According to Mesmer, what causes mental and physical illness? What procedures did Mesmer use to cure such illnesses? What was Mesmer’s fate?
Mesmer gave the theory of the animal magnetism, which was initially judged as the unscientific approach. He worked on the assumption that each individual’s body has magnetic field around. In the healthy individuals, the distribution of the magnetic force field is found to be very even but uneven distribution yields the physical and mental symptoms in the individuals. He used the magnet to rectify the uneven distribution of the magnetic force filed, which helped him in restoring the physical and the mental health of the individual.
He concluded that iron magnets are not essential for the treatment, as according to him whatever he touch it becomes magnetized. Later he conducted the research to check the effect of his magnetic field force on the patient. He did that experiment by just holding the hand of the patient. He believed that all the individuals have magnetic force field in their body but some has stronger magnetic force field in comparison with others.
He declared the humans as the natural healers. He treated thousands of his patients with this imaginary treatment. He observed the effect called as the contagion effect, according to, which patients do respond more, while seeing other patients doing the same. The Mesmer’s ultimate fate was the acceptance of his treatment theory under the field of the medical profession.