Anonymous

“ The man who has “no heart” to relieve disease, or, having sympathy, has no will to do so, is either without the power to do good, or, doubting his power, is unable to use it.
Where there is sympathy for suffering, the desire to relieve or remove it, and the will to do so, the way soon opens up, and the suffering is removed. ”

“ The persistent man of business, the advocate of certain views—temperance, anti-slavery, or what not—the man with “a mission,” the doctor of medicine, preacher, and lover, all adopt this method more or less unconsciously, because naturally; the mesmerist, detecting the law, applies it consciously—that is all.
In natural sleep the heart beats slower, the pulses are calmer, there is less blood in the brain than in the waking state. ”

“ Let the patient sleep on for some time, and then quietly wake him up. Don’t do it suddenly. You might spoil for ever a good subject by so doing. Stand behind or before your sensitive, and make slowly and then briskly upward passes (palms of the hands up) in front of the face, and blow steadily on the forehead, when your patient will awake much surprised and benefitted by the sleep. With a little more experience you can arrange with your patient when he will awake of his own accord. When this is done, the sensitive will always awake at the time arranged. ”

“ In acknowledging the presence of a superior, and in the act of bowing, the eyes are “lifted up.” See a girl in happy thought pondering on the future, a patient suffering from extreme pain, the devotee at worship—be he idolater or Christian, or the wearied one waiting for transition to other and happier scenes on high—the same characteristic is observed. Thus in sleep, in fainting, or in approaching death, the phenomenon is observed in all. ”

“ Where your influence is not disagreeable, it is your duty to persevere and hope for the best. You cannot do harm, and you may do great good.
When there is nervousness and great debility, operate from the head—back head—downward, long passes at first, and then short passes locally. If the action of the heart is weak, or palpitation is characteristic, breathe in upon it at the termination of each treatment.
You will be surprised at the warmth and generous feeling transferred throughout your patient’s organism in consequence. ”

“ Success in certain directions indicates they are not far astray. The mesmerist standing above his patient, or sitting in a chair a little higher up than the patient unconsciously leads to the same automatic effect, but much more naturally. The hypnotist will cause the subject to strain his eyes at an object. The mesmerist desires his sensitive to be seated comfortably, to look at him (the mesmerist) , and if the sensitive or patient feel inclined [6] to close his eyes, to do so, or to sleep, to do so—the latter process being more in harmony with nature than the former. ”

“ Although delicate and sensitive females, from their sympathetic and patient natures, have been very successful in the treatment of disease—at considerable loss to themselves, however—no one should undertake to treat disease of a severe character unless they have abundance of health and vitality; and have also the determination, patience and sympathy requisite to make them good healers. ”

“ The weak, tender, and delicate, when the heart and head work together, can accomplish much, however. The tired mother, wearied with nursing, does not lose her charm to sooth. Gentle and tender, ever more thoughtful of others than herself, her diligent hands bring peace and blessing with them at all times. ”

“ There are relative conditions of superiority and inferiority in mesmerists and sensitives only. I have mesmerized men who were my superiors in every way—health, strength of body and mind—the only conditions of difference consisting of this important fact, that for the time being they approached the subject of Mesmerism with open minds—a desire to get at truth—and sat down with a non-resistant attitude of mind, perfectly willing to be mesmerized, and to record their own symptoms in connection therewith, if possible. ”

“ Now, when the eyes are withdrawn from the operations of the will, they are controlled involuntarily by the oblique muscles, and turned upward and inward. For instance, in intense joy, in devotion, pain, sorrow, exhaustion, or bodily weakness, the eyes are turned up. This arises from the fact that the straight muscles resign their action, and the oblique muscles operate in their stead, and the eye is rolled upward under the eyelid. ”

“ It may now be handled freely but gently. Held by the foot, head downward, its body is entirely limp, like a bird just shot. It may be tossed about without awaking so long as it is not dropped or hurt in any way. ”

“ You will also facilitate your purpose by pointing the tips of your fingers toward the eyes and temples, but throughout there must be neither vulgar staring nor thumb pressure. You will continue making these movements until the eyelids tremble, become heavy, or close. In some cases it is advisable to close the eyelids and fasten them by downward passes, and thus hasten the result desired. When I say hasten the result—viz., the mesmeric sleep of the person operated on—I do not mean the mesmerist to hasten; he should never be in a hurry. ”

“ In chronic and acute diseases, especially when there is a periodicity in attack, sleep is recommended to break that periodicity, and to lengthen the intervals between attacks. In all mental, psychological and highly nervous troubles sleep is advised. When this is necessary, mesmerize by the long pass from head to feet, the patient being in bed, or lying upon the sofa, will materially facilitate your operations. ”

“ Slight pressure with the hands on the temples is desirable, as it tends to check the inflow of blood to the head per the temporal arteries. You will now proceed to further charge the brain with your influence by passes directed to that end, always downward over the head and face,—forehead, tophead, sidehead, and backhead,—all coming under your direction, so far as such passes can be made with direct intent and with ease and comfort. ”

“ So that in these, medically and humanely speaking, utterly hopeless and intractable cases you are not to refuse aid, seeing there are few cases where the mesmeric influence will not soothe and relieve pain, quiet the nervous system, restore sleep and strength in a large measure and, what is not to be despised, impart a cheerful and hopeful spirit to the patient. ”

“ If you really want to mesmerize them the best plan is to throw them off their guard as to your intentions. But as soon as their opposition is cooled down a little, proceed gently and steadily to impress them with what Mesmerism has done and can do. ”

“ It is generally believed that only weak-minded, soft, and hysterical persons can be successfully mesmerized—that persons of robust health, will, and character cannot be so affected. There never was a greater mistake. Reichenbach for many years selected his sensitives from delicate and hysterical persons while pursuing investigations into odylic force. He, however, soon discovered his error, and found that healthy men and women made the best sensitives for his investigation. ”

“ And you will, if satisfied with the bona fides of your sensitive’s powers of diagnosis and general lucidity, faithfully carry them out.
The mesmeric treatment for the cure of disease may be purely local or general in character, exercised solely with the intention to alleviate and cure disease, without producing sleep, sleep not being necessary in the majority of cases. If necessary, you know how to bring it about.
Nothing is worth doing that is not worth doing well. If you want to cure disease set about it, and “whatever your hands find to do, do it with all your might,” i. ”

“ Ladies make excellent healers, just as they make the best nurses. The gift can be readily cultivated by them, and by practice put to good use. For many reasons woman would be the best magnetizer for woman, man for man, husband for wife, wife for husband, and father and mother for children, etc. ”