An Introduction to the Study of Animal Magnetism

On my arrival in this city, it was my intention to demonstrate the influence of animal magnetism before the students and medical professors in the public hospitals. For some time, through the kindness of Dr. Elliotson, I was permitted to do so at the North London Hospital Similar experiments are now conducted at the same hospital under Dr. Elliotson's own direction.; but the managing committee, in his absence, objected to my continuing my operations at this institution. I was therefore obliged to seek another arena, and the apartments I have now selected are sufficiently spacious for the purpose At No. 20, Wigmore-street, Cavendish-square.. I do not mention this circumstance with the intention of blaming any of the parties concerned, but simply because I want it to be clearly understood that I have never evaded confronting the most skeptical members of the medical profession; I have always courted the most direct and rigid investigation, provided it is conducted with temperance.

Here, therefore, in the presence of many highly distinguished visitors, I pursue my demonstrations daily. Here I have convinced many of the real existence of the magnetic influence; indeed, on several occasions, I have magnetized the skeptics themselves. Here I have succeeded—which is a more gratifying reflection to me—in alleviating the sufferings of many persons afflicted with chronic nervous complaints, which had resisted every ordinary method of medical treatment.

The curative effects of animal magnetism, at an early period, excited the jealousy of the medical faculty in