40- Mechanical Philosophi). [Chap. L 



A iewecl in its various relations, must be regarded as 

 a p\mA desideralum'm. philosophy*. 



In 1774 arose the idea of a certain sympathy 

 c?(isting betwf'n the magnet and the human 

 bod^ , by means of which the former might be ap- 

 plied to the cure of diseases. This opinion ap- 

 pears to have originated with father Hehl, of, 

 Gernlany, who greatly recommended the use of 

 the magnet in medicine. On some experiments- 

 and suggestions of Hehl, the famous Mesmer, a 

 (jerman physician, about the year I766 erected 

 Iiis fanciful system oi Animal Magnetism. The noise 

 made by the opinions and arts of this celebrated 

 empiric, and his coadjutors, in Germany, in France, 

 and indeed, though in a less degree, throughout 

 every other part of Europe, is well known to all 

 acquainted with the literary history of that period; 

 as well as the detection, the decline, and the final 

 disgrace of them and their principles j*. 



M. Prevost, of Geneva, in 1788, published a 

 new doctrine concerning Magnetism, in an inge- 

 nious and interesting dissertation on the subject. 

 In this work he expresses a belief that there are 

 tiio magnetic Jiuuls, which, by their union, com- 

 I)ose a thinly which he calls combined fluid. These 

 two fluids, he thinks, are both elastic like air ; the 

 particles of each attract those of its own kind, but 

 not so strongly as those of the opposite kind. A 

 strong elective attraction, which the combined fluid 



* See Additional Notes — (L). 



t For an amuhing a« count of the noise and pretensions made 

 by Me.-,mer, see Willicirs Ltcturts on Ditt and Rcgimtn, &c. 

 Sec also Report of the Coninriishioners appointed by the French 

 King to examine into Animal Magnetism. 



