The Irish Penny Journal, Vol. 1 No. 03, July 18, 1840Various
History
The Irish Penny Journal, Vol. 1 No. 03, July 18, 1840
Various
Ireland -- Periodicals
The instrument is of the horse-shoe form, about ten inches in
its long axis, and five in its short, composed of five layers
of metal, the central being the longest, and the whole bound
with stout ribbon. The patient was at the time apparently
suffering considerable pain, _and unable to use his hand_. The
_north_ pole of the magnet was gently passed five or six times
down the sides and back of the middle finger, and then rested
on the central joint. The result was such an immediate
cessation of suffering, that he could gnash his fingers into
the palm of his hand with ease and comfort, and he declared
himself to be entirely relieved. The power of the instrument,
however, did not cease here. Dr Blundell showed that it
possessed the means of reproducing the pain in the most intense
form. The _south_ pole of the magnet was directed along the
finger. At the third pass the patient began to bite his lip and
close his eyes with an expression of pain. At a few passes
more his chin was spasmodically buried in his breast, and his
wrinkled features expressed the acutest suffering. This was
allowed to continue for a few seconds, when the _north_ pole
was again presented to the finger, and the agony speedily
subsided. The spectators then left the man lying with a
countenance perfectly tranquil.
At the extremity of the ward lay an elderly lady, a martyr to
_tic douleureux_ in the lower jaw, extending to the ear, and
affecting a large portion of the head. The disease, she stated,
was of more than nine years' duration, and had never ceased to
afflict her for a day during that period, up to her entrance
into the hospital. Her appearance was proportionably miserable.
The magnet had also been applied in her case, and with similar
advantage, as she stated. On the present occasion it was found,
on approaching her bed, that she was in consequence free from
pain on that morning, and the further aid of the magnet was not
needed. 'But cannot you show its power by producing the pain?'
inquired a bystander. The suggestion was acted on. The _south_
pole of the magnet was passed from the centre of the chin along
the lower jawbone up to the ear. At the third pass the poor
woman indicated that the _tic_ was commencing, and in a few
seconds more the affection was experienced intensely. The
process was then stopped, as the experiment had been carried
far enough to satisfy all present of its consummation; and
after a brief space the presentation of the _north_ pole wholly
freed the sufferer from pain. The operator subsequently stated,
that by continuing the passes he could have carried the pain on
to the production of delirium.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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