IN treating individual patients Mesmer's method was as follows:—
If the disease was general he passed his hands, with fingers extended, all down the body, beginning with the head, passing over the shoulders, and then down the back and front of the body. This movement, varied in accordance with the special needs of the patient, he would repeat many times, bringing the hand round in a circle. Sometimes he used an iron rod in place of his fingers. For violent headache he would place one thumb on the forehead, the other at the back of the head. In some cases he would place his hands on the solar plexus, stretching his fingers towards the hypochondrium. His endeavour was always directed towards putting the magnetic fluid in equilibrium in every part of the body. And for all bodily pains he advocated the placing of one hand on one side and the other on the opposite side
Mesmer's influence on the patient is said to have continued several days after treatment; and in cases where the patient was susceptible he could produce sensations in him at will, without resorting again to touch, and this at a considerable distance.
Magnetism, he said, could be augmented by establishing a direct communication between several persons. This could be done either by the sitters holding hands and forming a chain or by means of the baquet.
Mesmer did not trouble to demagnetise his patients. His main object was to produce the crisis. In this he was usually successful, the crisis lasting a longer or shorter time according to circumstances and gradually wearing itself out.
The baquet was believed to act in a way somewhat similar to an electric battery. The large oaken tub which formed the centre of the baquet was usually filled with magnetized water, but sometimes the water was omitted, in which case the baquet was referred to as "dry." No apparent will power was used, although passes were occasionally made, and no verbal suggestions were given. The patients sat round the tub holding the iron rods which projected from it.
Modern theorists would be inclined to ascribe the curious developments which followed to the power of suggestion. But to any such theory Mesmer himself was utterly and consistently opposed.
These developments, the truth of which is well attested, were curious and appeared somewhat alarming. Patients experienced more or less violent perspiration, palpitations, hysterics, catalepsy, and sometimes a condition resembling epilepsy. When the crisis was at its height the patient was carried by attendants into one of the adjoining "salles des crises"; he was there laid on a couch, and usually he subsided gradually into a deep sleep from which he awoke refreshed and benefited. No harm appears ever to have resulted from the crisis, no matter how violent or of how long duration.
At all times Mesmer possessed the power of instantly arresting the most violent crisis by a word, a look, or a movement of his iron rod.
Music also was used to bring patients into a condition of restfulness and to fix their attention, Mesmer on some occasions playing on a wind instrument in order to exert influence upon them and to diffuse magnetism.