| Summary: | "The principal portion of this volume was originally published in a series of lectures, which were delivered by the Rev. J.B. Dods, during the winter of 1849-50, before the Senate of the United States of America, at the request of a large number of its distinguished members. These extracts from the work of Professor Grimes are introduced as having a more practical bearing upon the production of the phenomena exhibited by the Editor and others in Electrical-Psychology, than any thing contained in the work of Dods. It will also be perceived, that while the latter contends that electricity is the agent by which these wonderful phenomena are controlled, the former designates it "etherium." The name, however, is nothing. It is for the presence of a universal agent by which these results are produced, that the disciples of Van Helmont and Mesmer contend. This is, in fact, a favourite notion with many philosophers of the present day, and both our authors have made free use of it in explaining mental and physiological phenomena. There is perhaps no part of this work which will be read with more interest than that which relates to the philosophy of disease, as produced by mental and physical impressions, and the rationale of its cure by the same agents. That the candid perusal of this brief volume may have the effect of awakening an interest in the minds of many, that shall lead them to a careful investigation of this important subject, is the earnest wish of the Editor"--Preface. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved).
|
|---|