Mesmerism in India, and Its Practical Application in Surgery and Medicine

Mesmerism in India and its Practical Application in Surgery and Medicine is authored by Dr. James Esdaile. The book is an examination of mesmerism, also known as animal magnetism, and its use in India, this title allows readers the opportunity to learn about a popular theory that never gained scientific recognition.

Mesmerism is a theory based on the beliefs of German, Frank Mesmer, that a natural force exists in the world that can be manipulated to aid in medical procedures, akin to hypnotism. Author James Esdaile was a medical practitioner and a believer in the principles of mesmerism. This title is thus a detailed examination of his use of mesmerism in India for a variety of medical purposes. The book begins with a response to the critics of mesmerism, of which there were many even at the time of the work's original publication. The author proceeds to discuss the history of mesmerism, the mesmeric processes, purported outcomes of mesmeric procedures, and a detailed overview of the many specific mesmeric surgeries conducted by Esdaile, concluding with an appendix.

Mesmerism in India is an interesting book about a medical practice that never gained widespread legitimacy. Esdaile has kept his writing relatively brief, which brings this title within reach of the casual reader. Whether you are drawn to this work as a skeptic or as a believer, the content will surely prove to be illuminating.

James Esdaile's Mesmerism in India and its Practical Application in Surgery and Medicine is one of the few books to deal with the topic of mesmerism in detail, particularly its application in India. It is a fascinating overview of this controversial and unproven theory, and one that will delight readers interested in fringe medical procedures.