....... It was called the powder
of sympathy. He pretended that he had acquired the knowledge
of it from a Carmelite friar, who had learned it in Persia
or Armenia, from an oriental philosopher of great renown.
King James, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Buckingham,
and many other noble personages, believed in its efficacy.
The following remarkable instance of his mode of cure was
read by Sir Kenelm to a society of learned men at Montpellier.
Mr. James Howell, the well-known author of the Dendrologia,
and of various letters, coming by chance as two of his best
friends were fighting a duel, rushed between them, and endeavoured
to part them. He seized the sword of one of the combatants
by the hilt, while, at the same time, he grasped the other
by the blade. Being transported with fury one against the
other, they struggled to rid themselves of the hindrance
caused by their friend; and in so doing, the one whose sword
was held by the blade by Mr. Howell, drew it away roughly,
and nearly cut his hand off, severing the nerves and muscles,
and penetrating to the bone. The other, almost at the same
instant, disengaged his sword, and aimed a blow at the head
of his antagonist, which Mr. Howell observing, raised his
wounded hand with the rapidity of thought, to prevent the
blow. The sword fell on the back of his already wounded hand,
and cut it severely. "It seemed," said Sir Kenelm Digby, "as
if some unlucky star raged over them, that they should have
both shed the blood of that dear friend, for whose life they
would have given their own, if they had been in their proper
mind at the time." Seeing Mr. Howell's face all besmeared
with blood from his wounded hand, they both threw down their
swords and embraced him, and bound up his hand with a garter,
to close the veins, which were cut, and bled profusely. They
then conveyed him home, and sent for a surgeon. King James,
who was much attached to Mr. Howell, afterwards sent his
own surgeon to attend him. We must continue the narrative
in the words of Sir Kenelm Digby:- "It was my chance," says
he, "to be lodged hard by him: and, four or five days after,
as I was making myself ready, he came to my house, and prayed
me to view his wounds; 'for I understand,' said he, 'that
you have extraordinary remedies on such occasions; and my
surgeons apprehend some fear, that it may grow to a gangrene,
and so the hand must be cut off.' In effect, his countenance
discovered that he was in much pain, which, he said, was
insupportable, in regard of the extreme inflammation. I told
him I would willingly serve him; but if, haply, he knew the
manner how I could cure him, without touching or seeing him,
it might be that he would not expose himself to my manner
of curing; because he would think it, peradventure, either
ineffectual or superstitious. He replied, 'The many wonderful
things which people have related unto me of your way of medicinement,
makes me nothing doubt at all of its efficacy; and all that
I have to say unto you is comprehended in the Spanish proverb,
Hagase el milagro y hagalo Mahoma Let the miracle be done,
though Mahomet do it.'
"I asked him then for anything that had the blood upon it: so he presently sent
for his garter, wherewith his hand was first bound; and, as I called for a basin
of water, as if I would wash my hands, I took a handful of powder of vitriol,
which I had in my study, and presently dissolved it. As soon as the bloody garter
was brought me, I put it in the basin, observing, in the interim, what Mr. Howell
did, who stood talking with a gentleman in a corner of my chamber, not regarding
at all what I was doing. He started suddenly, as if he had found some strange
alteration in himself. I asked him what he ailed? 'I know not what ails me; but
I find that I feel no more pain. Me thinks that a pleasing kind of freshness,
as it were a wet cold napkin, did spread over my hand, which hath taken away
the inflammation that tormented me before.' I replied, 'Since, then, you feel
already so much good of my medicament, I advise you to cast away all your plasters;
only keep the wound clean, and in a moderate temper, betwixt heat and cold.'
This was presently reported to the Duke of Buckingham, and a little after, to
the King, who were both very curious to know the circumstances of the business;
which was, that after dinner, I took the garter out of the water, and put it
to dry before a great fire. It was scarce dry before Mr. Howell's servant came
running, and saying that his master felt as much burning as ever he had done,
if not more; for the heat was such as if his hand were betwixt coals of fire.
I answered, that although that had happened at present, yet he should find ease
in a short time; for I knew the reason of this new accident, and would provide
accordingly; for his master should be free from that inflammation, it might be,
before he could possibly return to him: but, in case he found no ease, I wished
him to come presently back again; if not, he might forbear coming. Thereupon
he went; and, at the instant, I did put the garter again into the water; thereupon
he found his master without any pain at all. To be brief, there was no sense
of pain afterwards; but within five or six days, the wounds were cicatrised and
entirely healed."
Such is the marvellous story of Sir Kenelm Digby. Other practitioners
of that age were not behind him in absurdity. It was not always necessary
to use either the powder of sympathy, or the weapon-salve, to effect
a cure. It was sufficient to magnetise the sword with the hand (the first
faint dawn of the animal theory), to relieve any pain the same weapon
had caused. They pretended, that if they stroked the sword upwards with
their fingers, the wounded person would feel immediate relief; but if
they stroked it downwards, he would feel intolerable pain.
Another very singular notion of the power and capabilities of magnetism
was entertained at the same time. It was believed that a sympathetic
alphabet could be made on the flesh, by means of which persons could
correspond with each other, and communicate all their ideas with the
rapidity of volition, although thousands of miles apart. From the arms
of two persons a piece of flesh was cut, and mutually transplanted, while
still warm and bleeding. The piece so severed grew to the new arm on
which it was placed; but still retained so close a sympathy with its
native limb, that its old possessor was always sensible of any injury
done to it. Upon these transplanted pieces were tattooed the letters
of the alphabet; so that, when a communication was to be made, either
of the persons, though the wide Atlantic rolled between them, had only
to prick his arm with a magnetic needle, and straightway his friend received
intimation that the telegraph was at work. Whatever letter he pricked
on his own arm pained the same letter on the arm of his correspondent.
["Foreign Quarterly Review," vol. xii. p. 417.] Who knows but this system,
if it had received proper encouragement, might not have rendered the
Post-Office unnecessary, and even obviated much of the necessity for
railroads? Let modern magnetisers try and bring it to perfection. It
is not more preposterous than many of their present notions; and, if
carried into effect, with the improvement of some stenographical expedient
for diminishing the number of punctures, would be much more useful than
their plan of causing persons to read with their great toes, [Wirth's "Theorie
des Somnambulismes," p. 79.] or seeing, with their eyes shut, into other
people's bodies, and counting the number of arteries therein. ["Report
of the Academic Royale de Medicine," — case of Mademoiselle Celine Sauvage,
p. 186.]
Contemporary with Sir Kenelm Digby, was the no less famous Mr. Valentine
Greatraks who, without mentioning magnetism, or laying claim to any theory,
practised upon himself and others a deception much more akin to the animal
magnetism of the present day, than the mineral magnetism it was then
so much the fashion to study. He was the son of an Irish gentleman, of
good education and property, in the county of Cork. He fell, at an early
age, into a sort of melancholy derangement. After some time, he had an
impulse, or strange persuasion in his mind, which continued to present
itself, whether he were sleeping or waking, that God had given him the
power of curing the king's evil. He mentioned this persuasion to his
wife, who very candidly told him that he was a fool! He was not quite
sure of this, notwithstanding the high authority from which it came,
and determined to make trial of the power that was in him. A few days
afterwards, he went to one William Maher, of Saltersbridge, in the parish
of Lismore, who was grievously afflicted with the king's evil in his
eyes, cheek, and throat. Upon this man, who was of abundant faith, he
laid his hands, stroked him, and prayed fervently. He had the satisfaction
to see him heal considerably in the course of a few days; and, finally,
with the aid of other remedies, to be quite cured. This success encouraged
him in the belief that he had a divine mission. Day after day he had
further impulses from on high, that he was called upon to cure the ague
also. In the course of time he extended his powers to the curing of epilepsy,
ulcers, aches, and lameness. All the county of Cork was in a commotion
to see this extraordinary physician, who certainly operated some very
great benefit in cases where the disease was heightened by hypochondria
and depression of spirits. According to his own account, such great multitudes
resorted to him from divers places, that he had no time to follow his
own business, or enjoy the company of his family and friends. He was
obliged to set aside three days in the week, from six in the morning
till six at night, during which time only he laid hands upon all that
came. Still the crowds which thronged around him were so great, that
the neighbouring towns were not able to accommodate them. He thereupon
left his house in the country, and went to Youghal, where the resort
of sick people, not only from all parts of Ireland, but from England,
continued so great, that the magistrates were afraid they would infect
the place by their diseases. Several of these poor credulous people no
sooner saw him than they fell into fits, and he restored them by waving
his hand in their faces, and praying over them. Nay, he affirmed, that
the touch of his glove had driven pains away, and, on one occasion, cast
out from a woman several devils, or evil spirits, who tormented her day
and night.
Sophrology
Sophrology is derived from the Greek Goddess Sophresene. ‘Sos’ meaning
Tranquil or calm. ‘Phren’ meaning mind. And ‘Ology’ meaning science of
or study of. Thus ‘Sophrology’ meaning science or study of the Tranquil
and calm Mind.
Timeline History of Sophrology.
1493 -- 1541 Paracelsus.
1574 -- 1637 Dr. Fludd (A. Fluctibus)
1586 -- 1647 Fredrick Henry (Prince of Orange)
1603 -- 1665 Sir kenelm Digby.
1718 -- 1790 Dr. Benjamin Franklin.
1734 -- 1815 Franz Anton Mesmer.
1736 -- 1793 M. Bailly.
1743 -- 1794 Dr. Antoine -Laurent Lavoisier.
? -- ? Dr. Guillotin.
1766 -- ? Albrecht Von Haller (psychologist)
1773 -- ? Maximilion Hell.
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