development of any of the faculties of the brain, there is
a weakness of the stomach, or a predisposition to
Dyspepsia ; then, by the same law, any sudden excite-
ment of the mind, or long continued mental exertion,,
which calls forth an extra amount of electricity to the
brain ; and consequently of blood, to supply that electric-
ity, would proportionately rob the stomach of its share,
and the result would be Dyspepsia ; and ihus of the
Liver, Lungs, Kidneys, etc., through all the debilitating
train of disease that afflicts humanity.

Hence the cause of diseases of every kind, being the
want of proper circulation ; if as we have demonstrated,
we are able to control these forces; we can, by the

Prof. Seymour's Psychology

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same law, cure every form of disease that comes under
its influence. Whether it be a mental impression, which
calls the electricity from the weakest parts of the body
to the brain ; or whether it be a physical impression
from external Nature ; such as a cold, which drives the
electricity in upon the external organs, and fastens it-
self upon the weaker organs, in the form of a Fever or
Inflammation.

I will now proceed to give you some of the different
methods of operating. Suppose you have a case of

BRAIN FEVER, OR INFLAMMATION OF THE BRAIN.

You should place your left hand on the back of the neck,
just between the two shoulders of the patient; and with
the tips of the fingers of your right hand, commence from
the organ of Individuality, (just at the top of the nose,)
and draw your hand back over the top of the head,
towards your left hand. When you have done this a
few times, draw it from the same starting point, back
over the sides of the head, towards the back of the
neck, and down towards the left hand. When you
have done this for a few minutes, remove your left hand
to the bottom of the spine, and with your right hand
commence at the back of the neck, and rub down to the
left hand again for a few minntes; then place your left
hand c own to the feet, and with your right hand again

and Mesmerism Explained.

at the end of the spine, rub down to the feet, until you
have completed the circuit, from the positive pole in the
brain to the negative in the feet. In such cases it would
be well to wet the hair before commencing operation.
The foregoing treatment will apply to Headache as
well.

CATARRH.

In a case of Catarrh ; take a bowl of warm water, and
dip the fingers of both hands in the water, and with the
left hand placed upon the back of the neck, commence
with the fingers of your right hand placed on each side
of the nose ; rub up over the forehead, and back to the
left hand, at the back of the neck for several minutes ;
after which place your left hand down \o the bottom of
the spine, as in the case of Brain Fever, and with your
right hand at the back of the neck, rub down the spine.
Repeat this treatment every morning, and in a few
weeks you will find the most stubborn cases of Catarrh
will yield. In ordinary cases relief will be found after
the first two or three treatments. The same treatment
may be used for Colds, and Influenza.

HEMORRHAGES.

To stop a Hemorrhage" (suppose it be a bleeding of
the nose), take the finger and thumb ot your right hand,
one on each side of the nose, and rub up to the forehead,

Prof. Seymour's Psychology

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at the same time keep your left hand at the back of the
neck. In all cases of Hemorrhage, the right hand
should be applied as near the bleeding point as possible,
and the left hand to. the spot where you wish to attract
the blood. After you have thus treated the case for a
few minutes, then pass your hands over the body of the
patient in general, in order to produce a general circu-
lation.

TUMORS, SWELLINGS, ETC.

In cases of Tumors, Swellings, and Enlargements of
the Glands, place your left hand at the most suitable
point, 'i small distance from the Tumor ; and with your
right hand commence to rub around the tumor at the
edge of the swelling ; or, if there be Inflammation around
it, at the extreme edge of the inflamed part ; then grad-
ually move m toward the center, and over the swelling ;
at first touch it lightly, then gradually press a little
harder, and when you find you are able to press fairly
heavy upon the swollen part, without the patient suf-
fering any severe pain ; then rub from the centre out to-
wards the left hand, and enlarge your circuit, until you
have reached from the centre of the tumor, to the near>
est extremity of the body. Thus, if it should be a
tumor in the neck, rub out towards the shoulders and
down the arms to the end of the Angers.

and Mesmerism Explained.

PARALYSIS AND RHEUMATISM.

In case of Paralysis of the lower limbs ; commence
with your right hand on the head, and pass down over
the spine with your left hand at the bottom. When
you have made a few passes thus ; then place your left
hand at the feet and rub down the limbs, and out of the
toes, and likewise the arms. In cases where the mus-
cles are rigid, wet your hands in warm water. Rheu-
matism may be treated in the same manner as Paralysis.

TOOTHACHli, NEURALGIA, ETC.

There are two ways of curing the Tooth Ache ; one is
by calling off the mind, and concentrating the attention
upon something else, (upon the principle that there is
no pain where there is no consciousness), and the other
by attracting, or repelling the electricity which has
become unduly concentrated upon the nerve of the
tooth, to some other part of the body, and producing a
ballance of circulation. In magnetizing the nerve, place
yoiu: left hand at the back of the head, upon the organ
of Concentrativeness, and with your right hand upon
the tooth, commence to draw up toward the left hand —
always using the tips of the fingers. The same method
will apply to Neuralgia of the face and head.

SLEEPLESSNESS.

Where you find a patient troubled with Sleeplessness,

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Prof. Seymour's Psychology

it is a gcxx] thing to place their feet in warm water for a
few minutes, before retiring, and treat magnetically as
you would for Brain Fever ; that is, moisten the hair,
and beginning with the front part of the head, moving
back over the top aifd sides with your right hand, and
down the spine, and out at the extremities. In addition
to this, try and impress upon the mind of the patient, the
idea that they will find great relief from the treatment,
and that they will sleep soundly.

From what has b«en said upon the treatment of di-
seases, you will percieve that in all forms of disease,
you use your right hand to Scatter, and the left hand to
Attract the circulation. Hence where there is debility, or
an inactive condition of muscular or nervous power ; you
should appl> the negativjs to such parts, with the posi-
tive to some other part, where the circulation or action
has been increased.

Question*. — Are there any cases in which you would use
Medicine ?

Answer. — Yes ! Sometimes I regard Medicine as
being ven,- beneficial ; for as all diseases are produced
by mental and physical impression, so through physical
or mental impression th^ must be healed ; and medi-
cine produces a physical impression upon the system ;

t .

and Mesmerism Explained.

and although it never heals the disease (as we have
said before), from the relation which it sustains to our
physical nature, through the positive and negative
forces, if properly administered, it will have a tendency
to co-operate with the Magnetism of the operator,
(especially in cases of debility ; ) and thus the sooner be-
stir action in those latent powers of vitality, until there
is a balance of circulation ; and health is again restored.
And now, turning from the subject of Magnetic Heal-
ing to the practical benefits that may be derived from a
knowledge of the principles of

ANIMAL MAGNETISM IN BUSINESS.

I would State that all commercial transaction is
carried on upon the basis of Animal Magnetism. To
illustrate : Two men starting out on the road to sell
goods. One is a man of experience, and the other is
on the road for the first time. Both enter a town to-
gether, and having but a limited time between trains
starting for another town, there is seemingly no time to
waste in showing their goods, least they miss the next
connection, and have to stand the expense of remaining
over night in a small town, without doing sufficient busi-
ness to warrant it. They both enter a store together,
and find the proprietor busy with a customer. The
man of experience lays down his samples, takes a seat,

Prof, Seymour's Psychology

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or leisurely leans himself against a counter, as though
he cared but little whether he made his sales to-day or
to-morrow ; the inexperienced man, feeling that time is
money, and with an over-zealous anxiety to do busi-
ness, and thereby make for himself a favorable record
with the firm who had employed him ; without thinking
that two positives will repel each other, and that when
a person is tryinf? to sell a customer a bill of goods, the
mind is active, and consecjuently a positive. The young
man goes up '.o the proprietor, presents his card, and
solicits his attention. The proprietor looks at the card
a moment, and then says he will look at his samples as
soon as through with his customer. In a few minutes
the young man presents himself to the proprietor again.
This time the proprietor is somewhat stem, and says,
rather haughtily, " I have no time to attend to you
until I am through with this customer !" Time seems
lo fly rapidly, and the chances are that if he waits until
the proprietor is through with his customer, the train
will have passed, and he will be under the expense of
remaining over night ; and not do business enough to
meet it. Again he g ^s up to the proprietor and says :
"Mr. S — , it will take but a few minutes to show
you my samples, and I would like to make the four
o'clock train." Mr. S— says in an angry tone, " then

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and Mefffnerism Explained.

go and make the train, and don't come here bochering
me any more ; and if your firm can'i send out a man
that has got more sense than you have, I don't want to
deal with such a firm." The young man '^etls teaten,
and almost resolves to quit the business; fieanng
that he will meet with the same treatment elsewhere.
But the man ot experience, havmg waited until the
proprietor has consummated his sale v^-itfa the cus-
tomer; he goes up to him — the anxiety of the pro-
prietor to sell having been satisfied ; he is now in a
passive state, ready to investigate the samples that may
be presented to his sight ; and also ready to listen to an j
arguments that may be to his advantage to buy. And
in this passive condition, the positive mind of the sales-
man p'-oduces an impression upon him, and ht '-:ecwtesa
sale ^ hus we see that two positives repel, as well in
Business as in Mesmerism, and that the same principle
holds good — that if you would control the mind of the
second person, you must first gain their confidence.
And in proportion to the confidence you have gained,
will be your success in business. And the best method
of gaining the confidence of an individual, is never to
approach them in a manner \vhich would lead tiiem to
infer, that either your time, or services, are of vntxe im-
portance than theirs ; but, under all circumstances, yon

Prof. Seymour'' s Psychology

are willing to give them the preference, and to act ac-
cording as they desire. When you have manifested
sucli a spirit, you at once appeal to the better part of
their nature, and become at once in sympathy with
each other.

And now, before we close the subject of Animal Mag-
netism, let me say, that not only in business do we see
this phenomenon demonstrated, but also in

REVIVALS OF RKLIGION.

In bringing up this (}uestion, I do not wish to mani-
fest a spirit of antagonism against Revivals, or any
other effort that may be put forth, for the moral im- •
provement of Mankind ; but rather to show that the
same power, which is demonstrated for the amusement
of the masses, upon the stage, in the name of " Mes-
merism ;" when otherwise directed, may be made a
power to save from sin and vice in every direction. For
I hold the law of Mind is the same, and conditions be-
ing favorable, the eftects will be similar, under what-
ever name it may be called. In the gentle fannings of
the breeze, and the refreshing showers, that impart life
and beauty, to the o|)€ning butls and flowers of spring,
lies hidden the howling winds and pelting storms of
winter ; and all that is necessary to prgdi.ce the differ-

and Mesmerism Explained.

;■•:!

ent results, is a change in tlie condition ol" the atmos-
phere. The conditions necessary to get up a Revival
of Religion in the church, is, that the members of the
church become united in the belief that a Revival will
take place. Hence what is done first is to call the
church together for special prayer ; that by so doing
each member may be }>rougiU to feel, and believe that
God will send them a Revival. And when this is done,
they have formed a Positive Battery. Next, sinners
are invited to the Altar, and when one volunteers to go
forward, the concentration of the entire Battery, with
its confident, is brought to bear upon that individual,
until he or she becomes magnetized with its influence,
and becomes a susceptible subject to the Positive con-
ditions of their faitli. And the stronger the faith of the
church, and the more Positive the operators, who lead
in the Revivals, the more general will be their success.
But, (as is the case in Mesmeric Exhibitions,) if the
operators lack confidence, and tl)e sympathy of the
congregation is not with the leatiers, their success will
be small. Again, not only in the conditions of getting
up a Revival, do we see the manifestations of Animal
Magnetism in religious excitetnents. but also in the fact
that these Revivals are always bro\^ght about by an
appeal to the External Senses. Hence the tone <:»f Jhe

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Pro/. Seymour's Psychology

voice, the nature of the expression, and the language
used, are all important factors in securing a Revival of
Religion. Ah ! but you say Revivals of Religion are
the direct operations of the Spirit of God. Admitting
this to be true ; nevertheless we find, as an agent for
the manifestation of that Divine Spirit, a good Revival-
ist consists more in the excitability of his nature, and
the Magnetic influence he carries with him, than in his
ability to preach, or his capacity for reasoning upon the
merits of rhe Gospel.

And now, as a review of the subject of Animal Mag-
netism, you are at liberty to put forth any questions
pertaining to what has been said upon it.

Question. — Supposing a person should become deeply
entranced when Mesmerized, is there any danger of not
being able to bring them out ? and what method would
you use ?

Answer. — There is not much danger of awaking a
person who is entranced, providing you do not lose
your own presence of mind. In order to be safe oa
this point, it is always best to learn the name of the
subjects before putting them into the hypnotic state.
Then if you find they do not respond to the usual sig-
nal of " all right !" or " wake up !" etc., call aloud their
own name, which is the most familiar wor

they

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and Mesmerism Explained.

acquainted with — hence the most Hkely to arouse their
consciousness. If you find this to fail ; then commence
with the feet and make your passes upward until you
reach the head. Do this several times ; then from the
back of the head work forward towards the front,
around the sides, and over the top several times. Then
placing your left hand on the forehead, and the right
hand on the back of your head, remain (juietly for a
few minutes, with your mind positive that the subject
is going to awake, and in a tew minutes they will show
signs of returning consciousness, by opening the eyes .
or moving the head. Then again call loudly their
name, following with the usual word of •' all right," or
whatever word you may be accstomed to use ; and you
will have no difficulty in brmging them out of a trance
or the hypnotic state. The same method may be ap-
plied to Fainting, Catalepsy, or Nightmare.

Question. — Why should we make our passes upwards
in these cases ?

Answer. — Because the electricity and blood having
receded from the brain to the lower part of the body,
by the upward passes, you draw it up, and produce the
normal action of circulation.

Questions. — Then, is there not equal virtue in making

Prof. Seymour's Psychology

■■•'. I

if 1

passes down over the subjects when trying to Mesmerize
them ; which you said in the beginning was only done to
cancentrate the mind of the subject ?

Answer. — There is a difference between making
passes in front of the subject, in order to appeel to his
consciousness through the eye ; and coming in close com-
munion with him, and drawing the magnetism down
from the brain. The first comes under the head of
mental impression, and the latter under the head of
affinity or mental attraction.

QuKSTioN. — In treating diseases, does the Magnetic
Healer ever take on the conditions 0/ the snhjeet : and if
so, what is the best method of throwing it off ?

Answer.— Oftimes the Magnetic Healer does take on
the conditions of the patient, and unless something be
done to throw it off, would be likely to suffer for a long
time. There are two or three ways of getting rid of
such complaints. The first is to wash your hands in
old water. In cases of treating a F'ever, it would be
well to let your hands remain in cold water for a few
minutes, so as toabsorb the magnetism. For inasmuch
as it is a universal law of nature, that where there are
two bodies brough in close communion witii each other;
and one being cold, and the other hot, the one being

and Mesmerism Explained,

cold will absorb the heat of the other, until both be-
come equally charged ; so, by placing the hands in cold
water, the water will absorb the Caloric of the body that
may have been absorbed, by the treatment of the pat-
ient ; and then by taking your hands out of the water
you leave the Feverish Magnetisni behind, and thus get
rid of the condition. Another method of getting rid of the
condition of the subject is : after treating a debilitated
patient, when you have imparted so much of your mag-
netism as to feel weak ; go out in the open air, and
standing up at full length, with your shoulders back, take
in a few deep breaths, and fill your Ings with the Oxy-
gen of the atmosphere ; thus you will increase yoiir elec-
tric forces, and re-supply your exhausted energies.

Question. — Hon' would you attempt to ovenonn: the
prejudices of an audience, who did not believe that the phe-
nomenon produced upon the sta^e was trenuine ?

Answer. — If you find you have a susceptable subject,
then give some scientific demonstration, such as stop-
ping the pulse, by drawing your right hand back over
the arm of your subject, as you would do in the case of
performing an Amputation {See page 42), or by produc-
ing Catalepsy; which gives evidence that there is some-
thing in tlie phenomenon that the auilience cannot ac-
count for, on any other theory than that of Magnetism,

Prof, Seymour^s Psychology

Hi'

Question. — In Magnetizing a patient, why does the
pain, which yon have somcimes removed, retvrn in a short
time ?

Answer. — Often times this occurs because the treat-
ment has been confined to too short a circuit. Thus, if
the pain should be in the shoulder of the patient, it is
not enough that we rub from the shoulder to the elbow;
although this might remove it for the time ; but not hav-
ing drawn it out of the system, nor produced a balance
of circulation from the afflicted part in the arm to the
different parts of the body, it is likely to return, but if
you work it out at the extremities, there is no danger of
its returning until there is a return of the conditions
brought to bear upon the physical constitution of the
patient, which first caused the affliction.

Question. — Cin you Mesmerize the Lower Animals }

Answer. — Yes ! Every animal is susceptible to the
positive conditions of the mind of man. As a proof of
this position, we see people who are naturally afraid of
dogs ; almost every dog they come across seems
to realize their fear ; and as a consequence the dog
barks and jumps at them. Yet another person who
seems to have no fear of dogs whatever, may pass by
in perfect quietness. Or to make this still more plain ;

and Mesmerism Explained.

we will suppose a man owns a savage dog, which will
scarcely allow a stranger to come into the yard ; you
are afraid of that dog ; but being in need of a good
watch-dog, you buy this dog from its master, and al-
though you were very much afraid of the dog when it
belonged to another person, (and, because of your fear,
you stood in a negative relation to the dog,) yet when
you became the owner of the dog, you at once began
to educate yourself up to a positive condition of mind,
that you were going to make the dog obey you as his
master. In proportion a.« you became confident, the
dog became negative, until by the determination of
your will, you have made the dog afraid of you, and
consequently do your bidding. Thus you have Psy-
chologized the dog. This is the power by which the
keeper tames the Lion or Tiger. The power is not so
much in the Eye (as people suppose), as it is in the Mind
of the Tamer. I am aware that tiie Keeper will not
venture to go in or out of the cage of wild animals,
with his back towards the beasts ; because he has edu-
cated himself to the belief that the Lion is afraid of the
glance ot his eye. But when we take into consider-
ation the fact, that the same keeper, who dare not turn
his back upon the Animals, when entering or retiuning
from ths cage, will stand up and hold out a stick for

Ml;

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III

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Prof. Seymour's Psychology

the animals to jump over, and command them to pass
behind his back, and come around in front to jump
again ; and this sometimes when the animals are very
angry and unwilling to do so ; we must conclude that
it is not so much in the glance of the Eye, as the posi-
tive condition of the Mind, which controls the Lion or
the Tiger. And if the confidence of the Keeper should

•

become destroyed, his power over the animals would
also be destroyed, and the beasts would turn upon him
and rend him. Th.us we may learn that by rendering
ourselves positive, we become masters of the animal
kingdom, from the supremacy of otir intellect. And
that our power to subdue one another, and the animals
below us, tloes not so much; consist in the size of our
physical statures, as in the condition of our minds.

And now. seeing that the hour for closing our Itsson
on Animal Magnetism has arrived ; let me impress upon
you the importance of studying well the principles in-
volved in what has been said ; and, although you may
be considered foolish, in attempting to practice what
you have learned to-night ; yet I hold that the time is
coming when the truth of Mrs. Abdy's lines upon the
subject will be realized ; and the pointed finger of scorn
will only serve to reflect the ignorance of the scoffer.
1 will now give you the lines of the Poetess,

V'^

Hi'

and Mesmerism Explained.

THE PSYCHOLOGIST.

He stands before a gathered throiiK. strange knowledge to unfold,
ChanninK the dezzled fancy, like the fairy-tales of old;
Yet most he brook the idle jest, the cold and doubting sneer,
He batb no beaten path to tread, tio practised course to steer.

Tbe wonderoas science, that hr ^:.Ives, to bring to life and light.
Is softly. £aintly breaking from the misty shades of night ;
And scoAng prdjudice upbraids the pure and genial ray,
Beconse ii doth not burst at once, to bright and beaming day.

He tells ibehcniing benefits, that through this power arise.
How sweet and soothing sleep, may seal the vvtary mourners eyes,
Hoir fa^ng madness may be rlu;ckcd ; how sutterers may obtain
The boon of deep oblivion from the keenest throbs of pain.

Anon be dwells on loftier themes, and shows how mind may claim
An empire, independent of the still and slumberifig frame
Can yoa doabt the proofs, ye careless throng, submitted to your view :
Can ye hold ihem in derision, because; yet untried and new ?

KivMrihat improvements ever w(!ud a tardy course on earth ;
And tboa Wisdom's mighty goddess gained perfection at her birth.
Her children reach by slow degrees the vigor of their prime.
For tbe wisdom of this lowtrr world rcquircis the growth of time.

Nooe wish ye on the statements of a single voice to rest ,
The oiarrels ye have witnessed, y(.' are urged to prove and test ;
Survey tbem in their varied forms-inquire-observe-inspect
Watch-meditate-compare-ilelay-do all things but neglect '.

If ye bear in mind the lesson that to-day ye have been taught.
Ye need not lack material for intense and stirring thought ;
And my simple lay can little aid an orator's discourse,
So sifted with the energy of intellectual force.

But I ask if yoar cherished ones sharp anguish should endure.
Which tbe stated arts of meilicine had in v.iin essayed to cure ;
Woold it not grieve ye to reflect ye might those pangs allay,
Boi that, jestingly and mockingly, ye cast the means away ?

Mistake me not i prize not aught, howt'ver great or wise.
If held iKM in subjection to the God v.'ho rules the skies;
To me aO knowledge would be poor, all splendor would be dim.
All booos Bosafe, all joys untrue, unless derived from Him.

And if eagerly the wontlrous power I witness and approve,
It isbecanse I know no lionndsto Heaven's amazing love,
And I cannot, by tbe pedant rules of critic caution, scan
The depth fyf those cxhaustless gifts, His mercy pours on man.

CLAIRVOYANCE,

•frU

Ladies and Gentlemen : — On last evening we con-
siderd as far as time would allow us, the principlrs of
what we term Animal Magnetism, which we reco^^iiized
as the phenomenon produced through the use of our
external senses, and the Magnetic impressions and inftu-
ence of the sameness which exist in tht; human liody.
To-night, we have met to consider that part of Psychol-
ogy known as Clairvoyance. A phenomenon which is
not dependent upon the use of the external senses, but
rather may be considerered as Mental Telegraphy.
The mind and brain of an individual, (imder what we
term the law of Psychology), bears the same relation to
another, that (under what we call the law of Chemistry)
one Galvanic Battery deos to another. And I ccntend
still farther, that the Atmosphere bears the same relation
to mind and brain, that the metallic wire does to the
batteries. Hence between the metallic wire and the
Galvanic Battery there must be an affinity ; a corres
pondence in their nature. So I contend there is a sim-
ilar correspondence in the nature of the Atmosphere

Prof. Seymour's Psychology

and the intellectual nature of mankind. As a proof of
this position, consider how the mind of .nan is aflfected by
the changes in the conditions of the Atmosphere. A
dark and cloudy Atmosphere produces what is termed,
**a depressi«^n of spirits," while a bright and clear At-
mosphere produces the sensation of cheerfulness. Now
Clairvoyance being a kind of telegraphy ; the conditions
necessary to produce this phenomenon must be similar
to those required to send a communication from one
battery to another. In sending a message from Toronto
to Montreal, (or any otlier given point), the operator at
this end of the line may tap ujxjn the handles of the
battery artistically, and send the electricty coursing
through the wires, until it reaches the l^aitery at the
other end of the wire, where it was directed ; but if the
batter^' at the other end was in operation, sendmg a
message to some other point, then that battery like the
one here in Toronto would be a positive, (because being
active), and upon the law that two positives repel each
other, the call fjom Toronto would make no impression
upon it. But if, on the other hand, the battery at the
other end is a negative, (or inactive), then there is an
impression made upon it, by the call from this end, and
the communication is opened up. Now this is practi-
cally the case in Clairvoyancce. Whenever the mind

■ -A

and Mesmerism Explained.

of man is engaged in thought, and the brain is active
upon any subject, it is in a positive conditioa; and from
that universal law of nature that two positives repei
each other, it is incapable of rcK:eiving any impression
from another mind, l^ut if the mind of t»oe man be in-
active, then it is a negative, and may be impressed by
the mind of another individual. To illustrate this more
fully, and to make it clear from the phecoroenon of almost
every day experience ; let me suppose a case. William
Smith, Thomas Jones, and John Williams, liemg boys
together, and going to the same sclutoi, becoaie what is
called " chums," and before they rtach the y«ars of man-
hood Smith's family moves West, and nothing; is heard
from the boy Smith foi years, during which tune Jones
and Williams have grown up together. maT-ied and sett-
led near each other, and still retain a companionship. As
time elapsed Smith, with the rest, having developed
into manhood, and being free from the restriction of
of his parents ; feels a desire to visit the |rface of
his childhood, and mingle once more with the com-
panions of his youth. One day he detemiines to
put his desire into execution, and starts on his journey.
On reaching the place, his first enquiry- is for Jones
and Williams ; and on learning of tueir circumstances,
and their place of residence, he (Smith) starts to make

Pro/. Seymour*s Psychology

a call upon them. He determines to call first upon
Jones, and it so happens that Williams is spending the
evening at Jones' house. As Smith draws near the
residence, his mind directed to the spot, naturally re-
volves these (juestions: Mow tloes Jones look? What
changes has twenty years made in his personal appear-
ance ? How will he receive me ? and various other
(luestions. Jones and Williams, just having finished a
conversation, u[)()n some interesting subject, there is at
this time a passive moment, before another topic is de-
termined upon by either, as a subjec^t for future converse.
And during this passive nii nient. the positive condition
of the mind of I^!uitli leachts the mind of Jones, and he
makes the remark : " Hy the way, 1 womict what has
become of Smith ! I v,ondrr if he his j^'ot nuirried ! I
should like to see him !" and various other thoughts are
expressed by Jones concerning Smith. Suddenly the
door-bell rings, and Smith inttoducts hiuiself. "Why!"
sa}S Jones, *' y<>i» vere the very last inuu wt were
speaking about! Only i few unfiutes ago I expressed
to our frieid \\ illiams, that I should like tfi set' you !"
etc. Such or similar experience falls 10 the lot of almost
every indivit'uial. Now i ask, how aire we to account for
this phenomenon, excep; upon the principle of (Mairvoy-
unce ? That thoughts are existing entities, ai.d th«tt

and Mesmerism Explained.

Mind is not dependent upon the external senses wholly,
for the reception of thought, l)iit rather for its manifes-
tation. The phenome:v>n of Clairvoyance may be con-
firmed by a variety of experiences. How frtHjuently do
we hear people talking of w|iat they call premonitions,
OS' presentments ? And how often are these present-
ments confirmed by testimony ? All of which proves
the truth of Clairvoyance— that imp!; ssions arc made
upon the Mind, independent of the external senses.
Hence imder this head we shall consider what is known
as Mind Reading, Clairvoyant Fortune Telling, Diag-
nosing Diseases, and sonw of the phenomena of Faith
Cure and Christian Science.

MINI) KHADINC.

In opening under the head of Miixl Keading, 1 might
remark that tliere is a great deal that passes ff)r Mind
Reading, which is not Mind Reading at all. Such as
persons hiding something, and another i being bliit^j-
folded,) taking their h md and leading them to the spot
where the thing is hidden an<l fin iing a. Or om
person touching; a (7<rlHiri key of the Piano, iind theon<
that is blindfolded l.iking hold of the hand of tin-
person who touched it, and placing their linger upon the
same key, without knowing over what )»iiit ol the I'unu

i •!

Prof. Seymour*!; Psychology

they are passing tht ir fiiif^ers. All this and similar
phenomena may be accounted for upon the basis of
Physical or Muscular Impression. As for instance — a
person havinj^ a keen sense of touch, will detect the
slightest pressure upon the hand, as well as upon any
other part of the body. Then, taking into consider-
ation the fact that the body, more or less, moves in-
voluntarily to the conditions of the Mind; when moving
in the right direction, the person who haw hid the
article, or who is testing tht; so-called Mind Reader,
involuntarily manifests a willingness to move in the
right direction. Ihit when there is a motion in the
wrong direction ; then, by the sanu' law of response,
between Mind and Matter, there is an involuntary un-
willingness to ino\e, Nvhich, although so feebly mani-
fested, that in ordinar\' persons it would not be noticed
at all ; yet it is sufficiently strong, to be noticed, by the
sensitive feelings of those, who have cultivated this
sense, for that purpose. Now what I call Mind Read-
ing, is where there is an impression made upon the
consciousness of the second individual, where there is
no Physical contact. One of the best Mind Readers
that I have ever known was Prof. J-Jrown. who was in
Wilmington. Del., in tln> winter of 1X76. His method
of Mind Reading was as follows: hx\y person in an

and Mesmerism Explained.

■ii

audience might tell the person sitting next to them
something, and then keep their minds upon that spoken
of, (without ever speaking aloud, so that no one but
the two persons in communication could hear), and
then Prof, lirown would tell them what it was whicii
the first person had said to the second, and the second
person should bt- tht; witness, as to the truth of the
phenomenon. Antl when the conditions, of keeping the
word spoken m the mind, were complied with, 1 never
knew the Professor to fail in giving the correct answer
>o the mental question put forth. Auother gentleman,
whom I consider a good Mind Header, is Mr. E. W.

Eft-verson, of New Hampshire (a Spiritualist). I re-
member, at one time, being at a Spiritualist Camp
Meetin>?. *rt a place called Nesluaneny I'^alls, about 20
miles fri^ii Philadelphia. This man would stand on
the placform. , .»ok around upon the audience, and would
give exprcssi'^n to some of the most hidden secrets in
the exjKirienct's of many of those, whom he had never
ilen before ; and those who had never heard of him.
I remember one instance, of his descrd)ing the home of
a lady, wko was an entire stranger to him, and even
went so lar as to describe what she had placed away in
her hurea><i) drawer, for safe keeping, before leaving
home.

Prof. Seymour's Psychology

ii»i

Question. — Why do you call this Phenomenon Mind
Reading ?

Answer. — Because I consider it to be the Mind of
one person discerning the thoughts of the other. For
instance, persons going to a Clairvoyant, (or a Mind
Reader), usually have something in their minds which
they regard as a test; hence they keep their minds
upon that, which they have resolved to make a test,
until their nunds become inactive to almost everything
else ; and when they come in sympathy with the mind
of the Clairvoyant, they at once throw the conditions
of their mind upon the sensitive ; and the Clairvoyant
or Mind Header, gives expression to what he or she
ma\ discern, as the outgrowth of the positive con-
ditions of the mini! of the person who has made it a
test. Hence, in the case of the woman spoken of, when
Mr. Emerson came in sympathy with her, I have no
doubt hut that her mind at once returned to her home ;
and in response Mr. E. went with her ; when he at
once made the remark : " I am going into your home/'
And as the mind of the woman would naturally think
of the home, as slu; had left it, so would Mr. E. descnlx;
it, as she saw it, and impressed it upon his conscious-
ness. And when she thought of what she had hidden
in the Bureau Drawer, the mind of Mr. E. would as

and Mesmerism Explained.

.■ II

naturally turn to the Bureau Drawer ; and c^ scribe
what she had hidden. Now I contend, that perhaps
nine-tenths of what is believed as Spiritual tests, and
said to come from the Spirits in Spiritualist Circles,
are simply tiiis reflection of mind ; where the thoughts
of one person are impressed upon the mind of anotlier,
and given back as a test of the Spirits.

Question. — If yon account for the phenomenon of Mind
Reading upon the Ijasis of the positive and negative forces
of our own winds ; would yon not deny the truth (f Spiri-
tualism altogether ?

Answkr. — If I am rightly informed, there are over
40 millions of believers in the ranks of Spiritualism.
And when we take into consideration that among them
are some of the most intellectual people in every com-
munity in which tluy reside ; people whose testimony
is considered valuable on almost every other subject ; it
is unreasonable to believe that they are entirel} deluded
upon this subject. There must be some truth upon
which their philosophy is built ; and from an experience
of ten years investigation of the of the j»lienomenon, in all
its various phases ; I am ready to declare that, notwith-
standing, I have found in this, as in every other phenome-
non, there is a great deal of deception practiced, and

Prof. Seymour's Psychology

■iii

imposed upon the credulity of those who are over zeal-
ous for the evidences in favor of their belief; yet the
phenomenon of Spiritualism, I am satisfied, is a fact,
which no one can truthfully gainsay. And while I may
differ from the great body of Spiritualists as to the cause
of much of their phenomenon, yet in fairness, I am wil-
ling to admit the phenomenon itself to be a truth. And
furthermore, when we take into consideration that like
the great law of (Chemistry, which holds the various
kingdoms of matter into one family relationship; the
law of minil, (or Psychology), lioKls the intellectual
world nilo one great family ; we must believe that wher-
ever mind exists, it holds a relationship to every other
mind that has an existence in God's great Universe.
Hence if we l>elie\e man to be immortal ; we nuist believe
that hisi\ientality lives, and from this relationship of Mind
with Mind, (through what we term the law of Psycho-
logy), all the manifestations that appear through the
positive and negative forces of Mind, independent of the
external senses, under similar conditions would seem
possible to trans|>ire, afteir the change that death
had wrought upon oui bodies, had taken place.
Hence, taking this view of the subject of Spiritualism,
we are not justihed in denying the possibility of Spirit
communion, from a Psychological stantl-point. And

i 1», •

and Mesmerism Explained.

:iij

again, if we deny this relationship of Mind under the
Psychological law ; we at once shut ourselves oflf by
the same argument from the unseen world entirely ; and
in so doing, not only from the possibility of communion
with our departed friends, l)ut also from the ministra-
tions of Angels and God. For I hold we have no other
method of communion with God, save through the active
and passive conditions of Mind. And all our Inspira-
tions and answers to payers, must come to us through
this method, oi what we U'rin Mental-Tt'legraphy or
Mental Impressions, independent of what we call the ex-
ternal senses. ^

Question. Admitthi^ the position that every Brain
is a Battery y ami that the Atiiioipherc is the Coiidue-tor 0/
Mental Impressions ,• itnd that, throni^h the Positive and
Negative eottdttions of Mind, we enn eonnnunieate, one
with anotktt ; would you then have us to understand that
all people are suhjeet to the impressions of the Minds of
others? And if so, the)i, thai every person is a Clair-
voyant ?

Answer. — I believe that every person is more or less
susceptible to the impressions of the minds of others ;
biit I do not believe that every persons is what we call
a Clairvoyant, or a Mind Keadu, in the; sense in which

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Prof. Seymour^ s Psychology

Clairvoyance and Mind Heading is generally under.
stood. Although I believe this power oi Discernment
may be cultivated ; and that it is no special gift, but
rather a natural result ; the outgrowth of the develop-
ment of the lirain, and the conditions of the Mind.
Per»ions who are, what we term, particularly gifted in
this particular, ISO far as my experience goes,) are al-
ways well developed in the Region of Spirituality, Sub-
limity, Hoj)e and Ideality; also those who have large
Concentration, so tliat they can render their minds pas-
sive. Hence they are wide at the upper portion of the
side of the head, as well as Tull at the centre of the back
head.

Question. — Docs Clnifvoyaiicc and Mind Readitifr^ al-
uutys mum the same ?

Answer. — No ! I considL-r all phases of Mind Head-
ing to l)e Clairvoyance ; yet i contentl that Clairvoy-
ance covers a wider field than that of Mind Reading.
For as vou will remember, I have described Mind
Keadmg to !)e the Mind of one person reflecting the
thoughts of another. Hut, in my investigations, I have
witnessed phenomenon, which could not be attributed to
Mind Reading whatever. Where the Clairvoyant has
described certain events in the history of persons, which

and Mesmerism Explained.

had long been forgotten ; and have connected events
with resuhs, of which the persons themselves had no
knowledge. I will dwell more fully upon this phenom-
enon under the head of what I call Independent Clair-
voyance.

Question. — Do you believe in the truth of -luhat is
termed Clairvoyant Fortune Telling ?

Answer. — There is some truth in the phenomenon ;
but I r^ard the prophecies of the future, as given by
those who advertise to tell fortunes, (by which to make
a living), as a very unsafe guide through life. 1 will
give you my reason for so saying : If we are to receive
information through the medium of Clairvoyance, it
must come to us from the positive condition of another
intelligence, who sees that which we desire to know, or
otherwise is enabled to trace from that which is seen,
the probable results that shall follow, in consecpience
of that which now is. This position being true, if the
person who purports to be a Clairvoyant, be genuine,
the information which is desired, cannot he in the mind
of the Clairvoyant before going into the passive state,
(or what may be termeil the Trance condition ;) other-
wise, there would be no necessity for the sensitive going
into that state at all ; from the fact that the infor-

Prof. Seymour* s Psychology

mation could be given without. The feigned necessity
of a trance, would itself lie a deception. Next, if the
information, which conifs tlirough the Clairvoyant,
must \n: received from the positive condition of another
mind, coming in sympathy with the negative condition
of the mind of the Clairvoyant ; is it not rational to
suppose that the positive condition of the mind, of the
person who has come for information, will bear the first
relation to the sensitive ; and if so, that not only what
the first person knows of their past, may be impressed
ui>on the mind of the Clairvoyant ; but even the desires
for the future, may also In,* impressed upon the Sensi-
tive ; who in resp<^nse gives expression to what is past,
and prophesies the future according to the desires
which have been impressed upon them. And yet thou-
sands of dollars are spent annually, even by business
men of high standing in society, (as well as by those, who
are often termed the credulous masses), for such un-
certain information.

Question'. — What is your opitiiun of those Claivoyant
Doctors who claim to Ditigiiost; Diseases ?

Answer. — I regard a part of this phenomenon as that
of Mind Reading. For instance, a person coming to a
Clairvoyant Doctor, although he or she may not be able.

? »-. -■ ~

f I- ^

and Mesmerism Explained.

to describe their feelings in lanj^uage, yet at the same
time they know very sensibly how they feel ; and when
the Doctor becomes in a passive state, the positive con-
dition of the Mind of the patient, with all its sense of
feeling, is at once thrown upon the sensative Mind of the
Clairvoyant ; who gives expression to the feelings of the
patient, under these conditions, much more accurately,
than either patient or Doctor could describe in their
normal state. And if the Clairvoyant is skilled in the
practice of medicine, and knows its adaptation to disease,
under these conditions, he is not only enabled to see, or
determine, the nature of the disease more accurately than
he could otherwise do; but it is reasonable to suppose
him to be more proficient in prescribing for the disease
as well. Hence I have no hesitation in saying I have
great faith in a genuine Clairvoyant Doctor, so far as
there is any virtue in medicine.

Question. — Hut are there not some who elalm to be
Clairooyrnl Doctors who have nokmnvled^r of Medicine ?
And do they, not only describe disetiscs, but also prescribe
Medicines, which often proves effectual in curing; of
which the Clairvoyant has no knowledge.

Answer. — This is true, but as this too, comes under
the head of what we term Independent Clairvoyance, I
will answer under that head.

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Prof. Seymour^s Psychology

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Question. — Under the head of Clairvoyance you said

you would speak of Faith Cure and Christian Science ;

Would you kindly give us your opinion of these phenomena ?

Answer. — I may say that I have some confidence in
both of these phenomena ; but I do not believe they do
the good which might be done, did they but strip it of
its mysteries ; and placing it upon the basis of Mental
Science, teach people that the power to heal lies as
much within us as around us. For I contend that the
power that cures the body in these phenomena is the
condition of the Mind. Faith brings with it a positive
condition of Mind ; and that positive condition of the
Mind controls the body ; hence the cure is affected.
But I would not have you understand that I ignore all
outside help, and disbelieve in the efficacy of Faith
and Prayer. For I believf in both these conditions, as
being essential to the developmsnt of the Mind, and I
believe further ; that in answer to these conditions,
among the Christian Scientists, and those who believe
in Faith Cure, much good is done. As we said on
Animal Magnetism, many of the so called Miracles ot
Jesus, were done in answer to these conditions. And
if the power to heal, (in the time of Christ), lay in the
conditions of Faith or Confidence, then in accordance
with the immurability of the laws of Mind and Matter,

til

and Mesmerism Explained.

that power remains the same. And as prayer brings
with it, the conditions of Faith, or expectancy ; (and
without It there can be no real prayer,) it also must
have a meritorious effect upon the condition of the
Mind, to which the body involuntarily responds. And
when we consider, that the positive condition of one
mind, can influence the negative condition of another,
independent of the external senses ; and that the at-
mosphere IS the conductor of mental impressions, and
that what we term Matter, involuntary responds to the
conditions of Mind ; we learn, that not only does the
diseased body of an individual respond to the conditions
of Faith, or Confidence, of their own Mind, from the
power which lies within itself but as every Brain is a
Battery, the combined Faith or Confidence of others,
may build a stronger Battery, than that which lies
within, the possibilities of the patient's Mind ; and
being concentrated upon the patient, it inspires confi-
dence in that power, where the Minds of those who be-
lieve are directed ; and in response to their confidence,
the body moves, and the prayer is answered. For the
law of response, between Body and Mind holds good,
whether done in the name of God or Man, providing
tiie conditions are the same. For I hold the laws of
Nature are the laws of God, and similar conditions
n/^st produce similar results.

mmmi^mmmmm

■. 1

Prof. Sey mourns Psychology

Question. — Can you give us any points of difference

between what is called Faith Cure, and what is called
Christian Science ?

\nswer. — One of the strongest points of difference
between those who call themselves Christian Scientists
and the believers in Faith Cure, is this : — The Chris-
tian Scientists deny the personality of God, and declare
Him to be a Principle. They also deny the reality of
Matter, and contend that the Mind is the Real. That
the diseases of the body are only imaginary, etc. While
those who are believers in Faith Cure, believe in the
personality of God, and that, as a person, He has an
independent power to heal ; that the diseases of the
body are also a reality, and that, by asking, believingly —
God will of His own power and self-hood, answer their
prayers ; and by a special Providence, heal the afflicted.
Thus, while both claim to be the followers of Christ,
and to practice what He taught, there is seemingly a
wide diflference in the doctrmes which they preach.

Question. — If the Ciristian Scientists believe God to
be a principle and not a person, then must they not deny
the Divinity of Jesus Christ ?

Answer. — They teach that the God principle is good-
ness, and that in the life of Jesus Christ this principle

and Mesmerism Explained.

was manifested more fully than in any other personage.
Hence they recognize the Divinity of Jesus to consist in
the purity of His motive, and the righteousness of his
conduct ; demonstrating the highest expression of good-
ness. And that, in proportion, as we follow the example
which Jesus has laid down in the Gospel^ ; so shall we
come into the fullness of this Divine Power or (Good-
ness), which was demonstrated ir; the life of Christ, the
principles of which they call Christian Science ; because
Jesus Christ was the first great teacher.

Question. — // Clairvoyance consists in the relation of
the positive and negative forces of the mind and the At-
mosphere be the conductor of Mental Impressions, then can
we by these positioe and negative forces of Mind Tele-
graphy to one another as far as the Atmosphere extend ?
Or does distance have any effect vpon the influence of
Mind ?

Answer. — So far as I can understand, the Mmd is not
limited in its influence, or flight by what is known as
distance. Distance is a geographical measurement ;
but so far as I can understand, the Mind and Thought has
no geography that can be measured by physical laws ;
consequently, if there be any obstruction to the power
of Mind through the distance of space, from the relation

Prof. Seymour'' s Psychology

of the Spiritual to the Material ; the interference would
be so small that we could not perceive it with our phy-
sical senses. Hence, so far as the demonstrations of
Mind are concerned, to our physical senses there is no
limit to the power, or influence of Mind, because of the
distance whicla exists between the positive and negative
Minds that may come in sympathy with each other.

Question. — Do you believe the time will ever come when
Clairvoyance %vill coine into more practical use than it is

now ? . .

Answer. — I believe the time is coming when the
practice of Clairvoyance will become as universal as the
art of writing is to-day. And instead of having to use
the physical Telegraph or the Telephone, Shorthand-
writers and Type-writers, to report and communicate
business transactions, etc. — the Mental Telegraph will
be used. Tiiis may seem as an extravagant idea at pre-
sent ; but we are gradually growing into these condi-
tions. When we take into consideration the vast im-
portance that is attached to the psychic impressions which
fascinate themselves upon our consciousness, in all the
relations of life ; we learn how rapidly, though silently,
this phenomenon is growing in strength any power, and
assuming a leading position as a means of communi-

and Mesmerism Explained.

eating thonght. How little importance are attached to
the words that are spoken to-day, compared with the
impression that is made upon our minds, by some un-
conscious power ? A stranger meets us, " and in mourn-
ful tones, a tale of woe unfold ;" His words fall upon our
ears, but behind these sorrowful tones, there is a secret
power, which says in language far more true than what
his words describe ; Beware ! for behind that haggard
face a villian or a traitor stands ; and though we may
stifle these impressions, and yield to the words spoken ;
we often find the truth of what we feel, rather than that
which is said. Now this, I take to be evidence, of the
truth of Clairvoyance. And when properly understood,
by the leaders of Society, will prove an important
factor, in establishing it as a means of communication,
and investigation of facts and incidents in life.

Question. — How do you account for these impressions ?

Answer.— I contend that our thoughts are more
positive than language; and, not only more positive,
but more truthful. And whi'e the Traitor, or the Vil -
lain, may try to deceive us with his words ; knowing his
deception himself, and the object he has in view, in
trying to deceive us; he projects that inward conscious-
ness of his own evil designs, and whilst in a passive;

Prof. Seymour's Psychology

state, listening to his tale of woe, we are impressed
with the true idea, back of all that is said ; as the con-
sequence of the positive and negative forces of Mind.

Question. — What benefit may we expect to derive
from a more universal development and practice of this
PhiHomcnon ?

AxswER. — If, as we have described, by the powers of
Clairvoyance, we can read the thoughts of one another,
and thereby derive the truth from impression ; as the
thoughts pass through the Mind, without the possibility
of being deceived by the words that are spoken ; then
shall we be enabled to prevent all the crimes, and
miseries, that now arise as the result of deception. For
not having to depend upon the external senses, for tlie
evidence,but entering into the secret working of the Minds,
of one another^ there will be no possibility of deception.
The ver\- thought, of deceit, as well as that of jr.;'ti(e,
will make its impression, upon the mind of another; and
thus there will be no necessity of so many witnesses, in
our Courts of Justice ; for persons whose Minds have
been cultured to receive the truth, will receive the
evidence. And not only might it be made valuable
thus; but suppose a Robber is about to enter the dwell-
ing or store of another; his mind devises his plans,

and Mesmerism Explained.

before they are put into execution. Now, suppose tlie
mind of the owner, or some person interested in the
welfare of the owner, should at this time be in a passive
state ; the positive intentions of the Mind of the burglar
would at once be impressed upon the sensitive mind of
the owner, or friend, and tiie crime may thus be pre-
vented. Evsn to-day this takes place sometimes. How
often have we heard and read, of premonitions and
warnings, which have put people on their guard, and
thus prevented crimes ? And in many instances, where
crimes have not been prevented, because the impression
has not been sufficiently heeded ; there has been an
anxious troubling or forboding, which, if properly under-
stood and heeded — would have prevented it. I remem-
ber hearing a gentleman (who keeps a Jewelry Store
in this city), say not long ago, that for two or three
days before his store was robbed ; he had forebodings
of what was going to take place, and became so troub-
led about the matter, that on the night of the robbery,
he said to his partner; that he felt there was something
going to happen ; and that night they took particular
pains to fasten up the store. And for nights before, he
was troubled in his dreams. He asked me how I
would account for such a warning ; I said, (after learn-
ing from him that the burglars first entered his home,

lOO

Prof. Seymour's Psychology

went into his bedroom, and took the keys out of his
pocket, with which they entered the store) ; that who-
ever the robbers might be, there is sufficient evidence
to prove that it was someone who had been watching
his, (the proprietors') movements, and even had been
planning how to enter the home and bedroom; and that
their minds were sufficiently active, to impress his
mind; and hence the forelxxiings ; which if properly
heeded, would have saved his loss. Many instances
of 9. similar nature, are happening every day, which
goes to prove the advantages of Clairvoyance, if more
universally practiced and cherished. I might give you
many more illustrations, upon this part of our subject,
but as time is fast hastening on, we will let what has
been said upon this part of Clairvoyance suffice for the
present, and enter into what we term Independent
Clairvoyance.

INDEPENDENT CLAIRVOYANCE,

^^Si»^

Ladies AND Gentlemen :

Upon this part of our subject, we shall find, rests the
strongest evidences of Spiritualism, Christianity, and
Religious sentiment of every kind. We said in tl.e
commencement, that what we call Independent Clair-
voyance, is an impression made upon our consciousness ;
when we could not recognize the connection between
the Minds of Operator and Subject ; or in other words,
when we know not where, or who the operator was. And
yet in many instances, we may account for this phe-
nomenon, upon the basis of what we have termed
Clairvoyance proper, or the reflex of Minds in direct
communication with each other. Let me give you an
illustration in my own experience ; When I left Eng-
land I was quite young, and my father, whom I left
behind, felt the separation very keenly; so much so
that he did not follow his business over three days after
I left. He seemed to gradually sink beneath a load of
grief; until I had reached this country, and had time to

? TT^'

1 02 Prof. Seymour^ s Psychology

write him a letter ; and when my letter reach'id Eng-
land, and was carried to my father, it seemed as though
He was waiting to hear from me before he should die.
the letter was read to him, and when finished, my
faiher remarked, " I am satisfied ! " and died at once.
At this time, as near as we could compare the difference
between the two countries, I was laying on my bed in
my boarding place, not feeling well on account of the
change of climate, water, etc., (but at the same time I
was conscious that I was not asleep), I saw my father
as plain as I had ever seen him in my life ; and I heard
him say as distinctly, as I had ever heard him speak; " I
am satisfied," and I saw him sink back into his bed and
die, Now at this time I did not know that my father
was sick. I arose from my bed, and, going down
stairs, I remarked to a young man who came to this
country with me, what I had seen and heard. The
young man of course supposed I had been dreaming —
which I could not dispute, although I was satisfied I
was awake. The young man remarked, " Your father was
well when we came away, and why should he be dead."
1 remarked that his saying was true, and J could
see no reason why he should be dead, or even sick.
I tried to dismiss the subject from my mind, and think
no more of it. But in about three days afterward, I was

and Mesmerism Explained.

103

again lying in the same condition, when again I had a
vision of my father's funeral. I saw the procession as
it moved alone; distinctly saw the Minister who offici-
ated on the occasion ; saw where my father was buried,
even to the spot of ground, and many other particulars :
and what made the matter more interesting tome after-
wards, was the fact that my father was buried in
a new Cemetery, in another parish, from that in which
he died ; and although in the same parish with my
mother, in a different grave yard. The whole of which
was contrary to what I could have expected. I aga'M
made known my vision to my friend, and altiiough it
seemed strange to '' noth, we still thouglu it must be a
delusion. However, I made a note of what 1 '^aw in my
vision, and in a week or t\/o afterwards I received a
letter stating that my father was dead, and that he died
at the time I saw him die in my vision ; and that his
last words were, " I am satisfied." in answer to my
letter. Also that he was buried where I saw him buried,
and the whole circumstance as I had seen it in my
vision. When I have told this story to the Spiritualists
and have asktd for a solution to this seemingly strange
phenomenon ; they have invariably told me that it was
the spirits who brought me the information. But while
J regard this as what may be termed a case of Indepen-

I04

Prof. Seymour^ s Psychology

dent Clairvoyance, such as might coLTie from the Spirits,
(provided that Spirits do commi^imkate, and are inter-
ested in telling us all things that wottid be of interest to
us) ; yet I have no idea that this Turas an^.-thing more than
the positive and negative condiisoas of mind in sym-
pathy with one another ; independemlt of any Spirit com-
munion from disembodied Spkiits. Let me explain ;
when in this passive state, (which had been brought on
by m} sickness spoken of, throtaglB ai change of climate,
water, etc.) I was in a fit conditeQwi lo receive any im-
pression from a positive mind liaat ssug^lit be directed to-
ward me ; and when my letter reacSaed my father, stat-
ing where 1 was, it brougln his miuad in direct sym-
pathy with me ; iience the posilav'e : : iii I'tion of his mind
directed toward me at the time of tots death, would at
once impress upon me, (through iliDe atmosphere) not
only the words he spake, but also his dying condition,
until I saw and heard as before <ks£ribed ; after that
when I saw the second vision, I ooantteiid that it was the
positive condition of the Minds ' -'tine rest of the family,
who impressed me with the scene «>lf the funeral ; for,
as they concluded that my lea-iTmg had caused my
father's death, they would naturally ht thinking of me
at the time of the funeral, and woirwSesiiag what I should
say, or think, when I learned that any Beaving, had broken

and Mesmerism Explained.

105

my father's heart ; for such is the language which they
used when writing to me concerning it. Now to me,
upon the ground that the Atmosphere is the conductor
of Mental Impressions, and that, so far as the Atmos-
phere extends, so far can we Telegraph, < Mentally), one to
another. The solution I have given 3'ou of the premoni-
tion which I experienced at that time, is to me the best
and most rational theory I can offer. For while I do
not deny the possibility of Spirit Communion, I must
say, that so long as I have, what may be termed a Natural
solution ; based upon the positive and negative forcer.
of mind, in the present sphere, I have no disposi-
tion to call in the aid of what is often termed the Super-
natural. Although if Spiritualism be true, the commun-
ion of Spirits must be based upon natural law.

Question.— You told us, that under tht luad of Inde-
pendent Clairvoyance, you would speak more fully of your
experience of Phenomena, which could not be aicotinted
for ou the basis of Mind Reauing ; would rou kindly
give us some of those experiences}

Answer. — In addition to what is known as Mind
Reading, (direct and indirect), there is, in Psychology,
what is known as

io6

Prof. Seymour's Psychology

r.i.-i

'h'

PSYCHOMETRIC READINGS.

That is where the Clairvoyant claims to sense the
Magnetism of another person, by taking something in
their hands, or placing it upon their foreheads, which
the person, who is to be described, (or whose history is
to be given), have worn or handled, just before. Such
' as the reading of Gloves, Walking Canes, or different
other articles, which have been handled or worn by

others.

■i ♦ '

Question. — Have you any experience which would
lead you to believe that this can he done ? And if so, upon
what grotmd would you explain its philosophy ?

Answer. — I have had several experiences, which
would lead me to believe in the truth of this phenome-
non. At one time while in Chicago, after I had de-
livered a discourse, on the subject of Psychology, a
lady b} the name of Mrs. Wilson Porter, who lived at
Peoria, 111., taking hold of my cane, (which had been
placed upon the Piano, with several other Canes, Hats,
and Umbrellas), without knowing whose it was; and had
never seen me before ; commenced to read my history, and
spoke of some of the leading events in my life ; at the
same time telling the dates, on which the events oc-
curred ; also my age at the time these events happened,

ii il

and Mesmerism Explained.

107

as well as my age at the time of reading. She then
took up the Cane of another man, and read his history,
as accurately as she had done mine, and spoke of what
was likely to happen, when he would reach the age of
42 years. And on appealing to the man for testimony,
the man said, " A part of it was true, but he could not
vouch for the truth of all that had been said." When
the lady replied ; '* I am aware that you cannot vouch
for all that has been said, because you have not reach-
ed the age of 42 years ; but in one week, from next
Tuesday, you will be 42 years old, and on that day you
will be able to testify." The gentleman arose, and
stated that on that day, he would reach the age of 42
years ; and that, although he had never seen the lady
before, and, (being a travelling man), was a stranger to
everyone present ; still what she had told him, was
true. I might give you many more instances, of simi-
lar experiences ; but what I have said, is sufficient to
give you an idea, of what is meant by Psychometry. I
will now attempt to give you its philosophy. It is
claimed by those Psychometrists, that we impart a
certain amount of Magnetism to everj'thing we touch ;
and that by taking hold of that, which has been charged
by our Magnetism, they are enabled to sense the con-
ditions of the persons, whose Magnetism, they come in

1 08

Prof, Seymour^s Psychology

■il

; '5

■n

■i I

•ii

contact with. And, as every important event in our
lives, makes a lasting impression upon our individuality,
and consciousness ; the impressions made by these
events, are imparted to our Magnetism ; and as our
Magnetism, which we are constantly throwing oflF from
our bodies, carries with it the very nature of our being,
they claim, by sensing this Magnetism, they are enabled
to determine every important event, in the history of
the person, with whom they come in sympathy, through
this Magnetism.

Question. — Do you think this philosophy is true ?

Answer. — I am satisfied that we are constantly
throwing off a certain amount of Magnetism, and I
believe that the Magnetism which we are throwing off
differs as widely from e??.ch other, as our individuality.
As a proof of this, we have only to consider that the dog
is enabled to scent his master, and determine the course
which he has pursued ; although the dog never saw his
master go. And should the master have entered a
building, and be seated in the center of a thousand
other individuals, the dog will scent the magnetism of
the master ; and pushing his way; go direct to the
object of his search.

Take another illustration : From the relation which

and Mesmerism Explained.

log

we sustain to the physical world around us, we are
enabled to impart the magnetism of our bodies to a
piece of steel or a stone, and if so to every other form
of gross matter, with which we come in contact. This
can be proven on a cold day, by taking hold of a
bar of steel in our hands, or seating ourselves on a cold
stone ; when we soon feel that we have lost a certain
amount of heat from our system. That heat which we
have lost, has been imparted to the stone, or steel, and
has carried with it an effluvium, which is in nature, like
unto the body from whence it emenates. For I hold
the law'j of Nature are the same in every department.
And from what our experience has taught us in relation
to the composition of other bodies ; the heat which is
generated, carries with it an effluvium which is in
nature like unto the body that is being consumed, (or
reduced.) And as heat can only be generated by fric-
tion; and friction, necessarily involves consumption ; it
follows that the heat generated in the human body is
brought about by the same law ; and when imparted to
another body, or thrown off in the Atmosphere, carries
with it a certain amount of magnetism, or effluvium,
which is in nature, like unto the body from whence it
came. This position then being true, I see some
ground fo rational belief in the philosophy given in
favor of the truths of Psychometry.

f !

^it

Prof. Seymour'' s Psychology

Question. — Do you believe that Cluirvoyants can/ore'
tell the Future ?

Answer. — I do not believe there is any power, or
intelligence in existence, which can foretell that which
has no existence. I know there are persons, who claim
to foretell the future. And I have known very con-
scientious people, to say that they have had the Spirits,
to tell them through their Mediums, things which did
not take place for years afterwards. Yet I cannot be-
lieve, but that the event mnst have had an existence, in
Mentality, if not in the Physical, at the time the Clair-
voyant spoke what would seem a prophecy. To illus-
trate what I mean, and make it so that it may be
understood, we will suppose a case ; A man in Ger-
many, or some other part of the World, having a family
and is rather wealthy ; getting old, not having made
provisions for the distribution of his property, coming
home from his place of business one day, feels very
much indisposed, and remembering that age is growing
on him, he determines that he will make his Will, and
provide for the future of his family. He sits down and
goes over, in his mind, what he will give to John and
Martha, Thomas, and the rest of the family. Now
suppose, at this time, John is in Toronto ; and is at a
Spiritualist Seance, or in the presence of a Clairvoyant.

and Mesmerism Explained.

Ill

From the sympathy which exists between John and the
Father, as soon as the Clairvoyant gets in sympathy
with John, they would be in sympathy, intellectually,
with the Father ; hence the Clairvoyant would say,
" I see an old man," and begin to describe the Father ;
then go rn to describe him, as making a will : and
would be apt to say, " I hear him say, ' I will give so
much property to John, and so much property or money
to Martha, and so much to Thomas ;' " and thus go on,
to describe the Will, as the old man goes over his in-
tentions, in his own mind. Now you see. this Will
would hrve an existence, in Mentality. And, (accord-
ing to the latest conclusions in Mental Science ; from
the positive and negative forces of Mind, and the re-
lation of the Atmosphere ;) would travel out until it
had reached every person, connected in the Mental
transaction ; hence John with the rest. But John's
mind being more positive at the time, than the mind of
the Clairvoyant, the impression was made upon the
mind of the Clairvoyant. Now suppose, that on the
next morning, instead of going to draw up the Will, as
he had determined, the old gentleman feels better ; he
goes to his place of business, and neglects to make his
Will ; and perhaps does not feel the same indisposition,
^or a year afterwards : when he put into execution what

112

Prof. Seymour*s Psychology

;i:

he had determined, a year before. Now you see, the
\\ al had an existence in Mentality, one year before it
had a Physical existence. And, as it is the Mental
Impressions that the Clairvoyant more especially deals
with, it was an easy matter for this Will to be described,
one year before it was written. And thus it became a
prophecy, so far as its Physcical existence was con-
cerned. And in no other sense, can I believe the
Future to be foretold. I might give you other illus-
trations ; such as for instance, a person in England
determining to write you a letter; thu letter exists in
Mentality. Now suppose, at the time vhe person thinks
of writing, you are in sympathy with a Clairvoyant ;
you see, by the same law of Mind, the letter may be
impressed upon the mind of the Clairvoyant, in all its
details ; and consequently the Clairvoyant says ; " You
are going to receive a letter, which will bring you cer-
tain news." In a week or two afterwards, you receive
the letter, containing the information, which the Clair-
voyant had described ; hence again there is a seeming
prophecy ; and thus I might go on, through all the
different phenomena of Fortune Telling, and Business
Clairvoyants. But I think sufficient has been said upon
this point.

Question. — If you do not believe in the prophecy which

and Mesmerism Explained.

1^3

hos no existence ; then do you not dejiy the truth of Divine
Prophesy ? which foretold events which did not take place
for numbers of years, and some of which spoken of in the
Scriptures has not yet taken place ?

Answer. — Upon the ground that 1 have just given
you, I have no reason to doubt the truth of Divine In-
spiration ; nor of the Prophesies of the Scriptures. For
if we would believe in the infinitude of God and
His Divine Perfection; and that He is the Author and
Creator of the Universe ; we must believe that, like a
machinist who designs a machine, and sees it in opera-
tion mentally, before the machine is constructed ; c^nd is
enabled to convey intelligence to His fellowman as to how
long he expects it will be before he will have this part
completed, and how long before that ; so God, seeing
the end from the beginning, could by the influence of
His mind, impress upon the Clairvoyants or seers of old,
the truths of the future, and could fortel coming events,
ages before the physical, should take place. Hence
Clairvoyance being a truth, helps us in our Faith.

Question. — What relation does Independent Clairvoy-
ance hear to the philosophy of prayer ?

Answer. — The philosophy of prayer rests entirely
upon the truth of this philosophy. For it must be ac-

114

Prof. Seymour^ s Psychology

knowledged that when we pray we do not expect that
God is going to answer our prayers in articulate sounds ;
i)X that he is coming down to us in person to supply
our wants, by any physical manifestations. But when
we pray, if we would receive an answer, we must place
ourselves in a passive or an expecting condition.
Hence in so doing we comply with the conditions of
Clairvoyance. And as we cannot see God except by
an *'eye of faith," nor locate His Divine personage, all
we can do is in confidence project out our conscious
and anxious desires, and when the answer comes it
comes to us from tiuit invisible sourse and power to
which we give the name " God."

OUESTioN. — YoH stated under the head of Clairvoyance,
that there were cases, where persons, who had no know-
ledge of Medicine, etc., under the influence of Clairvoyance,
Diagnosed diseases, and prescribed for patients effectually.
Have you any solution to this phenomenon ?

Answer. — I might give you the answer, which the
Spiritualists give ; they believe that in the Spirit World
there are Doctors ; as there here, and that these Spirit
Doctors have a better knowledge of Medicine, and un-
derstand the nature of diseases better, than what they
call the Doctors, of the Mundane Sphere. And they,
also, believe that these Doctors come and control these

and Mesmerism Explained.

•5

Clairvoyants, and that it is the Spirit Doctors who poe-
scribe, and not the Clairvoyants themselves. The
Clairvoyant is but an instrunienl, througii which these
Doctors operate.

Question. — Do you believe this theory ? Or have you
any other explanation ?

Answer. — Upon the evidences given in favor of man's
Immorality, and the testimony given in the Bible, of
♦' Ministering Spirits, sent forth to minister to those wiio
shall be Heirs of Salvation ; " I see some ground for
the truth of such a position ; although it may be con-
trary to all my former education, and preconcieved
opinions. And being an investigator, rather than an
antagonist, of any and every subject ; I hold myself in
readiness to accept the truth, or to reject the errors, in
proportion as tiiey are made cl' ir to my understanding.
But in addition to the plausability of what may be given
as the Spiritualistic philosophy ; there seems to me to
be another theory upon which the truth of this phenome-
na may rest, and that is the fact that like attracts its
like. And if this be true of Mind as it is of Matter ;
then where there is a desire for information of this kind,
the desire becomes a prayer which reaches out into the
intellectual realms of thought, attracting ro itself all the
various atoms of thought that bear a relation to the

ii6

Prof. Seymour's Psychology

nature of such a prayer, (or desire |; like as in the dif-
ferent kingdoms of the Vegetable and Mineral, which
draws, by the law of Chemistry, the various atoms of
matter, and assimulate them, in order to build up the
various species of Mineral and Vegetable life. Then, in
response to the desire of the Clairvoyant, the answer
comes and fascinates itself upon their minds, and they
give forth what has been attracted to their conscious-
ness through favorable conditions. I know not which
of these solutions are true, or whether either, or both.
But I give you the results of my reasoning upon this
question, and still hold myself ready for anything
better or more rational that may present itself to my
consciousness. ,

And now let me say, that I believe this power of
Independent Clairvoyance, to be the developing power
of all our great men and women. For instance, here
is a man who starts out as a Preacher ; he is very
susceptible to Mental Impressions ; and, as a conse-
quence, he soon reflects the ideas of the leading minds
of his audience. And from the combined intelligence,
which is brought to bear upon him, he surpasses the
intelligence of any individual Mind, in his audience,
until his knowledge and power is 1 ilked about, in other
circles. Soon he is called to a la; er and more intelli-

and Mesnierism Explained.

iiy

gent Congregation ; and in a little while he outgrows,
(through mental impression), the intelligence of ihat
Congregation ; and on and on, until his fame as a
Preacher become so widely known, as to have a Nation-
al reputation. Now you see, that the combined intelli-
gence of a nation, is looking to him, as a leader and
authority in Theology. From a National reputation,
his fame spreads out, until the whole civilized world
looks up to him, as a Preacher, and are eagerly watch-
ing for what he may say, upon points of individual
interest. And thus, by the concentration of their
minds, they are impressing him with the most advanced
thoughts, and thus he becom js the leading mind, of the
age, from the fact that he is the centre, upon which
the Intellectual world rests. And what is true of a
Preacher, is also true of a Politician. And what is true
of a Preacher, and a Politician, is also true of a Scep-
tic. Hence by this power, of Independent Clairvoy-
ance, we develop a Beecher to represent the Philosophical
a Talmage or a Spurgeon to represent the Emotional,
in Theology ; and an Ingersoll or a Bradlaugh, to
represent the Sceptical element, among society. And
thus the world moves on, from age to age ; these great
centres of thought giving forth sentiments, as the result
of the combined intelligence, of the age in which they

ii8

Prof Seymour's Psychology

live; that shall not be grasped, by the great mass of
mankind, for hundreds of years afterwards.

Hoping that the lessons, which yoa hare received,
may be of benefit to you all, in the futore, and that you
may continue, to investigate the {maciples of Psycho-
ogy still closer, I leave the subject with yoa.

CONTENTS.

Mesmerism —

Animal Magnetism ... 12

Object of Passes, etc 14

Can all People be Mesmerized alike 14

Diflference in Individuals *". 15

Is Mesmerism a Special Gift 15

Incidents and Facts in Mesmerism 16

The Power of Fascination 20

Mesmerism Illustrated 26

Magnetic Healing —

Attraction and Repulsion 27

The Law of Magnetism 29

Confidence of the Mind 34

Influence of the Mind of the Operator uoon his o«ni Mag-
netism 30

Influence of the Minds of the Patients 36

Difference between Fascination and Impression 38

Amputations and Curing of Paralysis 42

Why use the tips of B'ingers in Magnetizing 45

Is Animal Magnetism applicable to all kinds of Diseases. . 45

Circulation of the Blood 47

Insanity 55

Different Modes of Operating 58

Brain Fever, or Inflammation of the Brain 58

Catarrh 59

Hemorrhages 59

Tumors, Swellings, etc. . . 60

Paralysis and Rheumatism 61

Tooth Ache, Neuralgia, etc 61

Sleeplessness 61

Jbe Useof Med|cJQ<;,„ - ^

CONTENTS— Concluded.

Animal Magnetism in Business 63

Revivals of Religion 66

How to take a Person out of a Trance 68

Difference in Passes 69

Method of Throwing off the Conditions of the Patients 70

How to overcome Praj udices 71

Why does the Pain of the Patient sometimes Return? 72

Can you Mesmerize the Lower Animals 72

The Psychologist (Poetry) 75

Clairvoyance; —

Mental Telegraphy 77

Mind Reading 81

Is Spiritualism True ? 85

Are all People Clairvoyance ? 87

Does Clairvoyance and Mind Reading mean the same ?.. . 88

Clairvoyant Fortune Telling 89

Clairvoyant Doctors 90

Faith Cure and Christian Science 92

Does Distance have any effect upon the infiueuce of Mind ? 95

Will Clairvoyance ever come into more Practical Use ? . . 96

Benefits to be derived by a Universal Practice of Clair-
voyance 98

Independent Clairvoyance —

Author's Personal Experience loi

Psychometric Readings 106

Is Psychometry True ? 108

Can Clairvoyants foretell the Future no

Divine Prophecy 113

Philosophy of Prayer 113

Spiritualism and Medicine 114

How Great Men and Women are Developed 116

^-^^^^t^^-*-

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Professor W. Seymour

Psychology AND Mesmerism
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