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1843.]
New Books of the Month.
109

Leclu'res 0n Magdalen-ism,- ‘its Nature, Ex

le-nl, Efecls, Guilt, Causes and Remedy. By Rev. RALPH WARDLAV, D.D. De livered and published by special request of forty ministers of the Gospel, and eleven hundred fellow-Christians. First American from second Glasgow edition. New York: J. S. Redfield, Clinton Hall. Boston: Saxton, Peirce 8:. Co. 1843. 16mo. pp. 172.

109

Psychology, 01' the Embodiment of Thought , wilh an .fl'nalysis of Phreno-Magnetixm, “ Neurology,” and Mental Hallucination, including Rules to govern and produce

the Magnetic State.

By ROBERT H.

COLLYER, M. D., Member of Massa chusetts Medical Society, 6w. Zieber &.Co. Philadelphia.

This pamphlet, in the form of a letter to Dr.Winslow Lewis, of Boston, has been We looked into a few of the pages of elicited by the articles that have appeared the earlier chapters of this most painfully in this Review in relation to “ Neurology,” interesting little work, till in very sickness &.c. Its author, well known as a lecturer of heart, at the portraiture there drawn of on Animal Magnetism, denies to either the nature, extent and effects of that hide Dr. Buchanan, or to the Rev. La Roy ous and awful national disease, we turned Sunder-land, the merit of having been the from them and sought some relief in that first to discover the separate excitability portion which purports to treat of its of the different phrenological organs of the “ remedy.” Alas, there is but little com brain. Dr. Collyer shows that he per fort to be found there, in the miserably formed similar experiments, on patients petty expedients of alleviation, which are in the mesmeric state, as early as May all it has to suggest! Of what avail your 15th, 1841, before large public audiences charitable projects and establishments, in Boston, the idea having been suggested your Female Refuges, and manifold Moral by Dr. Shattuck of that city. Mr. Sun Reform institutions, while the great root derland’s discovery of the same fact was of the evil remains untouched, in that false not till August 5th. Dr. Collyer states, organisation of society which is for ever however, that he has subsequently aban keeping down in the dust of degradation, doned that ground,being satisfied that the and the starvation of vainly toiling des effects are produced mesmerically by the titution, not only the great majority of the operation of the will of the person acting. whole human family, but, with a peculiar He therefore attacks Dr. Buchanan’s pe Weight of oppression, its weaker and ten culiar theory of “ Neurology,” as imagi derer half! What avail they all! To in nary and false. He states a number of dividual cases they may doubtless bring striking mesmerie effects produced by him incalculable good ; and for the sake of before large audiences; dwelling particu those individual cases they are well wor larly on that of the injection of the thought thy of all the time, labor and money that of one brain into that of another person benevolence can bestow upon them. But in a manner similar to some of the well as a “ remedy” for the great disease itself known performances of oriental magic. —as well undertake the task of emptying Those interested in these curious subjects the ocean through a goose-quill. How of inquiry will do well to look at his pam ever, we have no doubt that a remedy is phlet, which may be had at the office of yet to be brought about, in the develop the Sun, in New York, and of Bedding 8; ment of that Providence whose combined Co., Boston. prophecy and instrumentation are found in Christianity; but it will be incidentally attendant upon other social changes, much more than the immediate effect of any of Bankrupt Stories. Edited by HARRY those partial and petty palliatives about Fawco. Partslaml2. The Haunted which these worthy and pious men busy Merchant. New York: Published by themselves so zealously. God speed the John Allen, 139 Nassau street. 1843. day on l—and the publication of this work, This very clever tale, by one of our superficial as it is, as well as of sevaral others of the same general character, cleverest tale writers, which originally within a recent period, (of which that of appeared in the Knickerbocker, is now republished in numbers, as the commence~ Pnrent-Duchatelet is the most remarka ble), is one of the influences calculated to ment of a series designed to extend to advance it, by forcing thousands to that eight or ten other stories, under a general painful and reluctant necessity to which title which is certainly calculated to com so few yield, namely, to open their eyes mend them to a very numerous OlflSSuf and ears, and see and hear a little of all readers, at the same time that it will that surrounds every step of their own afl'ord a wide range for materials of the most exciting interest. One recommend daily life of comfort and content. ation they have, in addition to their own