Hypnotism: Its History, Practice and Theory

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believed later on that different objects of wood, glass, iron, and so forth, were also capable of receiving the magnetism. Consequently he made use of these as means for conveying his magnetism, especially later in Paris, where he went in 1778, chiefly in consequence of the enmities he had aroused in Vienna. In Paris, Mesmer constructed the baguet, which was magnetized by him, and which was supposed to transmit the magnetism. Bailly represents it as a very complicated apparatus : an oak chest with appendages of iron, etc. Mesmer found many adherents in Paris, but he also en-countered many opponents. Dr. Deslon, a Parisian physician, became one of his chief adherents, and was ruthlessly attacked by his colleagues in consequence. The Faculty of Medicine, in particular, was most severe in its attacks on the new teaching, and when thirty physicians continued to practise magnetism in spite of warning, issued the following circular-letter : In future no doctor will be allowed to write favourably of animal magnetism, or practise the same, on penalty of losing his professional privileges" (Ochorowicz). From this we perceive how intense the intolerance of the medical schools of those days was, and with what bitterness heretics were persecuted. Several scientific commissions which examined the question pronounced, in 1784, against the existence of animal magnetism—more particularly that of which Bailly was reporter. One of the members of the commission, Jussieu, made, however, a report that was not
considered decisive. No one, however, denied that far-reaching effects were produced by imagination; it was only denied that there was a physical force resembling the magnet-ism of minerals. In spite of all attacks Mesmer made disciples. His pupils and successors are generally called mesmerists, and the doctrine

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