Buzz
You might have heard the phrase 'animal magnetism' to describe that elusive, almost magical charm that a select few possess, enabling them to captivate others effortlessly, whether literally or figuratively.
As per the 18th-century creator of the term, animal magnetism is an actual force within all of us—a magnetic fluid that can empower us but also potentially cause disruptive clots that might throw off your cosmic harmony.
To fully grasp the concept of animal magnetism, its cultural influence, and the reasons behind its widespread appeal, let's take a quick journey back to pre-revolutionary Paris, where the pseudoscientific phenomenon gained significant traction.
The City of Light, Love, and Animal Magnetism
It was the late 1770s, a time when most of France was struggling with deepening food shortages and a growing financial crisis. Meanwhile, Marie Antoinette continued to lavishly entertain guests at her favorite retreat, the Petit Trianon in Versailles, a palace that required a staff of 10,000 for its maintenance. Across the country, French fashion, architecture, furniture, and literature were sweeping through Europe like a storm.
The Enlightenment era was coming to an end, much of its intellectual spirit having thrived in the cafes, salons, and clubs of Paris. Critic Stephen Jay Gould highlights that during this time, Paris was 'the most open and vibrant capital of Europe,' a city known for its mix of serious intellectual movements and outlandish quackery—Voltaire mingling with fortune tellers, Benjamin Franklin surrounded by astrologers, and Antoine Lavoisier among spiritualists.
Enter Franz Anton Mesmer, a German physician who had left Vienna after a scandal involving his inability to cure, and likely his seduction of, a young blind pianist. He arrived in Paris in 1778, bringing with him his undeniable charm, private wealth, and what seemed like groundbreaking ideas.
WHO IS THIS GUY, AND WHY DOES HE WANT ME TO DRINK IRON FILINGS?
Before arriving in Paris, Mesmer had already mostly formulated his grand theory, which, according to Gould, "insofar as one can find coherence in his ideas at all," proposed that a singular, subtle fluid flowed through the universe, binding and connecting all things. This fluid had different names depending on its context: the force behind planetary orbits was gravity, its manifestation as simple magnetism guided a compass, and as the life force in living beings, it was known as 'animal magnetism.'
Although this 'subtle' fluid couldn't be physically extracted or studied, it was believed to have a profound impact on the human body. Mesmer theorized that disruptions in a person's magnetic flow could lead to various ailments, both physical and psychological, and even intangible conditions. Many of his followers later argued that these blockages were the sole cause of illness.
To correct magnetic imbalances and blockages, Mesmer and his trained followers (known as 'mesmerists') used different methods. In individual sessions, Mesmer would identify the magnetic 'poles' on a person’s body (a skill he claimed was due to his own 'exceptionally strong magnetism,' according to Gould). He would then either touch, hold, or massage the areas with these poles to discharge excess energy and restore balance—often while intensely gazing into the patient’s eyes (most of his patients were women, though not all). Occasionally, he would prescribe magnetized water containing iron filings or use actual magnets on their bodies.
Mesmer also devised affordable group treatments to address personal magnetic imbalances on a larger scale. In a salon setting, he would direct up to 20 people to take metal rods from a baquet (a vat) filled with magnetized water, sometimes enhanced with metal shavings, and pass them over their body’s poles. If the group was larger than 20, Gould notes, he would "link those holding the iron rods to others in the room using a rope, and instruct the group to form a ‘mesmeric chain’ by holding the left thumb of one person between the right thumb and forefinger of their neighbor," thus allowing magnetic energy to flow through the entire group.
In an effort to avoid accusations of only using his treatments for the elite, Mesmer also reportedly 'magnetized' trees, allowing lower-class individuals to touch them freely and release any excess magnetism they might have accumulated.
DID IT ACTUALLY WORK?
There are numerous semi-documented instances (mostly reported by Mesmer himself) where patients seemed to experience recovery after undergoing mesmeric treatments. However, skeptics—both at the time and in the years following—have argued that any beneficial effects of his practices were not due to magnetism, but rather psychological factors, such as psychosomatic healing through suggestion. Dr. Mesmer appeared to encourage this, employing his own magnetic charm alongside strategically placed mirrors and 'music played on the ethereal tones of a glass harmonica, the instrument that Benjamin Franklin had developed,' to intensify the experience.
Mesmerism undeniably had an observable effect, though. After treatment, some patients (mostly women) would slip into a frenzied state, thrashing and moaning as their animal magnetism shifted. Mesmer welcomed this and even arranged comfortable 'crisis rooms' where guests—ushered in by his assistants—could work through their mesmeric convulsions. This chaotic, liberating hysteria induced by the treatments led many of Mesmer's critics to suspect that his methods promoted unchecked female sexuality, a prospect that many found undesirable (along with some of his more questionable physical interactions).
In the end, two commissions appointed by King Louis XVI definitively dismissed the science behind Mesmer’s animal magnetism (with Benjamin Franklin, the inventor of the glass harmonica, notably sitting on the second commission), and the practice had largely vanished from France by the close of the decade. However, the 'infection' had already spread, and devoted mesmerists continued to champion the benefits of carefully managed animal magnetism throughout Europe until the early 1850s.
ONE FINAL MAGNETIC RELEASE
Gould argues that "judging a person from their time by today's standards and categories" is neither fair nor particularly useful, especially when considering that "the distinction between science and pseudoscience was much more blurred in Mesmer's era." Due to the scarcity of surviving records about the German doctor, we can only speculate whether he was merely a fraud, seeking fame and profit through deliberate deception, or if he was genuinely a believer, as deluded as the patients he treated.
Mesmerism also holds enduring value for scholars across various fields, serving as a precursor, a counterpoint, or a rich case study. It has sparked reflection among philosophers, historians, and psychologists, and even led to the development of a more scientifically grounded practice that continues today: hypnotism.
And if, despite centuries of skeptics in the scientific community, you’re still curious enough to give it a go, there’s probably little harm in linking thumbs with friends, touching trees, or having a particularly magnetic friend massage your knees; just steer clear of the iron-filing concoctions.
