The New Hampshire Gazette And Republican Union

Effect of Imagination on the Physical Frame.-Many years ago, a celebrated physician, author of an excellent work on the effects of imagination, wished to combine theory with practice, in order to confirm the truth of his propositions. To this end he begged the minister of Justice to allow him to try an experiment on a criminal condemned to death. The minister consented, and delivered to him an assassin of distinguished rank. Our savant sought the culprit and thus addressed him: "Sir, several persons who are interested in your family, have prevailed on the Judge not to require of you to mount the scaffold, and expose yourself to the gaze of the populace. He has, therefore commuted your sentence, and sanctions your being bled to death within the precincts of your prison; your dissolution will be gradual and free from pain."

The criminal submitted to his fate; he thought his family would be less disgraced, and considered it a favor not to be compelled to walk to the place of execution. He was conducted to the appointed room, where every preparation was made beforehand; his eyes were bandaged; he was strapped to a table, and at a preconcerted signal, four of his veins were gently pricked with the point of a pen. At each corner of the table was a small fountain of water, so contrived as to flow gently into basins placed to receive it. The patient believing that it was his blood he heard flowing, gradually became weak; and the conversation of the doctors in an under tone confirmed him in this opinion.

"What fine blood!" said one. "What a pity this man should be condemned to die; he would have lived a long time." "Hush!" said the other; then approaching the first, he asked in a low voice, but so as to be heard by the criminal, "how many pounds of blood are there in the human body?" "Twenty-four. You see already about ten pounds extracted; that man is now in a hopeless state." The physicians then receded by degrees, and continued to lower their voices.

The stillness which reigned in the apartment, broken only by the dripping fountains, the sound of which was also gradually lessened, so affected the brain of the poor patient, that although a man of very strong constitution, he fainted, and died without having lost a drop of blood.