606 
ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 
with Dr. Benjamin Franklin at their head. This was a thunderstroke 
to the supporters of the new doctrine. Mesmer himself refused to 
have any communication with the committee ; but his most celebrated 
pupil Deslon was less scrupulous, and explained the principles of his 
art in the following manner. 
“ 1. Animal magnetism is an universal fluid, constituting an abso- 
lute plenum in nature, and the medium of all mutual influence be- 
tween the celestial bodies, and betwixt the earth and animal bodies. 
2. It is the most subtile fluid in nature, capable of a flux and reflux, 
and of receiving, propagating, and continuing all kinds of motion. 3. 
The animal body is subjected to the influences of this fluid by 
means of the nerves, which are immediately affected by it. 4, The 
human body has poles and other properties analogous to the magnet. 
5. The action and virtue of animal magnetism may be communicated 
from one body to another, whether animate or inanimate. 6. It ope- 
rates at a great distance from the intervention of any body. 7. If is 
increased and reflected by mirrors ; communicated, propagated, and 
increased by sound ; and may be accumulated, concentrated, and 
transported. 8. Notwithstanding the universality of this fluid, all 
animal bodies are not equally affected by it ; on the other hand, there 
are some, but few in number, the presence of which destroys all the 
effects of animal magnetism. 9. By means of this fluid, nervous dis- 
orders are cured immediately; and its virtues, in short, extend to the 
universal cure and preservation of mankind.” — From this extraordinary 
theory, Mesmer or M. Deslon had fabricated a paper, in which he 
stated, that there was in nature but one disease and one cure, and 
that this cure was animal magnetism. 
To ascertain the truth of these assertions, the committee attended 
M. Deslon in the room where his patients underwent his magnetical 
operations. The apparatus consisted of a circular platform, made of 
oak, one and a half feet high, with a number of holes at the bottom, 
in which were iron rods with moveable joints, for the purpose of 
applying them to any part of the body. The patients were placed in 
a circle around it, each touching one of thcvse rods, and joined to one 
another by a cord passing round their bodies. Each of them held an 
iron rod in his hand, ten or twelve feet long, to concentrate the mag- 
netism. M. Deslon also called in the aid of music from a piano- 
forte ; on which some airs were played, accompanied with songs ; 
alleging that music is a conductor of animal magnetism, which is 
transmitted to the patients by the sounds. The internal part of the 
platform was said to concentrate the magnetism, and was the reser- 
voir whence the virtue was diffused among the patients. The com- 
mittee satisfied themselves, by means of a needle and electrometer, 
that neither common magnetism nor electricity was concerned. 
M. Deslon also communicated the magnetism by his finger, and a 
rod which he held in his hand, and which he carried about the face, 
head, or such part of the patient as was diseased. His principal 
application, however, by the pressure of his hands or fingers, was on 
the lower regions of the stomach. The effects of these operations 
upon his patients were very different. Some felt nothing, others spit, 
coughed, sweat, and felt, or pretended to feel, extraordinary heats in 
