This work dealing with the science of Mesmerism Is writen by J. Coates, P.H.D., who says as follows—it is written in every-day language, and may limp a little here and there. For none of these faults do I offer anapology to my readers. I ask them to take-it as it is—as something more than a mere introduction to a most interesting and important subject.,

My personal relation to the greatest and most successful Mesmerists of the day—both in private and public life—Captain Hudson, 'Dr. Spencer T. Hall, Captain John James, Dr. William Hitchman; thefriends and contemporaries of Drs. Elliotson, Braid, and Gregory; Harriet J. Martineau, H. G. Atkinson, F. G. S, and others—has not been without a marked —shall I say "Mesmeric"—influence on myself, contributing in no mean degree to my acquaintance with the subject experience, and well known career as a public Mesmerist.

Dr. Roth, President of the British Homoeopathic-Society, admits the facts of Mesmerism, and contributes learned articles on the subject to the Society and its journal. He declares: we cannot any longer afford to sneer at the miracles performed at the institution, known by the name of Bethshan, since we have healers in our midst who dispense with both physic and faith. These healers are medical men." These are important contributions and admissions. They will have some influence with the public, who are always more or less influenced by the opinions of the Faculty.

Medical men have a weakness for experiment I should very much regret to see the sneer and abuses arising from the mal administration of Mesmerism and Hypnotism, which are now and have been besetting Continental hospital practice, extending to this country.

Experimenting with hysterical and diseased patients is at once to be deprecated in the strongest possible langhage. Experiments should not be indulged which are not essentially curative and normally elevating in character. This is not done, I am sorry to say. The gratification of Idle and pedantic curiosity, In the operations of these modern Hypnotists, appears to me. to be the predominating motive, the CURATIVE, being left to the accidental provings.

I look to the honour and common sense of the Faculty as a whole to put down any such attempts here. I rejoice to note the fact that much of the continental practice is. impossible here, owing to the staminaor difference in the constitutions and mental capacity of the people at home compared with those abroad.

The following extract from the Paris letter of The British Medical Journal, January 1, 1887, will be interesting to read in connection with the foregoing structures:—

Mr. Jules Volsin has made two highly interesting experiments, at Salpetriere Hospital, on hysterical patients on whom he studied the action of telepathic remedies (medicamentia distance), such as .metals and the magnet. He explained the phenomenon of various changes of personality presented by one of his patients, M. V. the same individual who was experimented on by MM. Bourru and Butot (See Congress of Grenoble, 1885, and Societe de Biolegic 1385). M. Voisin's experiments Were made with corked and sealed phials of an opaque colour. He was himself ignorant of the contents of these phials, and was careful not to utter a word in the patient's presence. He threw the subject into a lethargic, somnolent and cataleptic state, but obtained no result under these conditions. When M. Voisin made his experiments on any patient in a waking state, the latter immediately fell into a hypnotic state and exhibited symptoms of disturbance, nausea and vomiting. If the name of a drug, of which the effects are well known, or the effects of any medicament whatsoever were mentioned, during the state of hypnotism, the patient immediately manifested of physiological effects of these remedies. Suggestion and unconscious suggestion were thus manifested In another series of experiments, M. Jules Voisin observed during one of the three phases of somnolence (lethargy, somnambulism, catalepsy) the state of one of his subjects Y.; he was not affected by the magnet In the walking state no effect took place unless the magnet was seen by the- patient when it induced and attacked probably through suggestion Gold and mercury caused redness and blisters if V. was aware of their, presence; these results were obtained likewise during somnambulism. By suggestion, the effect of metals was destroyed or produced without their presence, and if the contract of metal took place withoutthe knowledge of V. when he was awake, no effect occurred. General sensibility, sensory and motor sensibility and the psychical state were effected by suggestion. M. Jules Voisin there-fore believes it possible that the phenomenon of change of personality, as described by MM. Bourru and Butot, represents the last phase of a hysterical attack,. a phase characterized by delirium with delusions, and. lasting several months. Similar changes of personality, lasting only a short time, were observed in Somnambulism. They were always preceded by a physical change resembling an attack, and they were apparently induced, by any mental suggestion which accidentally recalled the previous existence of V.— [The italics are mine]

The whole of these experiments are for the purpose of supporting. "The Theory of Suggestion—or Hypnotism as opposed to the Theory of Mesmerism or Animal Magnetism. In the following pages the difference between Animal Magnetism and Hypnotism, may be traced throughout every chapter Belonging to the old school of Mesmerists, I have a weakness for Animal Magnetism as the primary operating agent in all mesmeric phenomena. At the same time, I have always known and recognised the influence of other agents or secondary causes, such as weariness of flesh and spirit, suggestion and imagination, made so much of now-a-days by hypnotists.

These powers" then, which . medical men and others are beginning to realise can be exercised effectively, and with good and evil results, should as far as possible be kept out of the hands of inexperienced novices and unscrupulous operators. Whether this can be done, legally or otherwise, it is difficult to say. The best course for all who read this book, is to be careful,, "How to mesmerize" and by whom they are mesmerized."

To alleviate pain and suffering, to cure others of diseases and ailments without drugs or the surgeon's knife, is to engage in work evoking the keenest human sympathy. Here is one of the noblest callings to which human kind can devote its energies—a work of sympathy, love and devotion to our fellow mortals and that science is Mesmerism and Hypnotism; by its influence youcan cure diseases and: extend powerful influence over the mind of others without their knowledge.

This.-book is now left to tell its own tale and, with all its faults, it may repay careful perusal.