CLAIRVOYANCY AND CATALEPSY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 4315, 17 March 1884, Page 2

CLAIRVOYANCY AND CATALEPSY.

Exciting and Interesting Experiences.

Tiikre are not a fow people in Auckland and neighbourhood who " could a tale unfold" regarding the singular powers possessed by Signor Otto Hug, describing himself as,a "medical clairvoyant," and doing business in rooms over the St. Mungo Cafe ; but we question if anybody here or elsewhere could recount such exciting experiences as befel four " leading citizens" who visited the Signor on Friday last. The thing befel in this wise:—Two gentlemen talking over the reputed skill of Signor Hug, expressed themselves as decidedly sceptical on the subject, but in a spirit of scientific inquiry resolved upon submitting themselves to his scrutiny with a view to having the defects of their internal anatomy pointed out. On their way, they encountered two other "leading citizens," who, having previously been "looked through" by the Signor, were firm believers in that gentleman's powers, and were glad of the opportunity to introduce two new clients to tho Swiss professor. The two sceptics we will distinguish by the initials H.B. andJ.M.,and the "believers" (one connected with a big factory in Customs-street West, and the other noted as a purveyor of hot water and sulphur in pleasant form) we shall designate 11. and G. respectively. A small boy in livery ushered the quartette into a dimly-lighted back room, in which sat the clairvoyant amid hia medical paraphernalia. Signor Hug is a young man of good physique and healthy appearance ; there is, in fact, nothing in his physical development to suggest the possession of supernatural powers. But appearances are often deceitful. J.M., as tho stronger sceptic of the two, was the first to submit himself to the clairvoyant's scrutiny, which he did in a jaunty and jocular style as of one who says "Fire i away ; I know nothing will come of it." Signor Hug, as is his wont, took the hand of the patient in his own, and after a few spasmodic twitching*, wl.ich are tho invariable premonitions of his entrancement, he seemed to fall suddenly into a profound slumber. Appearances in this instance wore only too true, as tho sequel will show. It was three o'clock when the sitting commenced, and after sitting for ten minutes grasping the hand of tho unconscious clairvoyant, J.M. gave a knowing wink to his friends, as much as to say—" I told you so ! It's all humbug." Slowly passed the solemn minutes, measured by the Insuranco Company's clock oppositefifteen, twenty, thirty, thirty-five minutes had slid away, and yet there was no sign of the usual clairvoyant examination commencing. 0. by this time was thoroughly alarmed, and ho asserted, with some warmth of feeling, his conviction that the situation was serious.

H. aakod—Do you feel any sensation, M. ? J.M. (still smiling and sceptical)—l havo no doubt tliero is sometliing in it, for I feel as though I wero attached to a galvanic battery. How long am Ito remain in this position ? G. —I am sure there's something wrong, for ho IB novcr so long in becoming clairvoyant. J.M.—V'es ; you had better send for a doctor, and when you are out, please bring me a drink !

The position had its comic aspect, undoubtedly. Here was a atrong man attached to an animated galvanic battery, in the form of Signor Hng, who had settled himself down to a sleep of uncertain duration, while three nonplussed citizens wondered what they should do—fearing to spoil the experiment, yet trembling for the probable consequences to the clairvoyant or to their friend. The serious side of the question will be understood when we state that Signor Hug at one period of his life had a cataleptic trance which lasted for eight days. His condition at this juncture lent colour to the supposition that he had gone oil' in a similar lit; but he lay so still and breathed so naturally that this frightful possibility was banished. Four o'clock boomed out from the big clock, and still the status quo was unaltered. G., in greater trepidation than before, declared that the Signor would never coma out of this sleep. (An enterprising press-man who was present pricked his ears at this remark and sharpened his pencil, confident that there was something good looming out for the Stah.)

As if to dissipato G.s fears, the Signor at this stage gave a sudden start and stretched out his limbs. All were immediately on the tiptoe of expectation, hoping that the moment had come for laying bare the good and bad " points" of the subject. The hope was delusive, for Signor Hug settled down again apparently into a sounder sleep than before.

Tho solemn silence which had fallen over tho oxporimentors was now broken by (J. remarking that Mrs Hug should be sent for.

J.M, (not quite sa jocular as before) —For heaven's sake givo me a drink, mid open the door!

It. (to the other sceptic)— Well, 8., I hope you are now convinced.

B.—Yes j I am satisfied there's somothing in it; and M. has saved me a pound by going first.

An interruption took place at this moment by the "little foot page" entering and announcing two ladies to consult the Signor. G. wont out, and succeeded in persuading the visitors to go away and call next day. Tho Signor made no sign ; ho was in a dead sleep, which it seemed not ovon the last trump could break. Little "Buttons" was now taken into consultation by the puzzled citizens, but he declared that his master was. not usually more than ten minutes in going into the trance condition in whiah ho diagnoses internal diseases. M. folt tho pulse of tho Signor.and found it to bo steady, strong, and at tho rate of 86 in a minute.

G.—I do wish ho would come out of it. I feel anxioua for him, and for his wife too !

J.M,—lf you don't got me a drink, 8., I shall be dead in five minutes !

Tho needful refreshments were got to sustain the energies of the unfortunate J,M-i chained as ho was to a sleeping oataleptio snbjeot, and the consulting trio procoedou to think out the curious case boforo thorn, G. slapped tho Signar vigorously nnd shouted in his oar ; but all was in vain j the sleep of the seven sleepers of old seemed concentrated upon tho person of the Swiss clairvoyant, who remained motionless and insensible,

A happy thought was evolved by a brief consultation ;—Lot J.M. try to loosen his grip; disconnoot the battery, as it were, and sco what tho result will bo. The suggestion was carried out; J.M. let go his hold of the Professor's hand, which fell limply on his knee. But the Signor only gavo a sudden squirm, as a worm may give when cut in two, and then settled down to his nap again. It was now near five o'olock, and G., whoso uneasiness had increased, at last went off in a cab to. bring Mrs Hug. It should be stated that the signor very frequently has his wife in attendance at his rooms, so that she may be able to attend to hini} but on this occasion she happened to be at their residence,

When the lady arrived, she at onoo saw that her husband was in one. of his cataleptic fits, which occur at intervals, and in which he usually remains for three hours or so. She at ohco had him carried to ait open window in the other room, where she wot herself tochafiiig his temples.and producing a current of air by fanning him. In about ton minutes he began to show signs of returning consciousness, Ho stretched himself, and moaned like one in sleep ; gave soveral convulsive twitches, and relapsed into sleep again. But Mrs Hug persisted, in hey efforts to arouse him, by fanning, shaking, an J speaking to him. "Let me sleep," he murmured. But sho would not let him sleep. Procuring a quantity of brandy, sho mado him drink a mouthful, at which he mado a very wry face, and motioned \t away. Shortly afterwards . sho gavo him. a gfajss of water, and the way In which ho gulped it down at a single draught was, n.s u> 'gentleman pre» aqnfc remarked, an eloquent temperance locturoiu itself, Aftot'this/theSignorsliglitly opened his eyes, but when told to rouse up, only put the question, " WflS J right ?" lie evidently had no aopsclousness but that he had been i\\ tho. usual clairvoyant trance, and was putting this question to know if his delineations had been correct.

" Yes, old boy," said J,M., " yo,u took good care of that, fo.r you never opened, your mouth I"

11, wanted the olalrvoyant to toll what ho hftd Been in h\a trance, but the latter only shook his head, wearily apd asked what wag the hour,'

On being informed that it was after 5, Signor lEfug' wurg a dazied expression,' and said, '! Am I still at the office J"

Being assured that such was the oaso, he aeked for. his prescription book ; then, seeming to recollect Himself, he added', "I was }n the o'£h,<w. r00m.,"" The phxmmstanees were explained to him by his wife, but he only seemed, ta halt comprehend the situation, He was soon, however, able to rise with assistance—his back being very' sore from lying go long in a orarapedposltion in

his chair—and shortly afterwards he drovn home in a cab. ■ 8 Mrs Hu-, who all through acted with ad raivable pvtisenco of mind, assured the <«„" tlemcn present that her husband wonM sufier no bad after-effects from his Catalan tic sleep, but would be " himself airain" within an hour. She thought he was betfcn after these fits and was glad that this one was over. J.M., however, was ratW perturbed at the thought that h had contributed to the untoward occur rence by hia pronounced scepticism whill another of the party thought that M had " too much magnetism " for the Signor The party of experimenters separated after hearing sundry wonderful tales of the Signor's clairvoyant powers, with thl resolve to repeat the experiment at a future date. The result so far has been to dianel all scepticism as to the abnormal constitu tion of the Signor; but M. and B still doubt his power to put his finger on'their weak points. Ther eyeing no danger of catalepsy for a long time to come (probably a year or more), our sceptics will go w ul full expectations of a true test of the Signor'n supernatural diagnosis being obtained, and when they go we intend to be there to see !