Practical Instruction in Animal Magnetism
I’ll write the contents of this partial summary from the point of view of the authors. It’d be wasteful to dilute the ritual.
Life of Deleuze
Section titled “Life of Deleuze”Among the instances of this which I might adduce, there is one I cannot pass over in silence. M. Virey says, p. 404 of his article on Magnetism,“Should Mesmer, or one of his most able successors, throw a horse or an ewe into somnambulism, then I would recognize the empire of universal Magnetism.” To this strange demand, M. Deleuze contented himself with replying : “Everybody knows very well, that M. Virey will never be convinced if he must first witness such a phenomenon as this.”
Introduction
Section titled “Introduction”- Ch1 - Principles
- Ch 2 - Processes “when somnambulism does not take palce.”
- Ch 3 - Observing effects
- Ch 4 - Intensifying magnetism
- Ch 5 - Working with somnambulists
- Ch 6 - Precautions in choosing a magnetizer
- Ch 7 - Treatment of specific diseases
- Ch 8 - Dangers of Magnetism
- Ch 9 - Becoming a stronger magnetist
- Ch 10 - Studies
Chapter I - General Views and Principles
Section titled “Chapter I - General Views and Principles”In summary - Magnetism is an influence we wield through will on those “who are submitted to their will.” While its substance cannot be directly observed, we can clearly observe its effects. This gives us an affordance to speak plainly about its application.
As we cannot comprehend how a body can act upon another at a distance, without there being some thing to establish a communication between them, we suppose that a substance emanates from him who magnetizes, and is conveyed to the person magnetized, in the direction given it by the will. This substance, which sustains life in us, we call the magnetic fluid. The nature of this fluid is unknown; even its existence has not been demonstrated; but everything occurs as if it did exist, and that warrants us in admitting it while we are indicating the means of employing Magnetism.
pp29-30
Magnetism influences both body and soul. As such, Magnetism interacts in physical, spiritual, and mixed domains. (Later, the book will discuss how to distinguish which domain Magnetism is influencing.)
Magnetism can travel through intermediaries which we can charge.
Three conditions are required for magnetism.
- Will
- Confidence
- Benevolence
Because Magnetism directs the fluid through will, confidence in the influence of Magnetism is required, where we must act “without effort and without distraction.” (p30)
Individuals must be in moral and and physical sympathy. When this is present, the individuals are in communication.
Wielding Magnetism should, ideally, come naturally.
- A constant will supposes continued attention; but attention is sustained without effort, when one has entire confidence in his powers. A man who makes towards a designated goal is always attentive to avoid obstacles, to move his feet in a proper direction; but this sort of attention is so natural to him as to be easy, because he has first determined his movement, and feels in himself the force necessary to continue it.
p31
Magnetizers should be healthy and of good moral standing - otherwise the patient may not be positively influenced.
Everyone has the ability to magnetize, but not equally. It depends on their intentions, empathy, ability to focus, ability to remain calm “in the midst of the most alarming cries” (p32), and health. Their ability to influence grows with practice.
The entire body exudes magnetic fluid - but we can most accurately magnetize through use of our hands, eyes, and words.
The very tones of the magnetizer, being produced by the vital energy, act upon the organs of the patients.
p33
Magnetism can work at a distance, but it requires better communication (in the sense of the sympathetic relationship.)
Not all individuals can be influenced by Magnetism. Those currently healthy and difficult to influence may respond differently when in poor health. Some patient/magnetizer pairs are also just a poor match - they may just have not found the right magnetizer.
(Ugh. They discovered top-drop.)
- Many persons feel much fatigue when they magnetize; others do not feel any. This is not owing to the movements that are made, but to the loss of the vital principle or magnetic fluid. He who is not endowed with great magnetic force would exhaust himself in the course of time, if he were to magnetize every day for several hours. Generally speaking, every one in good health, and not enfeebled by age, might undertake the treatment of a single patient, and give him a sitting of one hour each day. But every one has not the strength necessary for magnetizing several persons, nor several hours in succession. As to the rest, the more one exercises himself in it, the less he is fatigued; because he employs only just as much force as is necessary.
p34
Confidence in Magnetism is required by the magnetizer, but not in the patient. It can work fine if the patient “yields himself up passively, making no resistance.” (p35)
Having a practiced method is ideal - you’ll be more effective if you’re confident and not fumbling around.
(Interesting - it looks like magnetizers autosuggested their influence as well.)
- When one has acquired the habit of concentrating his attention, and of abstracting himself from everything foreign to the object he has in view, he will feel in himself an instinctive impulse to convey the action to this or to that organ, and to modify it according to circumstances. It is necessary to obey this impulse, without searching into the cause of it. When the patient yields himself entirely to the action of Magnetism, without being distracted by other ideas, it often happens that a similar instinct causes him to indicate the processes which are the most proper for him; the magnetizer should then suffer himself to be directed.
p36
(Maybe… leave this bit out if doing a ‘modernized’ version of magnetism.) When curing an ailment, there may be temporary pain as the organ is excited. This is transitory. In addition, do not interrupt a crisis.