EDITOR’S PREFACE.

...has announced that several members of his profession original: "fraternity" have resolved not to extract the teeth of persons who are in a mesmeric sleep! Because of this alliance original: "combination" of doctors and dentists, we are threatened with the deliberate infliction of pain whenever we are unfortunate enough to fall into their hands. Our agonies are then supposed to be comforted by Dr. Copland’s pious assurance that pain is a wise punishment intended for our own good!

Others may do as they please, but as for myself, I will only say that, having twice suffered under the surgeon’s knife, all the doctors in Europe shall not persuade me to permit them to mangle my "pleasant flesh" again until a persistent attempt has been made to make me insensible to pain original: "reduce me to insensibility" by means of Mesmerism An early form of hypnosis used here as a precursor to chemical anesthesia. As the best way to persuade other sufferers to make a similar decision, I ask for their attention to the attached summary original: "resume" of my brother’s mesmeric practice, which he published in a Calcutta newspaper just before his departure to join the army in Punjab original: "Punjaub," a region in northern India and Pakistan.

It now only remains for me to publicly offer my warmest thanks to Dr. Gregory, Professor of Chemistry at the University of Edinburgh, and to Mr. Colquhoun, author of Isis Revealed original: "Isis Revelata"; a famous 1836 work on animal magnetism and many other well-known works, for the high praise they have given to my brother’s labors, and for many friendly and generous letters they have sent to me.

Minister's house original: "Manse" of Rescobie, Forfar A parish and town in Angus, Scotland,
June 13, 1846.

Postscript. June 19.—Today I have had new proof of the value of Mesmerism in relieving the sick. I was visiting Isabel A——, a young woman recovering from a fever. The fever had left her, but two nights before I saw her, an attack of inflammation in the breast had made it necessary to apply...