MESMER, FRIEDRICH ANTON, the author of the doctrine of Mesmerism, was born in 1734 at Marburg in Baden. After attending the schools of Dillingen and Ingolstadt, he studied medicine at Vienna, and subsequently settled in that city as a physician. It was there in 1766 that he gave the first rude outline of his theory in a treatise entitled De Planetarum Influxu. He founded his speculation on the supposition that there is an element of extreme subtlety which pervades the entire universe and permeates every body. He then asserted that this element, like the sea and the atmosphere, was influenced by the heavenly bodies, and that it communicated this influence to the nervous systems of all animals. In this way he accounted for the periodical affections of certain invalids. But this theory, in the form in which it was divulged, could not afford a basis for any art that might minister to the eager cupidity of its author. Mesmer therefore thought of making magnets perform the office of the heavenly bodies, and of using them to cure the diseases of the human frame. No sooner, however, had he begun the healing art than it appeared that a Vienna professor, Father Hell, had already been using magnets for the same purpose. A controversy ensued between the rival leeches touching their respective claims to the discovery. Mesmer was worsted; but effected a safe retreat from the contest by averring that he was not restricted to one instrument, for he could employ animal magnetism with the same effect as he had employed mineral. The efficacy of this new appliance he endeavoured by every means to prove to the public. He solicited the opinions of the Royal Society of London, the Academy of Sciences at Paris, and the Academy of Berlin. None of these bodies, except the last, deigned to give him even an unfavourable reply. As unsuccessful was his alleged cure in 1777 of Mademoiselle Paradis, a popular vocalist, who was suffering from gutta serena and convulsive affections in the eyes. The young lady was afterwards discovered to be as blind as ever; and Mesmer was obliged to flee from the punishment of his imposture. After practising his art for a short time in Germany and Switzerland, he repaired to Paris in 1778. At this time the French people, free from all political excitement and from all interest in foreign affairs, were ever on the alert for novelties and wonders. Accordingly, they received with eager curiosity the handsome and imposing foreigner who professed to unveil the secret workings of nature, and to effect a painless cure of all diseases by a simple process resembling the passes of a magician. Within a short time Mesmer had gained a great practice, had converted to his opinions Deslon, one of the faculty, and had published an account of his theory. Of this account many refutations by scientific men appeared. Mesmer condescended on one occasion to reply, and with cool self-complacency described himself as a man of genius and a benefactor of the human race. About the same time he was soliciting from the government a chateau and its lands as a reward for his services, and was threatening to leave France if they should attempt to cheapen the price of his labours. His request was not granted; but a life-rent of 20,000 francs per annum was offered to him. A yearly sum of 10,000 francs was also guaranteed, on the condition that he should permit three persons nominated by the ministry to inspect and report his proceedings. Mesmer was not pleased with the condition, and he put his former threat into execution by rejecting the offers of the French government, and by setting out with some of his patients to Spa. There his enthusiastic admirers, headed by Bergasse, promised to raise a subscription for his behoof if he would agree to reveal the secret of animal magnetism to all the subscribers. Mesmer grasped at the offer; and having returned forthwith to Paris,
opened a spacious hall, and attracted all classes around him. In a luxuriously furnished room, pervaded by perfumes and echoing with soft music, he was wont to seat his patients round a species of magnetic battery called a bague. When this co-operation of exciting causes began to produce as its necessary effect a nervous agitation through the entire circle, Mesmer appeared with his magic wand to regulate the action in each separate individual. So many cures were alleged to have been effected by this process, that at length, in 1784, the French government thought it their duty to examine into this apparent mystery. The proceedings of Deslon, the pupil of Mesmer, were accordingly scrutinized by a committee of inquiry consisting of the physicians Majault, Sallin, Darcet, and Guillotin, and the academicians Franklin, Leroy, Bailly, De Bory, and Lavoisier. The report, drawn up by Bailly, thoroughly exposed the falsehood and imposture of the Mesmeric process. About the same time the Royal Society of Medicine published another report equally condemnatory. These two testimonies from the scientific world were printed by the order of the government, and circulated throughout France. The disciples of animal magnetism attempted to check the advance of their enemies by forming themselves into societies. Mesmer, more politic, escaped amid the general confusion, carrying with him a subscription of 340,000 francs, and at the same time the secret for which that sum had been given to him. After living for some time in England under an assumed name, he repaired to Germany, and published in 1799 a new exposition of his doctrine. He died in obscurity in his native city in 1815.