I find it yet necessary to allude here to animal magnetism, as it is termed, or rather Mesmerism (as it should be called in deference to Mesmer, its first founder) which differs so much in its nature from all other therapeutic agents. This curative force, often so stupidly denied and disdained for a century, acts in different ways. It is a marvellous, priceless gift of God to mankind by means of which the strong will of a well intentioned person upon a sick one by contact and even without this and even at some distance, can bring the vital energy of the healthy mesmerizer endowed with this power into another person dynamically (just as one of the poles of a powerful magnetic rod upon a bar of steel).
It acts in part by replacing in the sick whose vital force within the organism is deficient here and there, in part also in other parts where the vital force has accumulated too much and keeps up irritating nervous disorders it turns it aside, diminishes and distributes it equally and in general extinguishes the morbid condition of the life principle of the patient and substitutes in its place the normal of the mesmerist acting powerfully upon him, for instance, old ulcers, amaurosis, paralysis of single organs and so forth. Many rapid apparent cures performed in all ages, by mesmerizers endowed with great natural power, belong to this class. The effect of communicated human power upon the whole human organism was most brilliantly shown, in the resuscitation of persons who had lain some time apparently dead, by the most powerful sympathetic will of a man in full vigor of vital energy,(1) and of this kind of resurrection history records many undeniable examples.
If the mesmerizing person of either sex capable at the same time of a good-natured enthusiasm (even its degeneration into bigotry, fanaticism, mysticism or philanthropic dreaming) will be empowered all the more with this philanthropic self-sacrificing performance to direct exclusively the power of his commanding good will to the recipient requiring his help and at the same time to concentrate these, he may at times perform apparent miracles.
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(1) Especially of one of such persons, of whom there are not many, who, along with great kindness of disposition and perfect bodily powers, possesses but a very moderate desire for sexual intercourse, which it would give him very little trouble wholly to suppress, in whom, consequently, all the fine vital spirits that would otherwise be employed in the production of the semen, are ready to be communicated to others, by touching them and powerfully exerting the will. Some powerful mesmerisers, with whom I have become aquatinted, had all this peculiar character.
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SUMMARY
Animal Magnetism (Mesmerism)
1. Origin:- Named after Mesmer, its founder, animal magnetism (or mesmerism) is a unique therapeutic force.
- It has been often denied and disdained but is a powerful, God-given gift to humanity.
2. How Mesmerism Works
- Vital Energy Transfer:
- A healthy person with strong willpower can transfer their vital energy to a sick person, even without physical contact.
- This dynamic transfer of energy is similar to how a magnetic rod influences a steel bar.
3. Functions of Mesmerism
- Vital Force Balancing:
- Helps patients by replenishing areas with deficient vital force.
- Redirects excess energy from areas with too much, reducing nervous disorders and balancing overall health.
- Useful in treating conditions such as old ulcers, amaurosis (vision loss), and paralysis.
4. Remarkable Effects
- Apparent Cures:
- Many historical cases of rapid healing by skilled mesmerists are attributed to their natural power.
- Resuscitation:
- Mesmerism has been shown to revive people who seemed to be dead through the powerful will and vital energy of a mesmerist.
5. Characteristics of a Mesmerist
- Qualities:
- A mesmerist with kindness, strong physical vitality, and self-control (e.g., suppressing sexual desires) can perform extraordinary feats of healing.
- Enthusiastic, philanthropic individuals are more likely to channel their willpower effectively, potentially performing what appear to be miracles.
