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Franklin and Mesmer: an encounter

¹Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.

The Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine

|July 1, 1993

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

In the late 18th century, Dr. Mesmer promoted animal magnetism for healing. Scientific commissions later concluded mesmerism

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Area of Science:

History of Medicine
Scientific Inquiry

Background:

Franz Mesmer proposed animal magnetism, a theory of invisible fluid influencing health.
Mesmer's magnetic clinics gained popularity, leading to controversy with the medical establishment.

Discussion:

Parisian commissions, including members of the Academy of Sciences and led by Franklin and Guillotin, investigated Mesmer's claims in 1784.
The commissions sought to differentiate between scientific phenomena and supernatural or fraudulent practices.

Key Insights:

Mesmerism's perceived success was attributed to the power of the imagination, not a physical magnetic fluid.
The investigations highlighted the tension between emerging scientific rationalism and popular beliefs in the mysterious.

Outlook:

Related Experiment Videos

The findings contributed to the decline of Mesmer's influence and the discrediting of animal magnetism as a medical treatment.
This historical episode underscores the importance of empirical evidence and critical evaluation in scientific progress.