Genre:

News-Commentary

Subjects:

Spiritualism, Mesmerism, Medical Treatment, Charlatanry, Race, Nationalism

    Discusses the alleged cures by the mesmeric and spiritualist healer, F L Newton, in particular his treatment of the curvature of a baby's spine. Points out that if Newton's treatment had been 'attested by but one metropolitan hospital surgeon' then 'the whole medical profession would believe in the curative powers of Dr. Newton, and advise the British Public to credit them too'. Turns to a report of Newton's treatment of a lame Irishman who, owing to one of his legs being bent backwards, used a wooden leg to support him. Newton apparently healed the man who walked away with the wooden limb on his shoulder. Punch dryly admits that it has 'not the slightest difficulty' in believing that an Irishman 'did limp into the presence of Dr. Newton with a bent knee and a wooden leg, and walk out of it with the knee straight, and the wooden leg on his shoulder'.