Information Pathfinder: Mesmerism

Scope note

This pathfinder is compiled to address the interest of how Mesmerism relates to the development of the Treatment of Pain, hence to Anesthesia and Analgesia in the medical (clinical) field. Mesmerism, or Animal Magnetism, is in fact chosen as an ancestor by other disciplines such as Psychology, Homeopathy and Spiritual Healing Practices. Mesmer's belief in the existence of a dynamical physical fluid common to animate and inanimate bodies (Propositions Concerning Animal Magnetism,) is at the core of the discipline carrying his name and the reason for Mesmerism interdisciplinary interpretations.

James Young Simpson and associates testing chloroform

Since Mesmerism developed in Europe and then the United States the suggested sources will reflect points of view from different world regions.

This pathfinder intends to provide a starting point from which interested individuals may develop their own research, therefore no completeness claim is made. Resources were selected for their authority and their rank in the field inferred by the number of citations or pointers to them.

The pathfinder targeted audience is comprized of students of all ages with a basic knowledge level of search processes and database structure. In other words this pathfinder does not provide information on search strategy or instructs on databases use. A few cautionary notes are made where deemed necessary.

Introduction

If Franz Anton Mesmer lived today he would marvel (presumably) at the many directions his work has been taken to or approached from and recall painfully the day his “unsbstantiated” theory failed the scrutiny of science under the watchful eyes of Antoine Lavoisier and Benjamin Franklin.

Alison Winter puts Mesmer's work in context of the transformation of Victorian society and the affirmation of the view of mainstream science which, leving Mesmer behind, established its foundation and the medical profession circle of practitioner.

When James Braid cleaned up Mesmerism from the threat of Metaphysical implication and coined the term Hypnosis the re-newed discipline found credibility and verification through a diverse spectrum of researches.

The quest to unlock the secrets between illness (generally associated with pain), well-being and interpersonal relationships or the sense of self is still on. The persistence of the interest in this search is demonstrated by the multitude of medical studies about the effects of Hypnosis on patients' health in the most diverse, and sometime dire, situations.

Note: since the Mesmerism pathfinder has been developed in conjunction with the “19th c. Anesthesia” pathfinder, some of the sources inherently common appear in each in order to avoid repeated call backs.

In light of the reflections above, we ask:

How did Mesmerism develop? In what context was it confuted or accepted?
How does Mesmerism relate to 19th century Anesthesia?

These questions will be answered when the trail outlined here is followed.

Should you want something to start with, right away....

....you like holding a book and you are looking for a book whose title sounds like "a history of Mesmerism," the two included in this section may be the books for you to choose from. On the other hand if you like browsing and reading off of a computer screen, two articles are provided that will possibly tickle your need for information on the development of Mesmerism in the 19th century and beyond.

Neither of the sources in this section add to this Pathfinder, they are repeated here for convenience.

Books

ℵ {a classic! cited often}

Esdaile, J., & Kroger, W. S. (1957). Hypnosis in medicine and surgery, originally titled Mesmerism in India. Introduction and supplemental reports on hypnoanesthesia [by William S. Kroger}. New York: Julian Press.

Check availability and item physical description with WorldCat
http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/37567105&tab=editions
Likely locators: LC: RZ430; Dewey: 134.861; NLM: WM 415 E75h 1957

Available also in digital form and free of charge (expired copyright protection) via
• Google Book Search: Hypnosis in medicine and surgery

ℵ {keen view of the social context}

Winter, A. (1998). Mesmerized: powers of mind in Victorian Britain. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Alison Winter's book documents the efficacy of mesmerism's as a pain management method during surgery. Patients subjected to the removal of tumors or limbs felt nothing during their procedure nevertheless this method was pushed aside by the adoption of the use of ether. Winter puts the battle between mesmerists and early adopters of the use of inhalation anesthesia in the contest of Victorian England struggle for “scientific” supremacy. "Includes bibliographical references (p. [409]-451) and index."
See an exerpt from pages 112-30: Making Mesmeria

Check availability and item physical description with WorldCat
http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/39217102&referer=brief_results
Likely locators: LC: BF1125; Dewey: 154.7/0941/09034; NLM: 1999 A-738; BF 1125
• Google Book Search: Preview this book

Articles

Wobst AH. (2007). Hypnosis and surgery: past, present, and future.
Anesthesia & Analgesia. 104(5), 1199-208. PMID: 17456675 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Accessed May 12, 2008, from http://www.anesthesia-analgesia.org/cgi/content/full/104/5/1199

UTOPIAN SURGERY. Early arguments against anaesthesia in surgery, dentistry and childbirth.
By David Pearce, visit his website at http://www.hedweb.com/confile.htm
Accessed April 12, 2008, from: http://www.general-anaesthesia.com/index.html

Note: since the Mesmerism pathfinder has been developed in conjunction with the “19th c. Anesthesia” pathfinder some of the sources inherently common appear in each to avoid repeated call backs.

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The guide is organized as follows:

This introductory page
Resources (Divided in ten sections & shown at the bottom of the page)
Search Terms

Last Edited, May 2008