Mesmerism
Animal magnetism, also known as Mesmerism, is a theory promoted by German physician Franz Mesmer in the 18th century. It posits the existence of an invisible natural force (Lebensmagnetismus) possessed by all living things, including humans, animals, and vegetables. He claimed that the force could have physical effects, including healing.
The vitalist theory attracted numerous followers in Europe and the United States and was popular into the 19th century. Practitioners were often known as magnetizers rather than mesmerists. It had an important influence in medicine for about 75 years from its beginnings in 1779, and continued to have some influence for another 50 years. Hundreds of books were written on the subject between 1766 and 1925, but it is no longer practiced today except as a form of alternative medicine in some places. This theory also had a strong influence on the development of Kardecism.
Mesmerism, or animal magnetism, was an 18th-century therapeutic system created by Franz Anton Mesmer, which claimed that all living things possessed a universal “magnetic fluid” that could be manipulated to cure illness. The practice involved using magnets, hand gestures, and dramatic rituals, sometimes in a tub called a “baquet,” to induce a trance-like state of “magnetic sleep” in patients, leading to physical and emotional responses. While now considered pseudoscience, Mesmer’s work was a precursor to modern hypnosis and influenced later practices of mind cure and secular psychotherapy.
Key Aspects of Mesmerism
Animal Magnetism: Mesmer’s core theory was that an invisible, universal fluid was responsible for the health and disease of all living things.
Therapeutic Practices: Patients would gather in a dimly lit room, and Mesmer would perform “magnetic passes” with his hands and magnets over their bodies to redistribute this fluid.
The Baquet: He also used a special tub called a “baquet,” filled with water and iron filings, from which patients could hold iron rods, supposedly channeling the magnetic fluid.
Trance-like State: This process was designed to induce a “crisis,” a trance state characterized by symptoms like crying, shouting, and convulsing, followed by a feeling of relief.
Historical Context and Legacy
Pioneering Therapeutic Techniques: Despite the lack of scientific basis for its central claims, mesmerism laid important groundwork for modern therapeutic practices involving Altered states of consciousness (ASC).
Precursor to Hypnosis: The trance-like state induced by Mesmer was a direct predecessor to the development of hypnosis, which was later named and studied by others.
Influence on Secular Psychotherapy: Mesmerism was one of the first attempts at secular psychotherapy in America, providing a way to address psychological distress outside of religious institutions and influencing movements like the New Thought movement and Christian Science.
Decline and Modern Understanding
Controversy and Investigation: Mesmer’s controversial practices and spectacular patient reactions led to an investigation by a French royal commission in 1784, which declared the practice a form of quackery.
Pseudoscience vs. Lasting Impact: Although mesmerism is now considered a pseudoscience, its emphasis on suggestion, altered states of consciousness, and the mind-body connection continues to influence psychology and therapeutic practices today.