J)tiianp |orm in | atmn; 
AND 
THEIR RELATION TO THE HEALING ART. 
An Mrotetory Lectnrc to tie Course of 1874-75. 
BY GEO. W. RAINS, 
Professor Medical Chemistry and Practical Pharmacy in the Medical 
Department of the University of Georgia. 
AUGUSTA, GA. 
PKINTED BY' K. K. PUGHE, JACK80N AND ELLIS STKEETfe. 
1874. CORRESPONDENCE. 
Augusta, Ga., November 6,1874. 
Professor G. W. Rains : 
Dear Sir : 
The members of the present class of the Medical College of Georgia, 
being desirous of publishing your highly interesting and scientific Introduc- 
tory Lecture, have appointed us a Committee to request a copy of the same. 
Very respectfully,. 
W. E. PRESCOTT. 
P. H. EVE. 
R. P. SORRELL. 
Medical College, Augusta, November 9, 1874. 
Messrs. W. E. Prescott, P. H. Eve, R. P. Sorrell, Committee: 
Gentlemen r 
With pleasure I place a copy of my Lecture at your disposal. With due 
appreciation of the honor of the request, and with my sincere wishes for the 
welfare of the class, 
I am, respectfully yours, 
GEO W. RAINS. LECTURE. 
Gentlemen: It devolves upon me to make the annual address 
to your class, and in accomplishing this duty, it is a matter of con- 
sideration as to what shall be the subject. You have no time to 
listen to discourses that do not tend to give you additional knowl- 
edge in the profession you have adopted, or to suggest useful 
ideas relative to its practice. I will take advantage of the liberty 
which the occasion affords, to speak on a few subjects that 
cannot, as yet, be properly taught as science in the lecture room, 
and yet of great interest to the medical profession. 
The progress of science resembles the exploration of an un- 
known—and in the minds of many a hostile—country; advanced 
scouts are thrown out from the main body to penetrate its tangled 
recesses and boggy grounds, to bring back information of new 
discoveries and feasible routes. Such information rarely proves 
strictly accurate, but it supplies indispensable aid for the advance 
of the army of workers, which steadily moves forward with 
resistless force. It is of this border land of science that, as one 
of the scouts, I bring you some news of interest; not first 
discovered by the speaker, however, who has mainly followed in 
the trails of those who preceded, but who confirms their tales and 
corroborates their assertions. To many of you who have but 
just entered as recruits into the army of progress, the matters 
treated of wTill be new and startling, but to those who are 
veterans in the ranks of science, I shall give perchance but little 
news that they have not received from other sources. 
My subject may be entitled. “ Strange Forces in Nature, and 
their Relation to the Healing Art.” 
It is well known that there is in progress a marked change in 
the usually accepted ideas of the constitution of matter, as well 
as in the nature of force. Solid and liquid masses, and the gases 
which we can weigh and measure, no longer comptehend the 
whole of material existence as now conceived; but recognised 
matter exists so transeendantly attenuated, that to use the lan- 
guage of an eminent physicist, only the mind can come into con- 
tact with it; nevertheless, actual matter completely filling space, 
and governed by fundamental laws. The beautiful blue of the 
sky is proven to be due to matter which, if the whole that is seen 
completely filling the vast firmament, were gathered up into the 
condensed form of ordinary matter, might, it is supposed, be en- 
closed in the palm of one’s hand. 
The phenomena of the tails of comets, the extremities of 
which in some cases move with astonishing velocity as they 
sweep around the sun in perihelion, appear best explainable as 4 
being the result of an electric polarization of an etherealized 
matter filling space, producing a cosmical aurora. Even in the 
case of our atmosphere, which must extend not less than five 
hundred miles above the earth, as shown by the aurora, we find 
matter inappreciable to the skill of man. Yastly finer is that 
boundless ocean of matter called ether, which penetrates between 
all atoms, and fills the immensity of space with its eternal vibra- 
tions and undulations. It is assumed by many physicists, that 
the atoms of all matter are but the agglomerated and condensed 
points or particles of this primeval existence; its first appearance 
to optical vision being probably that faint luminosity enveloping 
the sun, giving its halo in total elipscs, and marking the first line 
of matter in the spectrescrpe Hydrogen follows next with its 
three bright lines, and so on, until we arrive at platinum, which 
is two hundred and fifty thousand times more condensed than 
hydrogen. 
Thus our conceptions of matter must be greatly expanded, 
before we can take in the facts of ihe surrounding universe, 
similarly, our conceptions of ihe forces which act on matter, must 
undergo material and essential changes. Mankind aie indisposed 
to change long accepted ideas, and it is with great reluctance, 
cherished opinions are enlarged or abandoned. Scientists espe- 
cially, as a class, cling with great tenacity to routine theories, and 
with strong opposition meet new views or accept new facts. 
Thus the statements of the pioneers are received with incred- 
ulity, if tending to change preconceived view-; and it is only 
after the vanguard of the main body in its advance, has actually 
occupied ihe disputed ground, that the tales of the scouts, with 
the required corrections, are received as fact and become accepted 
science. Hence are seen two classes of scientists; the statements 
set forth by the one being denied b}7 the other, and generally long 
years elapse, sometimes centuries, before startling new truths, 
although set forth by the ablest men, are received and accepted. 
One of the remarkable discoveries of modern times which 
met with great opposition, wa> promulgated at Vienna in 1776 by 
a German physician named Alesmer. lie published a thesis 
setting forth that there was a universall}7 diffused fluid which he 
called Animal Magnetism ; that it was a subtle agent of communi- 
cation between animate and inanimate nature. That it existed in 
man, and could by will be communicated, or passed into other 
persons, under favorable conditions; that, when so communicated 
to the sick it healed diseases, perfected the action of medicines, and 
brought on favorable crises. He assumed that this fluid issued 
from magnets, and at times used them in treating his patients. 
This claim to the discovery of a new force produced great 
excitement in Europe, particularly in Paris, where two commis- 
sions from the Royal Academy of Medicine, one in 1784 and the 
other in 1831, reported on the alleged phenomena. The former 
admitted many of the asserted facts, but attributed the successful 
results to the imagination. The latter, composed of eleven mem- 5 
bers, after consuming five years in their investigations, made a 
report entirely favorable to most of the asserted facts of animal 
magnetism, and in conclusion stated that as a therapeutic 
remedy, it ought to be allowed a place within the circle of the 
medical sciences The British Foreign Medico-Chirugieal Review 
in 1851, in an elaborate article on the subject, stated that animal 
magnetism presents to the medical practitioner a new means 
of investigating the functions of the brain and nervous system, 
and of elucidating their physiology, pathology and therapeutics; 
and, therefore, the phenomena and alleged phenomena are most 
deserving 1he notice of the profession. 
Many eminent physicians on the Continent and in Great 
Britain advocated the claims of mesmerism, as it was now called, 
as being a remedial agent possessing great power. Dr. Esdaile, a 
surgeon attached to the English army in India, established the 
practice of mesmerism in the army hospitals under his charge at 
Hooghly in 1845, and published a statement of the numerous and 
remarkable cures which followed in the treatment of a large 
variety of diseases. lie organized a number of native assistants 
to whom he taught the art, and then availed himself of their aid 
in nr smerising the hospital patients; it is believed that in no 
case was there a failure in magnetising the patients, varying 
from one minute, to a d< zen trials of one hour each, on successive 
days. Dr. Esdaile asserted that a force was communicated to the 
patient, since water could be charged with it, and that he had 
succeeded in magnetizing the blind without their knowledge, at a 
distance of 90 feet; also that the influence passed freely through 
walls, like ordinary magnetism or electrical induction. 
He summed up his experience as follows: That mesmerism is 
a natural power of the human body; that it affects directly the 
nervous and muscular systems; that in the mesmeric trance, or 
sleep, the most severe and protracted surgical operations can be 
performed, without the patients being sensible of pain; that 
spasms and nervous pains often disappear before the mesmeric 
trance; that it gives us a complete command of the muscular 
system, and is therefore of great service in restoring contracted 
limbs; that the imagination has nothing to do with the first 
physical impression made on the system by mesmerism, as 
practiced by him; that it is not necessary for the eyes to be 
open ; that it is better to shut them a* a source of distraction, 
and that b'ind men are as readily mesmerised as others; that 
water can be charged with the mesmeric fluid, or force, and has a 
powerful effect on the system when it has been previously 
affected; that the mesmeric fluid, or force, can be transmitted 
through the air to considerable distances, and even pass through 
dense materials. 
The late Dr. Gregory, the eminent professor of chemistry in 
the University of Edinburgh, was a strong advocate for its 
employment by physicians, and classified its therapeutic use; 
first, in relieving pain and curing diseases ; secondly, its use in 6 
preventing pain in surgical operations ; thirdly; the use of 
magnets, crystals and other inanimate objects, as well as ot 
magnetized water, or magnetized objects of any kind ; and, lastly 
the use of clairvoyance in diagnosis. 
The actuality of clairvoyance, or perception without the use 
of the known senses, is still an open question in the minds of 
many physicians, although probably generally adopted by those 
who have made the subject a thorough study. The lowest stage 
of this peculiar perception is in sympathy, a higher phase is 
thought reading, or the perception of ideas ; this capability was 
possessed by Zschokkc, the German Swiss writer, as detailed by 
him in his autobiography, and is, in a greater or lesser degree, 
more common than is generally imagined. A prominent case is 
in the person of Mr. G. R. Brown, who at the present time, is 
exhibiting this capability before the scientists of New York and 
Yale College. lie submits to the conditions imposed, in fact 
allows the professors to arrange matters to their own satis- 
faction ; he appears to be remarkably successful, and seems to 
have convinced the most sceptical. One of his acts at Yale was 
as follows: Professor Lyman held a paper in his hand concealed, 
on which words were written by Professor Fisher, and blind- 
folded, Brown spelled the words without difficulty 
Persons remarkable for mesmeric healing power were known 
before the time of Mesmer, one of whom Valentine Greatrakes, 
an Irishman, performed wonderful cures. i\t. London, Oxford 
and other cities in England and Ireland, in 16(16 and the }Tears 
following, he attained such notoriety that thousands of patients 
from all parts of the country flocked to his residence. lie made 
no charge for his citi es, which were performed mainly by placing 
his hands on, and moving them over, the affected parts. The 
Bishop of Dromore sta ed that he could as an eye witness 
assert that Greatrakes cured dizziness, very bad diseases of 
the eyes and ears, old ulcers, goitre, epilepsy, glandular swellings, 
schirrhous induratio's and cancerous swellings. The celebrated 
Robert Boyle, President of the Royal Society of London, said 
that many physicians, noblemen, clergj’mcn, etc., testify to the 
truth of Greatrake’s cures. The chief diseases cured were blind- 
ness, deafness, paralysis, ulcers, swellings and all kinds of fevers 
From remote periods the mesmeric treatment was employed 
to alleviate humau suffering and healing the sick. Thus on the 
tombs and temples of ancient Egypt, on the mummy cases, as 
well as on amulets and charms, are seen representations of the 
priests, who were the physicians, performing the ceremony of 
making mesmeric passes over the sick, and placing their hands 
on the afflicted parts, precisely as is now done for like purposes. 
It was daily practiced in the temples of Isis, Osiris, and Serapis; 
in these temples the priest treated the sick and healed diseases, 
either by magnetic manipulations, or other means producing 
somnambulism. In India likewise, from a very early period, the 7 
higher phases of mesmeric phenomena appear to have been well 
understood. 
The distinguished chemist and physicist, Baron Von Reichen- 
back, of Vienna, in 1845, asserted that he had discovered a new 
force naming it the Od, Odylic, or Odic, or all-pervading force. 
By numerous experiments extending through some years, most 
carefully and scientifically performed, he established the exist- 
ence of a remarkable influence or force, given out by magnets, 
causing a faintly luminous emanation from their poles; also by 
crystals, by the magnetism of the earth, by the sun’s rays, by 
chemical action, by electricity, in short, to a certain extent, by 
all matter; also by animals, particularly by the human hand. 
Moreover, that this force and the so-called fluid of animal 
magnetism were identical. Thus was placed on a scientific basis 
the action ol the hand in making passes over mesmerized 
subjects, an additional force by that means being imparted to 
their nervous system, closely connected with the vital force. 
The assumption of a fluid or force as the cause of the mesmeric 
phenomena, had been, and still is by many, denied, who other- 
wise recognized and practiced the art; it had early been seen 
that individuals fell into the magnetic or somnambulic state, 
without the aid of any one, and hence could not have received 
any new force ; thus it was said that the whole was the result of 
the imagination. This assumption derived new weight wh n Dr. 
Braid, of London, published his proce-s of Hypnotism, in which 
by a simple process of gazing at an object, the mesmeric or 
biological state was produced without any outside assistance. 
The larger number of physicians now accepted most of the facts 
of mesmerism, and among them was Dr. Carpenter, the distin- 
guished physiologist. 
Experiments carefully made by able physicians, however, had 
confirmed the existence of the Odic force, and the question arises 
how can all the facts be reconciled? It appears to me that this 
c:m reasonably be done. It is assumed that the Odylic force is 
contained in, and given out, by all persons, ot.ly varying in 
amount; and that this force is in intimate relationship with the 
nervous system, and hence closely associated with the emotional 
states of the mind, as well as with its unconscious action. This 
being premised, it follows that any disturbance in the natural dis- 
tribution of the Odic force in the system, whether it be by a fresh 
accession from without, or by any action of the emotions or un- 
conscious cerebration, produced by a suggestion, or dominant idea, 
might result in anaesthesia, or any other stato of the mesmeric 
phenomena. It can thus be understood how it is that the power 
of the imagination, so-called, can cause such astounding effects. 
This force of the imagination in its therapeutic relations opens a 
wide, and most interesting field of exploration to the physician. 
Dr. Tuke in his recent valuable publication has fully entered 
upon the subject, and discussed it in an able and scientific manner 
for the use of the medical profession. Of the power of the imagi- 8 
nation over the human body there are numberless well attested 
eases; the effecls are real and absolute, and not imaginary or fan- 
ciful, as some having confused ideas suppose. 
The imagination in its medical sense is a complex mental power 
of great interest and importance. It is able to convert bread pills 
into emetics or cathartics of great potency; thus in an experiment 
by Dr. Durand in a hospital, one hundred patients were given inert 
draughts such as sugared water. In a short time after, he entered 
the wards, full of alarm, pretending that a mistake had been made, 
and that a powerful emetic instead of syrup of gum had been 
administered, and preparations were made accordingly. Of the 
one hundred patients, eighty were acted upon as if an emetic had 
really been given. 
A case is given by Dr. Noble, in which a strong cathartic, com- 
posed of extract of colycinth and calomel, acted as an opiate, 
inducing a comfortable sleep in a patient, who supposed the medi- 
cine had been given for that purpose. A doctor left his prescription 
on the table for. a lad}', who suffered from pleurodynia, saying put 
this to your side. The patient literally did so, instead of obtaining 
the prescribed plaster, but in spite of the mistake, derived great 
benefit fiom the treatment. 
Dr. John Brown, of Edinburgh, gave a laboring man a pre- 
scription for some medicine required in his case, saying take that, 
and in a fortnight you will be well. The man swallowed the pre- 
scription itself, misunderstanding the doctor, and in less than a 
fortnight he was entirely cured. 
Sir Humphrey Davy, the great chemist, introduced a thermom- 
eter under the tongue of a patient afflicted with the palsy. The 
man at once exclaimed that the remedy—for such he regarded 
the thermometer—did him great good. Davy took the hint imme- 
diately, did not give the gas, but required him to return next day. 
He again inserted the same instrument in his mouth, the same 
jesult followed, and at the end of two weeks, the man was 
dismissed cured by a thermometer. 
Warts are continually being cured by a variety of ways appeal- 
ing to the imagination, such for example, as rubbing with a bit of 
meat and throwing it away. Dr. Carpenter says the charming 
of warts away are real facts, however they may be explained. 
An instance of automatic or unconscious aciion of the mind, is 
seen in the experiment of holding a coin or ring suspended by a 
hair, in a glass vessel, between the forefinger and thumb; the coin 
will in many cases strike the proper hour, without the conscious 
assistance of the operator. 
The force of imagination has in many cases caused death itself, 
as in the case on r cord of a man sentenced to be bled to death. 
He was blindfolded, a sham operation performed, and tepid water 
allowed to run down his arm. At the close of the operation the 
man was dead. 
The marvellous action of the mind over the circulation of the 
blood in the capillaries, is shown in the case of a lady, vouched for 9 
by Dr. Tuke, who paw a child in whom she had a particular inter- 
est, coming out through an iron gateway. She saw the heavy 
gate swing to as in the act of closing, and it seemed to her inevi- 
table that it would close on the ankle of the child and crush it. 
She found that she could not move to his assistance, from a sudden 
intense pain in her own ankle, which she had in no way strained 
or injured. With great difficulty she reached her home, and found 
on examination a red circle around the ankle, with a large red 
spot on the outer part, just at the place where the gate would 
have struck the limb of the child. Next morning the entire foot 
was inflamed, and she was confined fo her bed for several days. 
Dr. Tuke also cites a case by Planque, in which a healthy, 
robust man saw in a dream another man throw a stone violently 
against his breast. The vivid shock awoke him, when he found 
that there was on his chest a round mark having the appearance 
of a bruise. The next day there was so much swelling, that the 
surgeon had to scatify the part to prevent sloughing. Many cases 
of a like nature still more remarkable might he referred to. 
Dr. Carpenter observes that certain states of the mind—pro- 
duced by suggested or dominant ideas—have a remarkable influ- 
ence on the organic functions, whilst the direct influence of the 
will is inoperative. If the imagination is possessed of such 
powers, it behooves the physician to call in its aid as a most val- 
uable ally whenever practicable; it appears to be able to control 
the healing power of nature, and thus may be justly regarded as 
one of the most valuable of remedial agents. 
Among the strange forces may be classed the vital or cell force 
of the physiologists. In the twilight of microscopic vision we 
perceive glimmering points only just emerging into indistinct 
perception from the surrounding transparent liquid; these grow, 
enlarge, become more distinctly visible, until at last, clearly per- 
ceived in their outlining forms. Did they exist before being ren- 
dered microscopically visible? Certainly, they existed before, 
because if a more powerful instrument had been employed, they 
wmuld have been seen earlier. Again; flash a beam of electric 
light through transparent and colorless sulphurous acid gas—the 
beautiful experiment of Professor Tyndall—at first, the tube 
remains perfectly transparent, hut after a time, the power of the 
vibratory motion of the intense beam of light makes itself known 
by shaking asunder the compound atoms of the gas. The atoms 
of oxygen and sulphur part company, the oxygen remains invisi 
ble as a transparent gas, but the atoms of sulphur, a solid, begin 
to gravitate toward each other, collecting into molecules; these 
becoming large enough to act on the finer rays of light, a faint 
blue sky color makes its appearance within the transparent tube. 
Presently the color deepens, as the process of agglomeration of 
the particles goes on, and becomes deeply blue; then, the process 
continuing, a whitish tint becomes mingled with the blue; it 
increases in depth of color, preponderates over the blue, which 10 
ultimately settling on the sides of the glass, reveals to powerful 
microscopes twilight points of matter. 
How excessively minute must have been the particles of the 
faint blue haze. Utterly beyond the vision singly of the best 
instrument, even after condensing into the deeply blue or even 
into the whitish vapor. Thus atoms, molecules, and organic cells, 
mav exist in the transparent air, far beyoud the vision of man, 
aided by all the powers of his transcendent art. 
The beginning of the organic cell, which is the start of all 
vegetable and animal structures, is a totally invisible point, of 
matter, or point of force I would prefer to call it, endowed with 
remarkable powers. It is not only able to draw asunder the 
compound atoms of the matter or pabulum with which it is 
surrounded, but it possesses the power of selecting out of these 
divided molecules, such atoms only as it requires both of in kind 
and quantity; uniting them together into new combinations, 
which thus form the little masses of matter which in the 
microscope, we recognize as the organic cell. The cell in its 
simplest existence is a mere gelatinous mass, composed of a 
certain and large number of atoms of oxygen, hydrogen, carbon 
and nitrogen, with a very few atoms of sulphur and phospho- 
rous; it has no particular form, but if left entirely free would 
generally assume the spheroidal; it has no envelope, but is 
endowed with a capability of contraction, and has been called 
sareode or protoplasm. The atoms are held together by unstable 
chemical affinities, and thus are, like a tall tower on a very 
narrow base, liable at all times to fall into smaller masses of 
component materials, but the power that selected and lifted the 
atoms into their places, preserves the integrity of the structure, 
and is called vitality or cell force. 
Cells can be thoroughly dried and so remain for an indefinite 
time, in some cases, without losing their vitality, as in the grains 
of mummy wheat and peas, and certain infusoria. Also certain 
germs of cells may be exposed to a degree of heat anove boiling 
water and still survive, or in numerous cases may be frozen with 
impunity. If a cell be exposed to the action of carbolic acid or 
heat, tlie albuminous portion of its structure is coagulated, and 
thus the relations of attraction between the cell force and cell 
contents are destroyed; the cell in such case is said to be killed. 
Will it be proper to assume that the cell force has been trans- 
formed into light, heat, electricity, or some other force, when no 
proof has ever been given of such being the case ? Has it been 
destroyed ? No force is ever destroyed, a* is now well known. 
If then the cell force is not destroyed, nor changed into the 
physical or chemical forces, it must still remain as a cell force; 
hence I suppose that when the cells of the food are passed into 
the stomach, and dissolved by the pepsin and gastric juice, the 
cell forces survive, and in a subdivided state, reappear in the 
chyle corpuscles of the central lacteals. 
Also when animal matter nutrifies, the cell forces reappear 11 
perhaps as vibrios and bacteria; and when vegetable matter 
decays in the soil, the cell forces may remain with the humus, 
and constitute an important element of its nutritive value. 
Neither chemistry or physics detects any difference between 
a living and a dead cell, nevertheless the cell has lost that 
essential element, which gave it its distinguishing characteristics 
Cell force cannot be the simple resultant of the molecular forces 
of the constituent atoms of the cell, like the crystallic force in 
the crystal, because if it weie, then it would remain with ils 
components, and would be present necessarily, as long as its 
molecules constituted the cell structure—in other words could not 
be killed. 
Cell force increases or grows by the conjoined action of the 
sun’s rays, carbonic acid, ammonia and water, hence it must have 
a close relation with the solar and chemical forces. Once formed 
however, it appears to have become individualized, and perhaps 
independent as regards its existence, to a great degree, if not 
entirely, of the molecules constituting the material structure of 
its cell. 
It has been, and still is, a question of great interest wdth scien- 
tists, whether the cell force can be generated spontaneously by 
the above forces, or whether a previously existing cell force or 
germ of a cell, is not in every instance required. It is agreed on 
by all, that if there be spontaneous action, it can only result in 
rudimental cells, or cells of the lowest Older of existence. 
In certain cases twTo living cell forces coalesce, forming a single 
cell of greater powder, or possessing capabilities which do not exist 
in either of the original cells; conversely, an individual cell force 
is capable of sub division, perhaps indefinitely. An interesting 
instance of sub division is to be found in the moner, hich lives at 
the bottom of seas; in its fullest development a mere globular 
mass of sarcode or protoplasm, or cell of the lowest order. It 
continues to grow in size up to a certain point, and then simulta- 
neously divides its entire substance, except a thin outer membrane, 
into from thirty to fifty cells; these burst open the envelope and 
separate from each other becoming individualities, each one pre- 
cisely alike the original cell, and goes through the same history. 
This organism, it might be said, never dies. 
If cell forces once formed, have an indefinite existence until 
absorbed or assimilated by the living cells of vegetables or animals, 
the atmosphere must be largely permeated by these germs or in- 
visible cells; we draw in large numbers in the act of breathing, 
which may greatly assist oxygen in giving strength and life-sus- 
taining power. It would follow, also, that infect! us and conta- 
gious di'eases would be breathed as invisible cell germs, which 
might develop in the blood, until arriving at microscopic vision, as 
has been asserted by Dr. Salisbury and others. 
There exists a peculiar force called by physiologists the forma- 
tive force, or force of form, vhich gives the form to all organic 
structures. It is certainly a remarkable force, for from living 12 
germs precisely alike to all appearances, there ultimately grow up 
or develop all vegetable and animal forms. 
Philosophical!}7, we would have to regard all forms of the mine- 
ral, vegetable and animal kingdoms, as being the complex result- 
ants of the various component forces of the structures. But 
resultants cannot precede components, hence, it would follow that 
the original germ contained all the components of the ultimate 
form; that is, that every cell force of the completed structure had 
its representation in the germ from which all were derived, as 
believed by some physiologists. It is impossible to associate 
forces of the same nature without producing resultants; each 
representative of a cell in the germ must be a force, then the asso- 
ciation of all the cell representative forces must have an ultimate 
resultant which must have the embryo form of the completed 
structure. 
In the mineral kingdom, the simplest form is the symmetrical 
crystal, a resultant of the molecular forces of the constituent mol- 
ecules; compound forms resulting from compound resultants are 
seen in the arborescent shapes assumed by the individual crystals 
of ice on the windows in frosty weather, and the beautiful and 
still more complex geometrica forms of snow-flakes. Also, in 
the stony accretions resembling flowers, bunches of grapes, snow 
balls, and other shapes on the walls of caves. 
The organic wo*Id has forms belonging to a higher geometry, 
as has been said, than that of the mineral kingdom. Passing 
from the simple spheroidal cell, to the higher and far more 
complex forms of vegetable and animal life, until the human 
form is reached, which is the perfection of form. 
In all nature, animate and inanimate, there is a general 
tendency to assume shapes or symmetrical forms: forms may 
exist wherever there is matter; even the attenuated vapors of 
Tyndall’s experiments are said at times to assume beautiful forms 
of exquisite shapes and symmetry. Above the poles of magnets, 
lines of force constituting beautiful forms of curves, become visible 
to the eye when attractive matter, such as fine particles of iron 
nickel, are sifted over them ; forms of matter invisible to the eye 
may then exist of which our vision can take no cognizance. 
Every transparent block of ice is filled with forms of icy 
flowers, existing invisible to the eye, until the powerful beam of 
electric light, assisted by optical contrivances, bring them into 
view. Nature revels in forms and colors ; with unsparing hand 
she scatters them in the earth, in the waters and in the fathom- 
less air; the solid earth is a mass of infinitely varied crystalline 
forms, and its surface is enameled Avith gorgeously colored flowers. 
The influence of color should not be overlooked by the physi- 
cian; nature has not neglected this hygienic and psychological 
power, but has spread the softest green carpet for him to walk 
over, and painted it with the most beautifully tinted flowers, to 
cheer up his mind and soothe his vision. Above him an azure 
mantle spreads itself over the expanse of the heavens, lighted up 13 
by the golden orb of day, whilst a robe of darker blue, spangled 
over with twinkling stats, makes night beautiful; thus, to quiet 
his earthly passions, arid to harmonize his feelings with the pure 
and sublime influences above and around him, the fevered 
patient should be soothed with the neutral tints of his chamber, 
and the desponding enlivened by bright and varied colors; inflam- 
matory diseases and excited nerves b}T the softest tints of blue 
and green, whilst deficiencies of animal heat and leihargic condi- 
tions of the system, would be warmed and excited to better 
action by the bright tints of red. 
A remarkably strai ge force which has recently received the 
name of Psychic Force is now exciting great attention and discus- 
sion. It derives its name from its intimate connection with the 
mind or intelligence, and is now being investigated by some of 
the ablest scientists of Europe. 
Of all the forces which act on matter, this is the most wonder- 
ful. Indeed, so strange is its action, that only those who have 
actually observed its effects, and have had opportunities of criti- 
cally examining the subject, can b»ing themselves to fully believe 
in its existence. The operations of this extraordinary force has 
been so mingled up with spiritual matters, that they have been 
confounded, and hence the very name may excite opposition in 
some minds. I presume that it will net be questioned, that all the 
the forces of nature acting on matter are included in the domain 
of science, and that it necessarily is expected of scientific men to 
investigate their nature, and, as far as practicable, determine their 
laws. The only question then is, as to the existence of this asserted 
strange force. It will be interesting to give the names of some of 
the eminent persons—all well-known in fho scientific and literary 
world—who directly or inferentially assert its existence; cer- 
tainly, the list is sufficiently respectable to warrant some belief in 
its actuality. Dr. Crookes, the leading chemist of England, who 
is now devoting himself to its investigation; Professor Wallace, 
the eminent naturalist and late President of the Ethnological 
Society; Professor Yarley, the celebrated electrician; the late 
Professor DeMorgan, the distinguished mathematician; Mr. Harri- 
son, E. 11. S., now President of the Ethnological Socieiy of Eng- 
land; I)r. George Sexton, a prominent physician of London; 
Professor Gunning, William Howitt, Robert Dale Owen, the well 
known authors; Hiram Powers, the sculptor; the Rev. John Piei- 
pont,; Harriet Martineau, the distinguished authoress and philo- 
sophical writer; T. A. Trollope, the novelist; Dr. Ashburner, the 
prominent surgeon ; the late Brougham; Camille Flammarion, and 
Herman Goldsmidt, the French and German astronomers; Profes- 
sor Strieff, of the College of Chartres; Dr Hoffle, the author of 
the History of Chemistry ; M Bounemire, the historian; the late 
Emperor of the French; Archbishop Whateley; the poets Tennyson 
and Longfellow; Thackeray, Ruskin, Robert Chambers, Dr. Hath 
Y ilkinson, Kossuth. Garabaldi, Mazzini, Vfetor Hugo, Jules Favre; 
the late Lord Lyndhurst; the late Sir Roderick Murchison, the 14 
eminent geologist; Guizot, the historian; the late Sir Charles 
Napier; ex-Senator Wade; Judge Edmonds; Professor Mapes, the 
agricultural chemist; Dr. Robt. Hare, the greatest chemist America 
has produced; ex-Governor Tallmadge; H. K. Brown, the well 
known sculptor; Professor Gregory, of Edinburgh University; 
Sergeant Cox, the distinguished barrister of London ; and numer- 
ous other gentlemen occupying promiment positions might be 
enumerated 
This singular force appears to have a more intimate relation- 
ship with the mind and will, than the nervous force; the latter 
emanating from the grey matter of the nervous structure, 
controls the cell forces, as well as the physical forces of the 
system, counteracting gravitation by the muscular fibres, causing 
chemical transformations and reactions by the aid of the cell 
forces of the tissues ; as also by direct correlation probably with 
the physical forces, producing light, heat, and electricity. Thus 
nerve force acts on matter and its forces, but only when in 
immediate contact with the physical system, whereas the psychic 
force acts on matter and controls gravitation and cohesion, 
light, heat, and electricity, or the molecular lorces generally, at a 
distance. The nervous force frequently acts without any connec 
tion with intelligence, but the psychic force is always directly 
controlled by intelligence. 
To the physician especially, this force so intimately connected 
with intelligence, must be a subject of deep interest, it having 
been seen what powerful influence the mind has over the vis 
medicatrix naturae’ No attempt has as yet been made to apply it 
to the healing art, simply because its laws are not as yet 
understood—they have not been determined ; nevertheless sooner 
or later it cannot fail to prove highly valuable—perhaps the 
most important of all remedial agents. 
There is a strange power in nature, which however I should 
not have touched upon in this address, as it more properly 
belongs to another and higher domain than that of science ; but 
an eminent physicist—one of the leading men of science—has 
boldly thrown the gauntlet down, and positively denies its 
existence. It is natural for those entering the walks of science, 
to look up to its leaders as authorit}” on all subjects of which 
they express decided opinions; thus assertions made by them 
expressly to effect the scientific mind, are calculated to have 
great weight, although the subject may be in fact, out of their 
legitimate sphere. Thus it becomes the duty of men devoted to 
science to examine into such expressed opinions, and to i-tate 
their viewrs likewise on the matter in question, if it be one 
calculated to do harm by leading younger minds into error. 
The power alluded to, is ‘The influence of prayer in healing 
the sick,” or rather its influence generally in the affairs of mankind. 
This eminent physicist believes in the theory of evolution ; 
let it be supposed that we accept this theory in its fullest extent. 
Then starting at the twilight germ cell spontaneously brought 15 
forth by favorable conditions in the earth’s earliest history, by a 
long and continued series of developements, rising step by step 
through tho vast periods of geologic time, to higher and higher 
organizations—leaving in the great charnel house of the rocky 
strata of the globe, the vestiges of creation scattered as fossil 
remains, in countless numbers; telling of life and death through 
all the countless ages of the past Finalty, from this almost 
interminable chain of ascending forms and forces, we arrive at 
the human form with its wonderful intellectual powers. 
At once this intelligence, although but a feeble germ, like a 
ray from the spiritual world, begins to act upon and control the 
forces of nature. Fires are kindled, ferocious animals destroyed 
by the bow and arrow, wild weeds exterminated, and made to 
give place to useful grains; the force of the air is employed to 
turn the grinding miils, and to fill the sail; the power of water is 
used to turn machines and irrigate the soil. In succeeding ages, 
this intellectual power, increasing in strength, compels the force 
of heat to move its engines; creates light to overcome the dark- 
ness of night, controls chemical action, and ever makes the all- 
pervading electricity act as its ready servant. Everywhere this 
evolved force of intelligence, takes its place in the complex 
machinery of the earth as a prime mover, and most important in- 
tegral portion; evidently arranged as an essential part of tho 
mechanism, in its original projection. 
The intelligence of man continually controls and guides the 
forces of nature, causing results that would not have been pro- 
duced, bad nature been left to the action simply of what are called 
her blind laws. Then in the grand progression, intelligence has 
been evolved, not as a mere flower without seed or fruit, to give 
beauty to the landscape, or as an ornament simply in creation, 
but as a potent power, placed on the earth to guide tho subordi- 
nate forces to economic results and useful ends—to make two 
blades of grass grow where but one grew before; and, if a force 
once created is never destroyed, to pour into a higher .-phere of 
action, continued accession of intellectual working forces. 
If man controls the forces of nature, why should it appear 
incredible that a higher intelligence should control and guide the 
machinery of the universe? Is it an answer to say that the 
mechanism is so perfect that it requires no supervision, no guiding 
hand of intelligence? If so, how is it that human intelligence is 
required to perfect the machinery of this world and guide its 
forces? If the Supreme Intelligence does not in any case directly 
conrol the forces of natuie, certain it is that inferior intelligencies 
are continually doing so, not on this earth only, but doubtless on 
all the habitable planets of the universe. 
Gibbon, the great historian, said that no one would be apt to 
accuse him of superstition, nevertheless that he was compelled to 
acknowledge that there was a strong appearance of retribution in 
' e history of nations. 
The earth is a microcosm, but in the infinitely small we catch 16 
a glimpse of the workings of the infinitely great. The universe 
is a mechanism of astounding proportions, acted upon by incon- 
ceivable forces, and controlled by supernal intelligence. Through- 
out its boundless extent, the power of intelligence must enter as 
an active factor, controlling and guiding the forces, but not an- 
nulling or destroying the laws of nature. 
The forces of intelligence have a like nature whatever mav be 
their gradation of power, and hence must mingle and vibrate to- 
gether. The intellectual force of man urged to an active state by 
the emotions, sends forth a vibration of intensity that finds a 
responsive chord leading up to the great centre of intellectual 
power: a thrill of sympathy returns along a ray of motion, and 
the physical forces obey its mandates ; the man has earnestly with 
his whole power appealed for aid, and presently the angel of 
health appears, bringing healing in its wings. 
The testimony of a cloud of witnesses affirmatively asserts 
that prayers have been answered. Tho records left by good men 
of all nations corroborate the assertion, and if human testimony 
avails in any case, the great scientist must be convicted of error, 
in denying that of which he is ignorant. Deeply earnest appeals 
are forces expended which cannot be lost, but in some way must 
bring an nor perchance in having the request accorded, 
for who is sufficiently wise to know that it might not result in 
harm, but in unforseen ways producing good results, and not un- 
frequently the request itself is granted. 
Thus, let me as a watchman on the tower, assure you that 
science in its fullest development, is no enemy to the nobler in- 
stincts and higher aspirations of the human soul; but that she 
stands ready with her torch, to light you on when you shall have 
finished your earthly career, to fairer climes and heavenly scenes.