Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume I.djvu/557

 ANIMAL MAGNETISM 525 proceeded to operate upon the diseased part by touching it with the right hand on one side and the left on the other, and performing certain cir- cular or vibratory movements with the fingers which were left free ; an essential condition being that actual contact should be kept up on the two opposite sides in order that the mag- netic influence might circulate, passing into the body of the patient on one side and out again on the other. His idea with regard to the na- ture of the influence termed animal magnetism may be best conveyed in his own words, as contained in a set of so-called " propositions " or " assertions," in a volume published by him in 1779 and entitled Memoir e sur la decouverte du magnetisme animale. The most important of these propositions are as follows : 1. "There exists a mutual influence between the celestial bodies, the earth, and animated beings." 2. " This reciprocal action is regulated by mechan- ical laws which up to the present time have been unknown." 3. " Animal bodies are susceptible to the influence of this agent ; and they are affected by it on account of its disseminating itself through the substance of the nerves." In cases where the body was affected by some disorder which pervaded all parts of the sys- tem, Mesmer was in the habit of magnetizing his patients with long and wide passes, made from a distance, either with the open hands or with the aid of a short rod or wand of glass or steel. His success with the public, however, and the number of patients who presented themselves, increased so rapidly that he could no longer give to each one the personal atten- tion rendered necessary by this method of practice, and a new one was adopted which soon became the main feature of the magnetic system, and was in fact the principle from which mesmerism, or animal magnetism as practised by Mesmer, acquired its greatest reputation and popularity. This was the " magnetic tub," about a foot and a half high and six feet in diameter, placed in the- centre of a spacious apartment. This tub was filled with water up to a certain level, and its bottom cov- ered with a mixture of iron filings and broken glass. Around its outer circumference were ranged a series of bottjes with their necks looking inward toward the? centre, and around its centre another set of bottles with their necks looking outward. The whole tub was surmounted by a wooden cover pierced with a number of small holes; and through these holes were inserted an equal number of glass or metallic rods bent at right angles? the inner ends of which dipped beneath the surface of the water, while the outer portions radiated horizontally in every direction, and were held in contact with the bodies of the patients, ar- ranged in. concentric circles round the tub. Thus a large number could be subjected at the same time to the magnetic influence. The tub was a sort of reservoir in which the magnetic force was condensed, and from which it radi- ated in continuous currents through the bodies of the patients. Its circulation was secured by means of a long cord, attached by one extrem- ity to the tub, and passed in successive loops round the waist of each person, the magnetizer himself forming one link in this continuous chain of living bodies. Thus the magnetism, radiating from the tub by the metallic rods, returned again to it by means of the cord, and so continued its course in a closed circuit with- out ever becoming exhausted. The more sus- ceptible of the patients soon felt a nervous influence pervading the affected parts, or even their whole bodies. This often became so intensified as to produce irregularity of respira- tion, and, especially among the female patients, sobs and laughter of an hysterical nature, ex- altation of the sensibilities, partial unconscious- ness, and even convulsions and a kind of mani- acal delirium. These effects, however, lasted but for a time after the patient was removed from the magnetic circle, and resulted in many cases, according to the assertions of Mesmer and his friends, in the relief or cure of diseases previously regarded as hopeless. The receipts of Mesmer from the patients resorting to his establishment were said at one time to amount to nearly 100,000 francs a year. His system had indeed become so popular that he ventured to address a note to the French government, stating that he. had discovered an agent by which most of the diseases of the human frame could be cured, and requesting the grant of a certain chateau and adjoining lands as a reward for his discovery, and as a place for the estab- lishment of a great healing institute. The gov- ernment refused his request, but offered him a yearly pension of 20,000 livres, and a certain sum for thef establishment of a hospital, on condition that he should teach his doctrines to some per- sons, of whom three should be selected by the government. This offer he rejected; and his friends, desirous of giving him some lasting pecuniary reward for his discoveries, propos- ed that classes should be formed of pupils whom he should instruct in animal magnetism. Each pupil should pay 100 livres as tuition fee, and bind himself not to teach others. These- classes were formed, and they paid him in all 34&,000 livres. Among those who sub- scribed themselves as pupils were Lafayette, D'Espr6menil, the marquis de Puysegur, and Dr. D'Eslon, D'Eslon was a man of much influence, and held the post of physician to the king's brother. He took great interest in ani- mal magnetism, used it in his practice, and made a large fortune by its meana. In 1784 the French government ordered the medical faculty of Paris to investigate Mesmer's theory, and make a report upon it. Under this order a commission was appointed, consisting of Benja- min Franklin (at that time minister to France from the United States), Lavoisier, Bory, Bail- ly, Majault, Sallin, D'Arcet, Guillotin, and Le Koy. Mesmer refused to appear before them, but D'Eslon took his place, made himself the advocate of the new doctrine, and tried a great