Franz Mesmer
Franz Anton Mesmer\xa0(/\u02c8m\u025bzm\u0259r/;[1]\xa0German:\xa0[\u02c8m\u025bsm\u0250]; 23 May 1734 \u2013 5 March 1815) was a German\xa0doctor\xa0with an interest in\xa0astronomy. He theorised the existence of a natural\xa0energy\xa0transference occurring between all animated and inanimate objects; this he called "animal magnetism", sometimes later referred to as\xa0mesmerism. (In modern times\xa0New Age\xa0spiritualists\xa0have revived a similar idea.[citation needed]) Mesmer's theory attracted a wide following between about 1780 and 1850, and continued to have some influence until the end of the 19th century.[2]\xa0In 1843 the Scottish doctor\xa0James Braid\xa0proposed the term "hypnosis" for a technique derived from animal magnetism; today the word "mesmerism" generally functions as a synonym of "hypnosis".
---
Our theme song was written and performed by Anna Bosnick. If you\u2019d like to support the show on a per episode basis, you can find our Patreon page here.\xa0 Be sure to check our website for more details.
\xa0