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to occupy themselves with the question, and at first in a thoroughly scientific
manner. I do not enter more fully into the details of the teaching of different
individuals, as they have no close connection with hypnotism. In the main two
different tendencies can be distinguished—one critical and scientific,
and the other mystical. While the first had the preponderance in the beginning,
later on the last came to the fore and proved fatal to magnetism. Besides the
scientific investigators already mentioned I may name Treviranus, Kieser, Passavant,
Kluge; also Pfaff, who attacked clairvoyance in particular; and further, Stieglitz,
Fr. Hufeland, and C. W. Hufeland. The last, who was at first an opponent, acknowledged
certain facts later on, but excluded all that was supernatural, and thus drew
upon himself the hatred of the mystics. Even in 1834 C. W. Hufeland expressed
himself as recognizing the existence of animal magnetism and its value in healing.
Among the
IO HYPNOTISM.
mystics I may mention Schelling, Ziermann, Eschenmayer, Justinus Kerner, the
well-known poet and editor of the
Seeress of Prevorst.
In the year 1812 the Government sent Wolfart from Berlin to Mesmer at Frauenfeld,
in order that he might there make himself acquainted with the subject. Wolfart
came back a thorough adherent of Mesmer, introduced magnetism into the hospital
treatment, and afterwards became a professor at the university. A prize which
was offered by the Berlin Academy of Sciences, at the request of the Prussian
Government, for an essay on Animal Magnetism was, it appears, withdrawn. However,
animal magnetism flourished to an extraordinary extent at that time in Berlin,
and Berlin physicians placed a monument on Mesmer's grave at Morsburg. The well-known
physician Koreff, also, of whom Cuvier said later if he were not already in
Paris he must be entreated to come there, interested himself much in magnetism,
and often made use of it for healing purposes so long as he lived in Berlin.
Virchow complained in his address as Rector of the University, in 1893, that
the Chancellor of State, Hardenberg, had, in 1816 and again in 1817, with the
full concurrence of William v. Humboldt, expressed an earnest wish to promote
Wolfart and Koreff, the chief representatives of animal magnetism in Berlin.
The extent to which animal magnetism had gained ground in Berlin at that period
may be judged from the fact that theological students received instruction in
physiology, pathology, and the treatment of sickness by vital magnetism. It
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