Braid

1843 · ref. 152778 — London: John Churchill London; Adam & Charles Black Edinburgh 1843. From the occult to the scientific First edition of the book that established hypnotism. Expanding on Franz Mesmer's theories of animal magnetism Braid argued that mesmeric trances were not caused by channelling an occult fluid but were a psycho-physiological state caused by manipulating the nervous system. The medical practices developed as a result of Braid's work constitute a major development in the history of psychology and psychotherapy. Braid's 1795-1860 interest in mesmerism stemmed from his attendance at a demonstration by French mesmerist Charles Lafontaine 1803-1892 in November 1841. The mesmerist movement had been established by the publication of Mesmer's 1734-1815 book Mémoire sur la découverte du magnétisme animal 1779 which detailed the discovery of a "universal fluid" that responded to magnetic forces and could be manipulated within patients to cure illness. The fluid could be transmitted inside people animals and objects first through magnets and later through sheer will. The theory although pervasive was controversial; Mesmer's detractors condemned him as a theatrical showman and many viewed mesmerism as a type of dangerous mind control that had contributed to the political crises of the late 18th century including the French Revolution. Braid was amazed by Lafontaine's demonstration but was sceptical of its causes. He did not share the view that it was merely an elaborate hoax nor did he believe an occult magnetic fluid truly caused it. To get to the truth of the matter Braid began experimenting with putting himself into a mesmeric trance by visually fixating on small bright dots of light. Just a week after attending Lafontaine's demonstration Braid delivered a lecture refuting animal magnetism and demonstrating his own techniques. Braid argued that the fact he was able to achieve similar effects on himself proved that there was no need for an operator to channel the fluid within him and that therefore the mesmeric effects were solely caused by manipulating the psycho-physiological state of the subject. He coined the term "neurypnology" from the Greek for "nervous" and "sleep" but was keen to stress that although "sleep" was the closest analogy to a state of hypnosis the prefix "nervous" distinguished it from natural sleep. He proposed various abbreviated forms of the term including the one that is most common today: hypnotism. Details of Braid's experiments were delivered at five public lectures which were reported in detail in the Manchester Guardian and the Manchester Courier. He then published a pamphlet "Satanic Agency and Mesmerism Reviewed" 1842 outlining a brief statement of his discoveries. The present work is Braid's only full-length definitive exposition of hypnotism. At the time of writing it Braid "did not yet have a full understanding of the psychological processes involved in hypnosis believing that hypnotic phenomena were produced by functional changes in the nervous muscular circulatory and respiratory systems. However he did recognize that hypnosis was a subjective phenomenon dependent entirely on the state of mind of the hypnotized and not on any mystical fluid or occult magical power wielded by the hypnotizer" Norman. Neurypnology was key to the transformation of animal magnetism into a psychological practice; although Braid did not believe that hypnotism could provide a "universal cure" for ailments as Mesmer had he promoted its use as a therapeutic tool in conjunction with medical treatments. "Braid's methods of hypnosis were published in France circa 1860 where they exerted an important influence on the work of Broca Charcot Liébeault and Bernheim whose teachings in turn influenced the work of Sigmund Freud" ibid. Provenance: blindstamp of occult collector Dr Michael H. Coleman 1928-2011 on the front free endpaper. A chemist by training Coleman applied scientific methodology to his psychical experiments and compiled an extensive library of books on the supernatural spiritualism and magic. Small octavo. Original brown cloth spine lettered in gilt covers panelled with centrepieces in blind yellow coated endpapers. Ink bookseller's marking and ownership initials to front pastedown. Spine sunned ends a little worn a couple of marks to cloth soiling to endpapers cords occasionally visible but holding: a very good copy. Bibliotheca Osleriana 1384; Garrison & Morton 4993; Hunter & MacAlpine Three Hundred Years of Psychiatry pp. 906-10; Norman 324. hardcover