"the facts in the case of m. valdemar" is a short story by edgar allan poe. it was first published in 1845. the tale tells of a dying, mesmerized man whose body disintegrates once the trance is lifted. poe was inspired to write the tale after reading a description of an operation performed upon a mesmerized patient. the tale has a great deal of gore, leading to the speculation that poe had studied medical texts. "valdemar" has been adapted to the movies and to radio drama.