Isis Revelata: An Inquiry into Animal Magnetism

...hitherto paid any attention to the subject, to understand its details.*

This subject should be especially interesting to the medical profession, as well as to philosophers in general. If the vast variety of facts which have been gradually gathering during the last half-century can be considered satisfactorily proven, the force of the evidence in favor of Animal Magnetism—or by whatever other name we may choose to distinguish that peculiar type of sympathetic influence which has long been called so—becomes absolutely overwhelming original: "irresistible". And if these facts are true, and not entirely imaginary original: "supposititious" and deceptive, it cannot be denied that they are destined original: "calculated" to open up many new and most important views in medical and physiological science—indeed, in the entire philosophy of the human mind.

Ever since the time of Paracelsus Paracelsus (1493–1541) was a Swiss physician and alchemist who pioneered the use of minerals and chemicals in medicine but was also known for his eccentric and mystical theories.—that strange mixture of genius and folly—physicians in general seem to have been in the habit of relying too exclusively on the effectiveness of chemical remedies, almost entirely neglecting many simple and natural, yet equally effective, healing original: "sanative" processes, especially those powerful mental original: "psychical" in—

* This Report, as far as I am aware, has not been published in France. A specific number of copies, however, were lithographed lithographed: A printing process using a stone or metal plate; here it implies a limited private distribution. for the use of the members of the Academy; and the translation has been made from one of these.