"A Short Cut to Heaven."

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXII, Issue 6792, 18 January 1897, Page 1

"A Short Cut to Heaven."

* I DISPLAY BY A BRAHMIN AT ST. GEORGE'S HOSPITAL. I The man who ties himself into knots J has often enough been mentioned in fanciful literature; but on Wednesday night (25th November) anatomical stu- , dents were invted to one of the theatres of that grand institution to sec a Hindu contortionist go as near that feat as mortal has probably ever gone. Tho performer, patient, victim, or by whatever name he may be called, is loga, of the Westminster Aquarium, and his fame has become so noised abroad that from a passing show he has become an object lesson to young doctors. Yoga was in the theatre as a Brahmin of the high caste, who had forfeited his religious rights by coming to England. He is said to have spent 40 years in a cave, living upon goat's milk and dried fruits, and, as he is now only 45, he certainly has had experience of the "calm retreat, the silent shade," for which the poet sighed. The gentleman who kindly explained the eminence of Yoga as an anatomical curiosity stated that his contortions were something in the nature of religious observances, and, in fact, "a short cut to heaven," in Brahminical circles. Yoga was then perched upon an operating table, and went through his paces. The students were informed, in suitable technical terms where the wonder lay, but an ordinary observer would be generally struck with the utter reversal of the functions of joints and ligature 3, and the supple manner in which Yoga's arms and legs twisted, reversed, rounded, and doubled into positions hitherto considered impossible. One neat trick was the flipping up of the legs from tho feet to the knees, packing them together, and representing the lower and upper halves as one united piece, so that the man hopped round the table as if on short stumps. Another effective movement was tho envelopment of the trunk of the body with the arms and legs, and the appearance of a bundle of dark brown flesh resting upon two short pillars. In fact, the body was upheld by tho forearms ; the whole burden rested upon the 10 ends of fingers and thumbs, and it was stated that Yoga could remain for seven days in this attitude. By means of a hanging skeleton, the medical gentleman who appeared to be in charge of the exhibition was able to show the audience how truly marvellous the contortions are. The Hindu suffers no pain in these " religious observances," goes through them with ease and gravity, and seemea very pleased with the applause amidst which he finished. Practical comments were invited ftom the students and fullyblown doctors present. One of them thereupon expressed a desire to know whether Yoga can "do much with his jaw," an innocent query that much amused the embryo physicians-; it turned out, however, that the best effects are to be got from the knee joints. A doctor present was asked whether he would like to make a few remarks. As was evidently regarded as an there was a sudden silence for words of wisdom. " Well, sir," said the man of science, " I can only say that it seems to me that it | takes much more exertion to get to heaven in Indian than it does in England." The dusky phenomenon was nevertheless seriously discussed in an informal manner it was made plain that there was no deception ; the demonstration was accepted as exceedingly curious from the anatomical standpoint; and the formal thanks to Mr Ritchie, of the Westminster Aquarium, for the opportunity he had thus given to the students of St. George's Hospital were emphasised by a round of cheering. They had at least seen something of a short cut to heaven never taught them by their Sunday school teachers or spiritual directors.