Notes of a case of painless surgical operation performed while the patient was under the influence of mesmeric agency / by J. W. T. Johnstone.

Johnstone, J. W. T.

Date:: 1847

Credit: Notes of a case of painless surgical operation performed while the patient was under the influence of mesmeric agency / by J. W. T. Johnstone. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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$the upper border of the trapezius muscle. A sensation of.'weight, and slight numbness of the right arm are the chief inconveniences complain- ed of. I recommended extirpation on first seeing it, twelve months ago, but the patient would not consent. Leeches, discutient ointments, &c. were had recourse to with no good effect. Seeing it thus increase, she at last made up her mind to have it removed. I recommended her to try the effect of Mesmerism prior to the. operation, to which she at first objected, as neither she nor her friends believed in its efficacy. She at length consented, and agreed that I should try it on the morning pre- vious to the operation. . \st Mesmeric Sitting, January 2nd. Commenced at half past 7 A. M. and continued for two hours. The room was darkened and precautions taken to prevent interruption by noise, &c. as was done at all the future sittings. The patient's pulse was 90— skin cool—respiration natural. She lay upon her back in bed, her arms by her side, and her head raised on a pillow. I seated myself on a high chair at the head of the bed, so placed that by slightly bending for- wards I could bring my face close to hers. I requested her to fix her eyes steadily on mine till she felt drowsy, when she was to shut them and compose herself to sleep ; at the same time I passed my right hand, with the fingers extended and slightly bent, gently and slowly over her face, from the chin upwards, in close contact with, but not actually touching the skin. I kept my left hand in constant contact with, her left shoulder, ^nd breathed gently and frequently over her forehead and eyes. About one hour from the commencement, her eyes were shut, and she appeared to be slumbering, as indicated by her tranquil breathing, and the complete state of repose exhibited by her whole body, excepting occa- sional nervous twitchings of the hands and eyelids. On leaving off the manipulations at the end of two hours, and walking round to her right side, she opened her eyes heavily, and was speedily aroused. She said that she had felt sleepy, but did not think she had been asleep. Pulse still 90. I recommended another trial (though she certainly did not ap- pear very susceptible of the mesmeric influence) to which she consented somewhat reluctantly. . 2nd Mesmeric Silting, January 3rd. Commenced at 4 o'clock P. M. and continued for one hour and a half. The patient stated that she suffered no inconvenience from yesterday's proceedings, except feeling a little drowsy for an hour or two. She slept well during the night. My friend Dr. Smith was present at this, and all the future sittings, and afforded me valuable assistance in the management$