Test Post One

A protégé of Mesmer, named Chastenet de Puységur, felt that he, too, had this power of “animal magnetism” and magnetized a tree on his property. Peasants living nearby who came in contact with this tree reported ob­taining relief from a variety of ailments. However, Puységur soon found that it was unnecessary for people seeking a cure to fall into the convulsive-like fits which often characterized Mesmer’s work (and can still be seen in the present at some charismatic healing services). Using a technique in many ways similar to modern hyp­nosis, he demonstrated that beneficial results could be obtained simply by talking to the patient.

These developments caused such a stir in Europe that a special investigative committee was appointed in Paris to study the new phenomenon. Benjamin Franklin and Dr. Joseph Guillotin were among those serving on this committee. Their conclusion was that no mysterious magnetic “fluid” exists, and, whereas some of the re­markable cures effected by Mesmer and his followers could not be denied, the committee attributed the heal­ings to “mere imagination.” Largely because of the find­ings of this committee, hypnosis fell into disrepute and further scientific investigation was neglected.

In the early decades of the 19th century, mesmeric techniques continued to be practiced by some. It was Dr. James Braid who not only gave us the modern term hyp­nosis but from his hospital work also reached a critical insight about the nature of hypnotic technique. While agreeing that no magnetic fluid was involved in the pro­cess, he reaffirmed that something significantly thera­peutic was involved. In an effort to separate this phenom­enon from theories of animal magnetism, he asserted that the concentration of attention in a single focus was the major factor in stimulating the hypnotic effect.

The late 19th century saw a reawakening of great in­terest in hypnosis. The Austrian physician, Sigmund Freud, learned of the techniques during visits to France and was impressed by the possibilities of hypnosis for treating neurotic disorders. In his own practice he began