O D.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XIV, Issue 1019, 3 April 1857, Page 3

O D.

A lecturf delivered in the Hall of the Mechanics' Institute, on Tuesday the 25ih inst., by Dr. Fischer. It is with much pleasure that I present myself before jou, this evening, to address you on the subject of Od, trusting you will make allowances for my want of eloquence, especially as you must be aware that the influence of so many eye 9 before me, charged and beaming with sympathising spirit of life, or negative Od force on the one side, and scrutinising energetic vital power, or positive Od force, on the other, must have an intimidating influence on the speaker. Above all, however, I trust in the truthfulness of my subject. Many, if not all of you, will have met, dm ing the course of life, "persons of certain peculiarities" — persons, perhaps, who have an absolute dislike co every thing ot a yellow colour, in fact who have an aversion to yellow. If you ask these people which colour they like best you will hear, as if from one \oice, "blue." The azure of the horizon has a most pleasing effect ; but if the evening surrounds it with a golden frame, then mm g!es with the beautiful, the more than beautiful— the gorgeous ; still the detestars of yellow will pity my taste, But, now, if I turn the question and ask, have you ever met a person who dislikes blue ? Seldom, if ever. Why, you may ask, have persons any dislike to yellow and such admiration for blue ? We know, from tne laws of colour, that yellow and blue are reciprocal to each other, that they torm a kind of polarity. Should there be hidden something more than the mere effect on our organ of sight ? A yet unknown difference more than the mere optical distinction of colour ? And should, for the perception of such difference, there be a distinctive sense in different people ? Even so much so that, some are able while others are unable to perceive it. In fact, are there people existing who have a sense distinct from others ? That would bo a curious thing, let us see : Many a young lady likes to look into the mirror. To be sure, it is not rare to see men who do enjoy the pleasing reflection of the lovely self. Who will blame them for it, if a perfect likeness of God's master-piece is reflected from it, and awakes sense of ti iumph ? Is there for them anything more glorious and blissful in the world than a handsome self? But now, and is this possible, that there exists young and middleaged ladies, nay, even men, who cannot bear their own reflection? Indeed, many such there are. There are people, and not a few, who, when they stand before a lookingglass for any time, feel a kind of anxiety as if a warm bieath touched them. Some feel it more than others. In'someit is so weak that they feel a unaccountable aversion to the mirror. Why all this ? What may be the cause ? Why this aversion in some persons and not in all? You have travelled on railways, and in ornnibusses, and assuredly you have found people who, with the most remarkable self-will, and against all entreaties of their fellow passengers, will open the carriage windows. May it rain, storm, or hail they will have no pity for " their rheumatic fellow -passengers. You take this conduct for rudeness ; but I beg of you to delay your verdict a little longer, at least until the latter part of my discourse. You may then come to the conclusion that in a toom filled with people, sitting close to each other, there are unknown influences which discomfort some while they have no effect on others. If }'ou ever met in church, or in any assembly, a person who has the peculiarity never to sit between two people, but always chooses the corner seat, mark this persons, he is your man, and we will soon be better acquainted with him. You will have met with ladies who always faint when in church, though otherwise healthy and strong, dive them a corner seat they will still faint, and obsene they are always the same. Your physician will tell you that, to sleep soundly and well, you must lie on your right side. Ask him why? He will, if he is honest, remain your debtor with his reply. He doeß not know why it 19 that many people who lie on the left side cannot go to sleep. He has heard this frequently, but why it is so he is in ignorance. But you will find many persons who can sleep only on the left side, and a great many who find a good repose either on the right or left side. But you will find that persons who sleep on the right side will remain awake for half the night while lying on the left side, and when they turn fall asleep at once ; but you will also find the right side sleepers in small proportion. Now again, there are persons who cannot sleep but with their head towards north ; of them I will speak later. How many persons do we meet who cannot eat with tin, pewter, or German silver spoons, without a feelins, of disgust; while others do not know the difference. How many persons are there who are able to taste chocolate or other food cooked in copper or brazen vessels. I will not enumerate here the likings or dislikings for certain kinds of food, but merely name the dislikes for sweets and craving for acids. There are many persons who cannot endure that any one should stand behind them. Many Avho dislike the shaking of hands ; and if you hold the hand of such persons for any length of time they -will endeavour to release it from your grasp. In fact,- 1 could relate hundreds of such peculiarities. Are they imaginations? Are they bad habits? Or caused by a disturbance of the mind ? So it may seem to those people who only look over such subtle matters supei ficially, and to all appearance are inclined to do injustice to eccentric persons. Were these cases only far between and rarely met in people, under different circumstances, we would be justified in coming to such a conclusion ; but a very extraordinary circumstance shows the matter worthyof the most careful consideration. All those peculiarities

I before related, are not tound single in one and the B«me I individual. The same person who has one has several ol / these peculiamies. The enemy of yellow avoids the I look ing- glass. The person who selects the corner place opens the carriage window. The right side sleeper faints in church. And so forth, from the yellow hatei to the sugar despiser, from the blue admirer to the acid crivpr I We sec from this that there is a source of emotion in [ somep'ople which is not m others, and viewed from i this side there exist two kinds ot people : ordinary, who ( hate no <=i-iise of these and pi-iuliar susceptibilities ; ! other*, who are influenced by every little excitement of the above named sense. Thf«e are called sensitives, ! and indeed they are frequently mure sensitive then a sensithe plant. They are so according to their nature, which *hey can neither rid themselves of, nor overcome ; and, whenever their peculiarities are taken for whims and rudeness, wrong is inflicted upon them. These people have already to suffer much trom the bulk of society, on account of this peculiar sense. Their number is not so small as is supposed, and how much this matter penetrates into society at large we shall presently tee. Mesmer observed the effects of the magnet, and other substances, on the human frame, but his empirical investigations were more applied for profitable purposes than for scientific advances. Hahnemann. the founder of Homcßopathy, was the first who investigated the effects of magnetic phenomena and other imponderables, physiologically, for the purpose of curing diseases ac cording to the law otsimilia similibiis ourantur ; of which doctrine I have the honour to be a disciple. But since, more than 15 years, Baron yon lleichenbach has made the most minute scientific investigations, of which I will endeavour to give a summary. According to Reichenbach's experiments, many of which I have found verified — (having given a fair attention to this subject ever since 1847) — (Jet a crystal, as large as possible, and suspend it over the corner of a' table, or otherwise, so that both ends are free, and now let a sensitive person approach it wtth the palm of the left hand, and you will find that, after a short time, a cooling air will emanate from the upper end of the crystal ; and the lower end, that on whicn the crystal is fixed, will send forth a warm sensation. The cool will be found agreeable, but the warm will be accompanied by a peculiar sickening sensation, which, in a little time, will affect the whole arm and fatigue it. As these sensations are produced at some distance— even to the extent of a yard on rery sensitive persons — we must come to the conclusion that there exists something which is yet unknown to the sneering chemist, who w ill only acknowledge such facts as van be measured by grains, ounces and pounds. But now, as the sentient sense Is so finely developed, the optic sense has proved to be even more so. If a .crystal is placed in a perfectly dark room— but mind, perfectly dark — and placed in a position unknown to the sensitive person— after a little while, when the eye is accustomed to the darkness, the sensitire person will tell you that he sees the crystal enveloped in a subtle light, and that from the pointed end is given forth a blue long flame, like a vapour, fluttering a 9 if influenced by the cuirent of air ; and if the crystal is turned, a reddish flame will emanate from the blunt or opposite end. Of course you are curious to know what kind of substance this light can he ? Where, in Physic or Physiology, this phenomenon may be classed ? It is not heat? — though producing a cool and warm effect — but there is no possible source for heat — and if there were, others than sensitive persons would feel it ; or atleast a fine Thermoscope would be influenced It is not electricity ? then, for that eternal stream, there is no excitement— an Electroscope is not affected by it. Magnetismus and did-magnetisinus, as lately discovered by Faiaday, it cannot be. Crystals are not magnetic, and the diamagnetismus acts not in the same way alike in all crys mis ; but differently, and often oppositely -which is not the case here. Light it is not, though combined with a light {—common light does not produce heat and coolness at the same time. Whatsoever this described phenomenon is, if you ask me,— honestly, I answer, Ido not know! It is a dynamid—as well as the active principle of medicines. It is a middle thing, between magnetisr , electricity, and heat ; and Reichenbach has named it " Od " You know now the sensitives, and you know the element in which they move, called " 0 d." But with that we have only touched the extreme seam of the subtle something in which the whole universe is enveloped. This peculiar force streams not alone from crystals but lrom innumerable fountains of the universe —even stronger and with greater power. Let us take a turn to the horizon, and observe the sun. A sensitive person is placed in the shade, holding a gl iss rod in the left hand, and exposing one end of the rod to the rays of the sun, while the other end and the person remain m the shade. You will leain fiom this simple experiment something which will astonish you. You would naturally expect the rod would ieel warm— as the sun's heat could have no other influence. No; but just the contrary effect is produced — the sensitive hand feels it cold. If the rod is taken fiom the sun the coolness will disappear and it will feel warm. And, if the experiment is lepeated, the exactitude of the sensations may easily be controlled, and the sensitive will tell you that the coolness has the same effect as that caused by the pointed end of the crystal. Now, if this coolness is of the nature o* Od, it must be seen illuminated in the dark. This you will find verified if you follow the experiment of lleichenbach— and bring one end of a copper wire in the sunshine while the other end is brought into the dark chamber— and then the sensitives will tell you that they see a flame emanating from it similar to that from the point of the ciystal. The sun is also streaming forth " Od." But now let us go further. We will reflect the rays of the sun through a prism and produce the colours of the ins on the wall. The sensitive persons touching the blue colour with the glass rod feel it cool and agreeable, and much coolerthanit felt when exposed to the whole rays ot the sun ; but if the rod is placed in the yellow and red colours it feels disagreeably warm, which affects the whole arm. These effects are similar to the those felt from the poles of the crystal. Od streams also ir» immeasurable quantities every moment from the sun, and, with light and heat, foims a new agent. In fact, is not Od and sun-light the same. Philosophers have endea\ored for ages and ages to disco\er the substance oi light. Is not the sun-light itself the predominant Od force > We shall peihaps see hereafter. You will indulge me if I bring you back to the enemies of yellow and admirers of blue. You have learnt that the crystal point which emanated a blue light caused a cool sensation, and the Ted and yellow light produced a warm, disagreeable effect ; we see the same in the reflected iris from the prism. So you may receive now the first hints, which ought to arm you against rash prejudices regarding supposed caprices of sensitive peisons. You observe now, that indeed in the colouis. of yellow and blue there is something more than the mere optic effect on the retina of the eye that a deeper instinct for an unknown something influences here the sentient sense of the sensitive subjects, which is well worthy of a careful attention. If you aie in good humour you may teaze the chemist and the sneerers at infinitesimal closes. Take two equal glasses of water and a bundle of about a dozen panes of glass ; place the panes in the rays of the sun at an angle of about 35 degrees ; by these means you will produce a polaiity of light— reflected and cuirent ; now place one of the glasses of water in the reflected light and the other in the current, for about 5 or (j minutes, and give this w ater to a sensitive person to taste: he will tell -\ou that the water from the reflected light tastes cool and agreeable while the water from the current light tastes warm and bitter. Place also a small glass with water in the blue colour of the reflected iris and another in the yellow ; place also a glass of water on the point of the crystal and another at the opposite end, and the same result will be obtained Now give these waters to the analyser aud tell him to analyse the amarum and acidum. Let us considar the moon next, and you will find similar— but polar contrary effects. A glass rod held in the moonlight is felt warm, and water exposed in the moonlight tastes bitter and nauseous. We may find here a clue to the popular belief thai, fish and meat exposed to the moonlight becomes spoiled or poisoned, and a partial light is thrown on the periodical occurrence ot lunacy. All fixed stars produce a negative or cold influence, and all stars which are without self-light a positne or warm influence. We see, with the sun and moon, Od is streaming to us in such masses that we are able to collect it. Od is also a cosmic dynamid which passes from star to Btar, and, like light and heat, enhallows the whole universe, which we see beautifully illustrated by the signs of life and animation which are the associates of the raj s of the rising sun when they kiss the face of the slumbering earth. How much Od influences animated nature we shall see hereafter. By taking a magnetic bar and placing it in the same way as you did your crystal one, so that the north pole of your magnet points to north, a sensitive person approaching it with both palms of the hands, will find the same results as with the crystal. The north pole will give a cool and the south pole a warm sensation. The water placed on each pole has the same effect ; and if you want again to call the attention of your chemists to the fact, I can promise you, they will get angry and tell you it is not true, to~*|»et out of the scrape. You can only smile at sucE verdict. Very toon those gentlemen will be obliged to believe otherwise. Nature's truths can not be made untruths .by such verdict. That respecting th« luminositf - of, the magnet *%.«

same results were obtained you will not question. Only the lights of the magnet are more brilliant, and even so powerful as to reflect on the surrounding objects. An object brought between did throw a Shadow, and the light of the magnet could be concentrated in a focun— I nay even, it has been proved to act on a daguerreotype plate in a camera obscurst. That Od i* not posiii\ely connected with magnetism is proved -the crystal has not the attractive force. Od is consequently a force by itself, though it is observed combined with magnetism. We know the relationship of magnetism and electricity ; we know the production of one by the other, and are accustomed to hold them identical, but, bo long a* we are unable to defend their united source, which I may have the pleasure to s<> do at another opportunity, we must treat them separately. We «rill again follow our sensitive friend to the dark chamber, and take a cat, bird, a butterfly, or a flower with us, and you will be astonished that, after •*** 'hours in the room they will all appear luminous. Keichenbach relates an instance of Professor Endlicher, a celebrated botanist, who was led one evening into th« dark chamber, when all at once he called out it is a 1 blue flower— a gloxinia." Indeed, it was a gloxinia speciosa cotrulea which stood before him. He even saw the stemen, petels, and every minute part quite distinct. But now you will hear your sensitive person tell you that he sees you — now like a snow man and now like an illuminated giant. Nay, even, the sens'tives see themselves, arms and legs, and all through the clothing. The most illuminated are the hands. But now, when you have recovered your astonishment, you will hear that the lights are not the same'on each hand. Your right hand appears blue, while your left appears in a red yellow light. Your whole right side, face and all, appears darker and the left lighter, in consequence of the different lights. Now, you will ask can you prove the same parallel respecting the feeling as in the crystal *nd magnet i You will scarcely doubt it. The right hand appears cooler and the left warmer. The same difference was proved between all organs of the respective sides, when felt by the opposite hand. So you see that man is polar, from right to left, like the magnet, the crystal, and the beams of the sun between blue and red. Now, as the effect* from all these respective phenomena are the same, we may consider the causes are the same, and this pi ores that Od emanates from animated nature, which Reichenbach has proved in a variety of animals. Plants have proved a polarity, from the leaves to the roots. All organic living nature sends forth light, and overflows with the streaming ricehs of Odic dynamy, and if you carry this far embracing fact through the infinitude of all creation, a new day is dawning for you. That which is called animal magnetism finds an explanation. I will endeavour to lead you through this labyrinth with the light of theory. We will make a hasty passage. The key to the port I have already delivered to ou. You know that your right hand placed in the left of your sensitive friend produces an agreeable eoolnes*, while your left hand w ill produce a disagreeable warmth. Your right hand in his right and your lelt hand in his left will cause a disagreeable sensati' n. Now, you are all aware that two equal poles of a magnet do not attract each other, but immedately they are turned to opposite poles a change is produced. * Now, I heg you to recollect what I said before, respecting peisons who disliked the shaking of hands, and whotry to disengage the hand when you hold it a little while. From ancient custom, you give right to right hand— two equal poles. To bring my assertion to a proof, take another circumstance of common life. Place yourself next to a sensitive person, as close as soldiers in rank. Your right side will come in close contact with your neighbour's left, and you will hear no complaint. But now bring your left side in contact with your neighbour's left, and you at once hear of his aveision— he will endeavour to retreat. In the first place you caused an unequal polarity, while in the second an equal. So the same if you place yourself before and behind a sensitive person. Herein again you will find an explanation of what I have said before, with respect to persons who cannot endure to be in a crowd. If two persons stand next to each other the one will be charged with nega ive Od. in the same proportion as the other receives positive Od. The wife which man places on his right side recehes also as mu'h gratification and comfort as the man accepts of discomfort. The key to this most ancient custom, throughout all nations, depends, therefore, not only on descent, but is founded in the interior of our nature. To Mesmerize or Animal Magnetize is also nothing else, than to overehargp your patient with Od, and cause, by this overcharge, a trance. It is the same whether you do this by hand, by magnet, or by crystal. It is likely that the will of the operator discharges a greater quantity of Od on the Od wanting patient. But, as animal magnetism is employed by empirics for the cure of diseases, who are frequently quite in ignorance about the Odic polar laws, it is not to be wondered at that this subject has fallen into discredit. Let us hope that when the nature of OJ and its complications with the powers of living organisms, through careful investigations, are known physiologically and pathologically, that our physicians will establish in place of the present empirical system a rational doctrine, based on the true law of curing diseases, simlia similibus curantur. The usefulness of Od may then piove a remedy of the first rank. The misapplied name of Animal Magnetism, descends from a time when men formed of those things the grossest misconceptions, but does not agree with the present state of theoretical explanations. You know now " Od," emanating from the sun, the crystal, and the magnet, as well as Irom the decaying but living source of the organically animated. I will now introduce to you the chemical " Od." Open a bottle of champagne, in "a dark room, and your sensitive friend will explain joyfully that he sees a brilliant column of light following the cork to the ceiling. He then will see the entire bottle envelloped in a white light and afterwards a light waving cloud. As you cannot see anything of this beautiful firework, you know already that it is an Odic phenomenon. Sodawater will do the same— sugar aid salt dissolved in water proves so. The chemical solution also develops it. Bring the two wires of a galvanic battery into the water and it becomes luminous. Place an iron or zinc wire in the water and the whole will be shining, and a long flame, similar to the flame of a candle, will be sent forth by the upper end of the wire. Alcohol, aether, ammonia, camphor, and even mercury appear luminous, in consequence of their evaporation. The chemical action of fermentation will explaint the effects of the champagne. Decomposition is but a process of fermentation, and we all know that decomposing substances are luminous. Tliis has been explained to you as phosphorescence. But how much the'illuminative principle of phosphorus is connected with Od, that we have not yet discoursed. And even when the sensitive persons do not discover an atom of phosphorus on the decomposed substances they still remain luminous. As we speak now of decomposition we are not far from the dead. Please to follow me into the empire of the buried. You have heard the story, at least it is one of the many old German superstitions, that the dead are walking on and about their graves until such time as they have rid themselves of all that is earthly and worldly before they can go to eternal rest. You look at me incredulously, but I will call my witnesses : all your old nurses and grandmothers will have affirmed this to you over and over again. But now do as Reichenbach has done, and take, on a very dark night, a walk to the cemetry with your sensitives, and they will tell you that they see flames like figures dancing and moving over the graves, some more vivid than others, according to the age of the graves. By nearer approach a li^ht fog of light remains, which is easily acted upon by the moving of the clothes and by the current of air. Professor Gregory affirms, in his work on animal Magnetism, that he has known persons who have always seen, on very dark nights, over churchyard graves and vaults, these lights long before Reichenbach's investigation. What is all this t Nothing but the decomposing miasma breathed forth from the graves. It is carbonic acid, ammonia, an« phosphuretted hydrogen, and other known products of decomposition. But now, my friends, we have to apologise to all our good old women. The fiery ghosts are true, their existence is undeniable, and we must give way and tell our good old nurses that they were in the right ; and that these ghosts were seen by chosen people called sens'tives we must blushingly "acknowledge. It is not their fault that we could not conceive what they assured us of for centuries. Sound is Odic. Strike a bell and it becomes luminous, and you may increase its light according to the strength and continuity of the strokes. A horse-shoe magnet struck increased in luminosity. A violin played, not only the strings but the whole body, becomes visible. Still more, the lights emanating simultaneously with the iound, shewed the different vibrations according to the tone. The interior of a bell felt cold when struck to the left hand and warm to ths right. In fact, with sound Od is developed. Friction like sound proved to develope Od. One end of a wire being rubbed, the other end becomes luminous. A glas9 rod placed in a glass of water, rub the uppermost end with a grindstone, and the entire rod and also the water will become luminous. To all sensitive persons who tasted this water it was bitter and nauseating, nay every one vomited severely and repeatedly. Water shaken in , a bottle becomes luminous, and «o does alcohol, aether, vinegar, in fact all liquids become Odic by being shak»n. , I;dare say many of you are »qr

I quninted with die phenomena of the famous magic rof I — the well end mineral diseoterer. Them pnenoI mena find an explanation. Take * glass tube Una core* I it thickly whh any sunstuncey and gite it to * sensitive' 1 person to" hold in the left hand, pour water through: it, and «^wmn sensation will be felt, which ceasttr when you aiscontinne "the current of water.- Iteichenbaih took his sensitive subjects to his- park- and 1 promenadeil with them over certain parti, and they disv'orered, by a peculiar Worm sensation similar to that gained by* pouring water through a tube, the placet which were" undermined by currents of water. We hare now the explanation of the effects produced by" the magic rod— which is used in Germany and- in- mines* for the discovery ofwetts and minerals — which i* ribthing else but an unaccountable odic elect on the sensitive holder of the rod. Monsieur Sourcier, a famous cfiicovef er of wells, wlw has brought the' mode of finding out wells to 1 a" nrfra 1 ' culous perfection, is but a sensitive person-. As- often 8 as he passes above a subterranean current of w*trr nd' feels the odic influence, more or lets, and according to the intensity of the sensations he is even able to judge" about the quantity and the depth of the water to b6* found. He hi 3 called forth the admiration and gratitude of half of France. His secret, which was even to 1 him' a riddle, is now solved, and by a rational practice of sensitive persons we may soon have a number of welldiscoverers. I am afraid to fatigue you with still more minute explanation, but like sound and friction, so heat and electricity produce Od ; in fact all objects are odic, and' consequently odic luminous, according to their respective bulk and density ; and to ascertain this, many of you may be sensitive f enough. You may have whenawake at night, and rising to look foi your matches,* which you cannot find, you may have then perceived* all objects on your table, and in the room, clothed in »' very weak whitish hue so weak tfiaf you may have taken it for an illusion ; but should this phenomenon occur again you will know that you see odic light. [ Minerals, next to the crystal and magnet, have proved I the most odic and luminous objects. You are aware of I the positive and negative electric relationship which' | exists in crystals ; for example, — zinc is positive to copper, and platina is negative to zinc, &c, &c. ; andyou may well imagine the intense labor which chemistsha\ c spent to find out those classifications. Now, a sensitive person may find this out at once,hy the different sensations and different od'c lights which minerals and chemical produce. Reichenbach has tieeii 1 enabled tocompile a whole chemico electric arrangement 1 in a way astonishingly correct. The great chemist' Berzelius, the discoverer of the electro-chemic system, • was not a little astonished when he became acquainted l with the fact that the object for which he had labored' nearly forty years could be ascertained by such simple means ; but, however, the learned chemists of our day remain yet blind to, or do not sezrn to be yet advanced! enough to appreciate, these wonderful tests. You will now find an explanation why it is that softs' persons are unable to eat, without a feeling of aversion, with spoons prepared from metals to which they are particularly sensitive. And now the riddle is solved, • why it is that sometimes the most beau tit ul girl may. avoid the mirror. Mercury is a positive agent and ■produces a warm sickening effect, Approaching, also, a* looking-glats, a peculiarly painful nauseating effect isproduced, and if persevered in headache and vomiting? will be the result. Highly sensitive persons are able to discover the places where minerals and metals are to be found. I recollect having lately read in a French paper that a Frenchman was spoken of who could discover gold whenever it was hidden or placed; which he did in every instance. Now, take for example a stratum of lead, copper, or gold, and suppose it a few feet below the surface, and a sensitive person well practised and familiar with the sensations of the different minerals were* passing, with attention over it, is it not probable that such person could, with the utmost certainty, discover " the exact place where such minerals are to he found ? This has been done for centuries, in single instances ; — and I refer again to the magic rod. I dare say the good luck of many a successful digger may be attributed to this instinct of which he could not give an account. All this has been looked upon as miracu- ■ lous — which is now solved in the physical influence of the Odic dynamy on the human nerves ; and many instinctive phenomena of animals find an explanation in the same cause. You are now aware what practical importance sensitivity must gain, and what an important place it will occupy in society. The services of practical sensitives • will soon be deemed invaluable, and they will become the blessings of their countries. For mining operation* - this new discovery must become of the utmost importance. A large iron globe, two or three feet in diameter, is • converted into a tempory magnet by causing an electric " current to traverse a wi'e coiled round an iron bar pass--ing from pole to pole of the sphere. When this globe is suspended in a p-rfipetly dark room, the Odic light, in> the most exquisite beauty, will be seen emanating from it in all the chai.icters of the North Light and the South Light, by sensitive persons. Now the earth being a vast and ' therefore powerful' magnet, and giving forth, in consequence, a great quantity of Od,— this Od becomes visible to all eyes ; and thus we find the explanation ol the beautiful phenome >a of the Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis. The sun be.ng the largest globe near us we are under the immediate influence of the Od emanating therefrom. As we have seen that the light emanating fr6m the ' magnet and crystal ha» all the peculiarities of the sun light, nay even acts on the daguerreotype plate, and is also combined with the attractive force of the magnet and is increased according to the bulk and density of • the objects from which it emanates ; it is consequently, allied with the law of gravitation. Our earth, in harmony with that law, is attracted by ' the sun, and consequently receives its light, which overshadows the earth's Od light ; the proof of which is that the Aurora Borealis is only seen in a dense, dark • atmosphere. Does this not prove that we have reason i to believe that the sunlight is Od ? Considering also Od such an universal agent, and' turning our attention from inert matter to animated ' nature, and investigating the secret stirrings of man, we find in him but an epitome of the universe ; and in him ■ are concentrated the chemical properties of all' the ' various substances in existence, which form and constitute the very elements of his being. Chemical action, , as well the ordinary as that connected with combustion i and galvanism, are, as we have seen, a comprehensive source of Od ; consequently, the chemical process -of digestion, respiration, and, (in general) change of matter, in the animal economy, increase and decrease the quan - - tity of Od in the human frame. We have traced Od, and found it predominantly in the hands. Points of extraordinary powi r are the eyes, , mouth and tongue. The distribution of the quanttiy of Od differs according to time. On waking in the morning, or rather with sunrise, it begins to increase. It falls at the time of breakfast, when the sensation of ' hunger is felt. After eating it rises again. The same • after dinner time. This elevation lasts till sunset, when - the Od force sinks rapidly. The brai • was the next point of Reichenbach's inves- - tications. Here it was proved that the left side of the -• head was slower rising than the right The sensation of hunger influenced the brain in a less degree than the head. We see how wisely it is ordered I by nature, that the energetic mental faculties do not •- suffer from the want of food like the muscular powers.-. The frontal part of the head, the seat of the cerebrum, . was active during the day, and the occiput, the seat o.f f the cerebellum, at night. In regard to Od, between i waking and sleeping, the power of Od was not lessened^, but only changed its seat. Here we find again a proof in the views before' Stated, 1 , that the sun, under the law of gravitation, is a > source of Od, and sends Od to us with light and heat, . &c, &c , and charges all the universe with it. With > his setting sink* the Odic influence in the organism, and I with this naturally begins the sleep. We have seen that the chemical action of digestion as • well as the influence of the sun charges our frame with Od ; and considering the law of equilibrium, pervading every element in the universe, Od is under its influence. We find now the clue why it is that in hot climates a far less quanti y of food is necessary to support our frame, although undergoing the most astonishing exertion, when on the other hand, in cold climates, much i more food is taken, and food of a stimulating nature is • necessary to supply the nervous system with this subtle -• fluid. Near the meridian where the sun has a more • powerful effect on the terrestial sphere, the nervous » system seems to be better supplied with Odic force from > the sun, and consequently the want of food is less felt . than in colder climates. The condition of the blood and the gsngliomc syst- - tern influences the sensation of hunger. The new sub- - stances which are necessary for the suppoit of our system and introduced by baths, injections, and other means, are proportionately able to support the organism, . as if the food was introduced through the-ordinary way, and the sensation of hunger is -for. a time abated. Now, the influence of Od emanating from the sun, acting on our frame, seems to support the nervous system with the. Odic element necessary to lessen the quantity of food which would be needful if it* influence were less powerful, and so we see it acting like the artificial means named before. B\it here you will a%lc What becomes of the chemical action of digestion— the chyme and chyliflcation needful for. the system, &c? - The quantity of food taken is used by chemical action? . and as the nervous system in some measure is charged I with the nflcessary.Qtlft. 010 othe,r.,cha.nne.ls, jtbtkcbem*-

icil digestion has only to supply the system with the needful blood and chyle, and less food is required. As the Od in the organism falls when the want of support is felt, and increases atter meals by means ot digestion, Od is pioduced. And, according to the laws ol equilibrium, when our nyst<?tn is charged «ith Od ari*- , in<» from the sun it nunX reject thr Od tvom digestion, and the need of produce from di^i^uon is thi-n only m relation to the want of blood nnd chyle, and a les* quiuitity of Jodd is required than would otherwise be the case, had it to charge the frame with Od entirely •nd solely. It it in the nervous system t^at Od is concentrated. It is Od which in known under so many names, . •ach as nervoui vital fluid, nervous fluid, nervous agent, nervous principle, &c , &c. A great many physiologists, an* lately Dubois, will have it that electricity and the nervous vital fluid are identical. Now let me see if we have not even this proof with Od? Od is combined with magnetism though it is not the same phenomenon. Magnetism is produced by galvanic eleotricity, further a vibratory condition of the molecules Of iron produces magnetist:., and so the definite undula-u-.ns among the molecules of oar nervous system. The anatomical apparatus of the nervous sheaths, is designated to iinulate it from the interference of contiguous tissues, and to conduct it from one point to another. An anatomical, Wet which strongly substantiates the theory, is the isolated course oi every individual filament of the nerves. This shows that every peripheral point has a fixed representative in the brain. From this anatomical difference between the nerves and the blood vessels, we may at once find out their distinction the one tor the conveyance of a liquid current, the other by transmission of the undulating motion or Od, and thence the absolute subjection of muscular action by the will. As the light or Od of the sun falling on the upper surface of a leaf evaporates cyclophyle from the sap. So in Man and animals presenting their own vegetative sphere" The Od in animal life has to act on the vegetative life in i self from within just as the sun actt on the plant from without, and «o the Od m the animal organism produces all the secreations necessary for its growth and support. It is this intermediate link between the physical forces and nerve force in which our phenomena must meet. 3fc> prove this, namely that Od, through electricity in the connecting link between mind and matter, before you in the most plain and intelligible manner, I would first remark that the brain is the fountain of the nervous system 1 ,, from whence it sends out millions of branches to every part of the body ; indeed, the brain is but a congeries of nerves, and is the immediate residence of the living spirit. This spirit or mind is the cause of all motion. It wills the arm to rise, and immediately the arm 6beys the mandate ; while the very presence of this spirit in the brain even though wrapped in the sensibility of sleep, produces all the involuntary motions of the vitals as before explained and executes the functions of life. To establish the fact that Od is. indeed, the connecting link between the mind and body I would distinctly remark, that mind canhot come in direct contact with gross matter. My mind can no more directly touch my hand than it can the solid sock. My mind cannot touch the bones of my arm, nor the sinews, the amscles, the blood vessels, nor the blood that rolls in them. In proof of this position, let one hemisphere of tkebwin wceive what is called a stroke of the palsy, let the paralysis be complete, and one-half of the system w ill be rendered motionless. In this case, the mind may will with all its energies, may exert all its mental powers, yet the arm will not rise nor the foot stir, yet the bones, sinews, muscles, and blood vessels are all there, and the blood avusual continues to flow. Here then we have proof, the most irresistible, that mind can touch none of these, for what mind can touch it can move as easily as what the hand can physically touch it can move. Our proof is so far phisophically conclusive. I would now remark that it is equally certain my mind can touch some matter in my body, otherwise I never could raise my arm at all; The question then arises, What is that mysterious substance which the mind can touch, as its prime agent, by which it produces muscular motion ? In the light our subject now stands the matter is most simple. It is that very substance which was disturbed in the paralysis, and that is Od— or as it is called nervous fluid. The animal electricity cannot be brought to act on the disturbed hemisphere of the brain. Mind is the only agent in the universe that possesses inherent motion and life as its two primeval efficients. These two seem to- be inseparable because there can be no manifestation of power except through irotion. Hence mind is the first grand moving cause. It i& the first link in the maguificient chain of living substances. This mind wills, which is the first link. ThK mental energy, as the creative force, is the second lmk. It distributes Od, by undulating through electrical action the molecules of the nervous system ; this i% the third link. Od causes the nerve to vibrate, this is the fourth link. Vibration of the nerve contracts the fibre of the muscles, this is the fifth link. Contraction of the muscle raises the bone of the troi, this is the sixth link. The arm raises dead matter, this is the seventh link. Thus it is through a chaip of seven links that mind comes in contact with dead matter. That is, if we allow, the creative force, the will, to be one link. Will, however, is not a substance ; but a mere energy, the result of m nd. To be plain, it is mind that touches Od— Od touches nerve — nene touches muscle— muscle touches bone — and b.nie raises dead matter. It is also through this concatenation or chain, link by link that the mind gives motion to and controls living or dead matter, and not by direct contact with all substance*. Hence the proof is clear and positive, that the niind can come in contact with, and by its volition control, the Od of the body, and collect this subtle substance with a fearful power on any part of the system. And hence you will be able to understand how a person can charge another with Od, as in animal magnetism, by the will not only living but inert matter may be charged with it, as Od is subject to radiation like heat. Considering, as I have stated before, the earth as a powerful magnet, we cannot find it improbable that terrestrial magnetism should produce a marked influence on the human system. You know that the north pole magnetic needle, which gives Odic coolness on the leit hand of the sensitive, and is turned towards the north, I have named negative. As the terrestrial pole attracts it, this must prove a contrary pole ; consequently, the north pole of the earth must be Od positive and the south pole Od negative. We now will at once make our observations on the occurrences of daily life. You recollect the sensitive persons who but sleep only on the right side. I venture to affirm that, in this hemisphere, those people can only sleep on the left. Near the equator it will prove immaterial on which side they he. The north pole would cause with the left side and the south pole with the right side an equality of poles, consequently the disturbance of sleep. Now, place your friend on the con«trary pole side, and all is in harmony. I have not yet bpoken of the polar relationship ■which exists in the upright position of man. It has been ascertained that the head proved negative and tke feet positive : taking this for granted, you will understand why some people can only sleep with the head towards the north. Now, place your sensitive person x>n a bed, and you will soon hear that he finds himself comfortable only with the head towards north ; now place; auch person from west to east, and you will hear him complain of discomfort. The reason is obvious, and depends on the same explanation as before given in reference to right and left. Reichenbach relates many cases of sleepleis persons who could find rest only •with the head towards tke north. I attended once a lady in London for a very long time ; and though she improved in her health in every respect I could not control her sleeplesinesfl ;. all jny remedies proved void,. She could sleep in the afternoon, on her sofa, while the would remain awake all night. One day, by visiting her, the problem was solved ; her sofa stood from north to south, while her bed was placed from. «Ast to west. The bed was turned with the head towards north, and my patient's sleeplessness was cured, from that night. Of how many advantages the consideration of the situation of my patients' beds have been, when they suffered from sleeplessness, you may welljuuge. A visitor comes to see you and seats himself on a chair— but after a little while changes his seat ; observe, in that ease, if the position of the second seat is not from north to south. Reichenbach relates— that a poor ■weaver, a diligent and honest fellow, tolerably sensitive, changed his lodging; but in his new quarters he had no taste for his weaving chair. He could not rest -on it; he fell into the public house, neglected his work, »nd was ruined. In his old lodgings his weaving chair stood from north to south, while in his new place of abod« it stood from east to west. Th'ia was the unaccountable reason of his dislike to it. which brought the poor fellow to ruia. You will perceive of how much importance it is*"to p»y a little attention to those imponderable agents. You "recollect what I said respecting the lady who faints in church. Such phenomena depend on the position of tht edifice itself, and the position of the seat occupied. Tlie universal diffusion of the Od3'lic influence naturally leads us to anticipate that, like heat, Od is transmitted through or traverses space by what may be called radiation, and is also, like heat and electricity, transmitted through bodies. It appears to travel less rapidly than light ; but it is conducted through matter nratsK xnor* rapidly than heat. It passes rendily through jjl known substances, but, with somewhat less facility through fibrous or interrupted than through continuous Structures. Thus paper and wood are ribt traveised so

easily by it as some other bodies— but cannot long a rest it. , Like heat, light, electricity, and magnetism, Odtendi to a state of equilibrium ; and its external manifestations seont io depend chiefly on the disturbance of eqnilibrium. Just as a hot body radiating moie heat than I it receives, soon co-nes to ati equilibrium of temperature with the surrounding bodies, so does a body Odvlic excited or chaiged, tend to, and ultimately attain, an equilibrium of Odylic force with surrounding bodies. And iuat as ferro-magnetism is found polar and active iv a magnet which is in a certain ferro- magnetic state -a state we may call a peculiar disturbance of equilibrium in the magnetic force— so, m a body Odylic polar and Odylic active, such as a magnet, a crystal, and the human body we may suppose, a like arrangement or distribution of the Odylic torce; the results only of which, and not its precise nature, are known to us. You know now the Phenomena ot All that that I hare designated by the word '• Od"— by its external manifest8 ][t isa dynamyd which is analogous to those already known in science. It embraces a group of inweighable but sensually preceptible operations in nature, for which there is not yet discovered a measure, weight, or a reagent but *he human neive, and only this under peculiar circmstances of an extreme sensibility. The reason why it has escaped all scientific investigation, nay even been pertinaciously opposed, lies in the want i of in Odometer, which could be in the hands of everybody and wherewith its presence could be proved. And the reason why such an instrument has not yet been discovered lies in the nature of Od -namely, in its power to penetrate every material and all space, and nowhere accumulate to a general perception. Light, electricity, and heat give isolators to a certain degree- for Od there is none yet discovered. The n ant of retainability had been the reason why Reihenbach has given a name which may easily and phantly be used for acientific verbality purposes. Vado, in Latin, and Vade, in old Wendisch, me^ns, I walk quickly, I stream forth. Wodan, in old Germanic language, conveys the idea of the all penetrating. Od.in or Odin was their god, in whom the all penetrating power was personified. Od is also the name of one in all nature, with an inretainable power, quick, penetrating and streaming dynamyd. ' I know not. ladies and gentlemen, whether I have been clear and concise in what 1 have stated, or whether I have satisfied your expectations of interest and entertainment, to such a degree as the nature of this discourse must have led you to anticipate. If I have not succeeded, it is not the fault of Od- perhaps not mine. The subject has been too little studied yet. It is too young as well as too vast a subject to make it possible to give a clear and comprehensive idea of it m the short space of an hour. But allow me to assure you that I have done my best towards this object. Truth is truth whether it be known or not to the narrow intellect of man, and in my opinion every honest endeavour to unveil it, is to be valued, even if it should not be rewarded with success And now let me conclude with the words of a well known English writer:— "At all events, s-ysthe author of 'Academical Questions. "I trust whatever may be the fate of my own speculations, that phi'osophy will regain that estimation which it ought to possess. The free and philosophic spirit of our nation has been the theme of admiration to the world. This was the proud distinction of Englishmen and the luminous cource of all their glory. Shall we then forget the manly and dignified sentiments of our ancestors, ■to prate in the language of the mother or the nurse about our good old p- ejudices ? This is not the way to defend the cause ot tiuth; it was not thus that our fathers maintained it, in the brilliant period ot our history. Prejudice may be trusted to guard the outworks, for a short space of time, while reason slumbers in the citadel, but it the latter sinks into a lethargy, the former will quickly erpct a standard for herself, philosophy, wisdom, and liberty support each other. Ue who will not reason is a bigot, he who cannot is a fool, and he who dares not is a slave, bat he who can and will reason is a man.