Estlin JB. Remarks on mesmerism in 1845 : being a portion of the President’s address, delivered at the fourth annual meeting of the Bath and Bristol Branch of the Provincial Medical and Surgical Association, held at Bristol, June 27, 1845.

Catalog Record: Estlin JB. Remarks on mesmerism in 1845 : being a portion of the President’s address, delivered at the fourth annual meeting of the Bath and Bristol Branch of the Provincial Medical and Surgical Association, held at Bristol, June 27, 1845.

Title: Remarks on mesmerism in 1845 : being a portion of the President’s address, delivered at the fourth annual meeting of the Bath and Bristol Branch of the Provincial Medical and Surgical Association, held at Bristol, June 27, 1845 / by J.B. Estlin.

AccessKey: ackx

Author: Estlin, J. B., (John Bishop), 1785-1855.

WLM Call Number: WO 391 E81 RB

Accession No.: 1978

Publisher: London : John Churchill, 1845.

Physical Descrip: x, 29 p. ; 17 cm

Document Type: Pamphlet

Language: eng

Subject: Mesmerism – surgery.
Subject: Hypnosis, Anesthetic.
Subject: Mesmerism – therapeutic use.
Subject: Mesmerism – Great Britain – History – 19th century.
Subject: Animal Magnetism – therapeutic use.

Abstract: In this work, Estlin expresses skepticism on the efficacy of animal magnetism. It was an address to a medical society in which he served as president. He reminds his readers that he had observed mesmeric experiments for seven years, and was familiar with the works of Dupotet. He declares that the more he had observes mesmerism, the less convinced by it he become, citing human weaknesses such as greed and craving for notoriety as motivations of some promoters.

General Notes: On the use of mesmeric influence for the enhancement of insensibility to surgical operation, he felt that the modality was unreliable and the results were far from total satisfaction. Thus, he discouraged the use of magnetic influence to deaden surgical pain.

General Notes: Digitized by Northern Micrographics August 23, 2010.