mesmerism

Mesmerism, also known as animal magnetism, is a historical theory and set of practices developed by Franz Anton Mesmer in the 18th century. It held that a universal magnetic fluid circulates through living beings and that illness results from its imbalance. Practitioners sought to restore balance by manipulating this fluid using magnets, touch, and specific gestures.

To apply the method, Mesmer used devices such as a baquet—a sealed tub filled with magnetized water and iron filings—and distributed magnets over the body. He performed passes, or hand movements, intended to direct fluid through the patient. In group sessions, patients would often enter trance-like states and undergo dramatic “crises” that were interpreted as healing.

In 1784 the French Academy of Sciences conducted a formal inquiry, with members including Benjamin Franklin and Lavoisier. They found no evidence for the existence of a magnetic fluid and concluded that the reported effects were due to suggestion and the participants’ expectations. After the inquiry, the popularity of mesmerism waned, though some practitioners continued to employ related techniques.

The work of Mesmer influenced the development of hypnosis in the 19th century. James Braid, in particular, coined the term “hypnotism” and reframed the phenomena in terms of suggestion and focused attention rather than a magnetic fluid. Today, mesmerism remains of historical interest as an early attempt to systematize mind-body connections; modern hypnosis and psychotherapy rely on psychological mechanisms such as suggestion, rapport, and placebo. See also hypnosis, suggestion, and psychotherapy.