What is Franz Mesmer?
{{Infobox scientist |birth_name = Franz Anton Mesmer |image = Franz Anton Mesmer.jpg |image_size = 150px |birth_date = 23 May 1734 |birth_place = Iznang, [[Bishopric of Constance]] (today [[Moos]], [[Baden-Württemberg]], [[Germany]]) |death_date = 5 March 1815 (aged 80) |death_place = [[Meersburg]], [[Grand Duchy of Baden|Baden]] |residence = |citizenship = |nationality = [[Germany|German]] |ethnicity = |field = |work_institutions = |alma_mater = |known_for = [[Animal magnetism]]}} '''Franz Anton Mesmer''' (23 May 1734 – 5 March 1815) was a German [[physician]] with an interest in [[astronomy]]. He had a theory that there was a natural transfer of energy between all animated and inanimate objects. He called this [[animal magnetism]], sometimes later referred to as ''[[mesmerism]]''.<ref>Mesmer, Franz 1998. ''Mesmerism: the discovery of animal magnetism''. (transl) Kaufman. {{ISBN|978-0-913-23288-0}} or Holmes. {{ISBN|978-1-558-18382-7}}</ref> The theory attracted a wide following between about 1780 and 1850, and continued to have some influence until the end of the century.<ref name=Crabtree>Crabtree, Adam 1980. ''Animal magnetism, early hypnotism, and psychical research, 1766–1925: an annotated bibliography. White Plains, NY: Kraus International, Introduction. {{ISBN|0-527-20006-9}} </ref> In 1843 the Scottish physician [[James Braid (surgeon)|James Braid]] proposed the term [[hypnosis]] for 'animal magnetism'. Today this is the usual term for mesmerism. == References== {{reflist}} {{bio-stub}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Mesmer, Franz}} [[Category:1734 births]] [[Category:1815 deaths]] [[Category:German doctors]]