EDITOR'S PREFACE.

...unexpectedly brought before me by my brother. Being thoroughly convinced of his honesty, as well as of his ability to detect fraud original: "imposture", I read his reports original: "communications", sent from time to time, with the greatest interest. I rejoiced to finally be informed that he was about to share his experience with the public, and that he relied on my help in seeing his work through the printing process and in making any necessary changes to the manuscript original: "MS.".

A determination to know the truth, and to give others the opportunity to investigate it for themselves, has led me to read my brother’s work with care and to take on the responsibility of preparing it for publication. In fairness to him, I must add that the only changes I have made in the manuscript original: "MS." have been merely verbal. Therefore, whatever credit is due to the work—either as a literary performance or as a scientific treatise original: "philosophical treatise" upon an imperfectly understood branch of science—none of it belongs to me.

While he will be pleased to learn that his "literary offspring" has changed so little by being transferred to my care, I fear that he will be disappointed on another point, and that some of his readers will share his regret. His manuscript original: "MS." was accompanied by nine beautifully drawn illustrations, also intended for publication. After consulting with friends interested in Mesmerism A 19th-century practice, a precursor to hypnosis, involving the supposed transfer of "animal magnetism" to heal patients, it has been decided that these drawings shall not be published. Instead, they will remain in the hands of Messrs. Longman and Co. A prominent British publishing firm founded in 1724 for the inspection of scientists and the curious. They are very striking; but, unfortunately, their very accuracy is the reason for their exclusion from the book. They would certainly shock sensitive original: "delicate" readers who are unaccustomed to witnessing the terrible effects original: "fearful ravages" of disease on the human body. Moreover, to publish them would significantly increase the price of the work—a result which would frustrate...