A Practical Manual of Animal Magnetism

:

A

PRACTICAL MANUAL OF

ANIMAL MAGNETISM CONTAINING

AN EXPOSITION OF THE METHODS EMPLOYED IN PRODUCING THE

MAGNETIC PHENOMENA: WITH

ITS APPLICATION TO THE

TREATMENT AND CURE OF

DISEASES,

By ALPHONSE TESTE, M. MEMBER OF SEVERAL LEARNED

D.

SOCIETIES IN PARIS.

Translated from the Second Edition,

By

D.

SPILLAN, M.

D.,

A.

M.

FELLOW OF THE DUBLIN COLLEGS OF PHYSICIANS.

FIRST AMERICAN EDITION. PHILADELPHIA PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY

BROWN, BICKI Nfljnfi No. 56 North

©¥ILBE

Thircj Sfreef, above

1844. T

Arch

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T

vVBd

TO

JOHN ELLIOTSON,

Esq. Sec.

M. D. Cantab.

F. R. S.

&c. &c.

WHOSE FIRM DETERMINATION IN THE INVESTIGATION OF TRUTH IS

ONLY EQUALLED BY HIS UNFLINCHING COURAGE IN OPENLY

AVOWING IT,

£fus ^Translation IS

MOST RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED BY HIS OBEDIENT SERVANT, D.

SPILLAN.

TRANSLATOR'S ADVERTISEMENT. The in

this

study of Mesmerism having become so very general

country within the

last

which we are mainly indebted

few years,

— a circumstance for

to the untiring zeal

fatigable exertions of Dr. Elliotson,— it

that the English public should possess

and inde-

was found necessary

some work

in their

own

language, which might serve as an introduction to this truly science.

interesting

The

great popularity of

Manuel Pratique de Magnetisme Animal, methodical exposition which

employed

in the production

it

once pointed

it

the very clear and

gives of the various processes

of the magnetic phenomena, and

of the application of this science disease, at

Dr. Teste's

to the alleviation

and cure of

out as one which, presented in an

English dress, might prove not unacceptable to the English It will

public.

be found to possess those qualities which must

recommend every

didactic work, viz.

great clearness of arrangement. 1*

great simplicity and

AUTHOR'S PREFACE. The rapidity with which the first edition of this work has been sold, must be attributed rather to the favourable time of its publication than to its merits a Practical Manual of :

Animal Magnetism was looked certain that for

me

to

was

I

mine would have readers

and

;

therefore pretty

it

only remained

be anxious concerning the judgment which the public

would form of

At present, however,

it.

tranquil on that subject

very bad terms of to

—

for.

it

for,

my

mind

it

;

it

and the public have read

for or against

it.

perfectly

is

physicians have not spoken in

magnetisers have thought

;

say some good of

saying much

;

their duty it

without

Let the public, then, be

my only

judges, because their neutrality in the question will guarantee their equity. verified, until

But,

and then

my experiments

let

having submitted

standing

the

me

last

tried

—repeated and

one of those lands of which

little is,

it

but not

magnetism has excited

that

— notwithstanding

the

by enlightened men,

it is

years in Europe

laudable efforts already devoted to

;

Nevertheless, notwith-

to this trial!

general attention

during the few

must be

judgment be pronounced on me

;

as yet, known, and to form

an idea of which, every man should explore not trust to the mere reports of travellers

;

for himself,

some

of these

and

am-

— author's preface.

viii

plify the truth

— others make

not declare

such as they

seem

ber

it

to think that

it

to exist

— and a large num-

interest to conceal

is their

it

because they dare

unnatural,

it

know

our readers, therefore, allow themselves

Let not

it.

be ensnared by the

to

loud words and honest looks of these men, for consciences, in

our times, are rarely conscientious, and the honour that raded about by

many

riac pot of ancient pharmacies,

and the most important empty.

body one's

self.

should ask

me

my Manual— I

it

is

After

fit

what

to

pa-

to

it

merely as a good book, worth at

widest

always

judge of a work on

have magnetised some-

magnetism

is

this question seriously, I

do not present

— the almost

but

state to

necessary

all,

the tallest

it is

appearance,

in

But, in fact, to be in a

Animal Magnetism,

is

people, resembles terribly the large The-

If

1

any one

would answer

you as a

Read

:

chef-cTozuvre, but

least a perusal;

and

if

does

it

not contain so rigorous a definition as you might desire, you will at least find in

it

a few ideas, together with a goodly num-

ber of facts, without mixture or exaggeration. is

the only eulogy permitted

clare

As

it

as being the only one

to the

form

of

it

lieve

on that score

I

have given

I

accord with the taste of that

me

I

my

to

make

have to

my

censors

;

This, perhaps,

and, therefore,

I de-

tried to deserve.

ideas, I question if ;

but,

I

have no pretentions, and that they

what they please without offending me

it

will

confess to them

may

in the least.

myself to be, generally, more logical than

I

brilliant;

say be-

and

without wishing to say aught against the ornaments of style,

would have strong scruples against sacrificing gle shade of the truth.

The

it

works of these

them one

who number and harmony of their

because they have nothing to say. I

I

sin-

majority of those authors

spend their time in search of the phrases, do

to

have just the same apathy as

For is

the

inspired

AUTHOR in

me

who

for certain fops

S

PREFACE.

are valued

IX

by

the cost of their

dress. I

confess that

book

in

I

indulge the idea of having written a useful this

Manual, the object of which

away from

science but to increase the

composing

not to take

is

certainly

number

ot

magnetisers.

To

teach the art of Magnetism

—

classes of society that

to

—

to spread its elements in all

make known

the

humanity must eventually draw from

plex end that

God

I

have undertaken

grant that

I

may

in this

immense advantage it

:

such

is

the

com-

work.

have succeeded.

A. T.

———

.

CONTENTS. Page

Chap.

Historical Survey

I.

§

I.

Mesmer and

his

1

Theory

ib.

Reflections on the Report of Bailly Conclusions of the Report of Jussieu Effect produced titled

j

)

5 q

5 § 5

7 ib.

by the work of Thouret, enet Doutes sur le Magnetisme

Recherches

Animal Magnetism among the Egyptians III. Magnetism among the Hebrews IV. Magnetism among the Greeks V. Magnetism among the Romans VI. Magnetism among the Gauls VII. Magnetism in the Middle Ages VIII. Magnetism in our Times Letter of the Marquis de Puysegur

8 9

II.

ib.

10 11 ib.

12 13

to one of the

members of the Societe de 1'Harmonie Transactions of the Royal Academy of Medicine relative to 3

Chap.

Chap.

IX. Conclusions of

II.

III.

5

I.

Magnetism M. Husson's Report

ib.

13

in 1831.

.

17

Of the Causes which have retarded the Propagation of Magnetism

25

Conditions necessary to the Production of the Magnetic Phenomena

29

Of Sex

30

— CONTENTS.

Nil

31

Of Age Of the Temperament IV. Of the Physiological State V. Moral Conditions II.