MesmerdidnotlongfindhisresidenceatViennaasagreeableashewished。Hispretensionswerelookeduponwithcontemptorindifference，andthecaseofMademoiselleOesterlinebroughthimlessfamethannotoriety。Hedeterminedtochangehissphereofaction，andtravelledintoSwabiaandSwitzerland。InthelattercountryhemetwiththecelebratedFatherGassner，who，likeValentineGreatraks，amusedhimselfbycastingoutdevils，andhealingthesickbymerelylayinghandsuponthem。Athisapproachpulinggirlsfellintoconvulsions，andthehypochondriacfanciedthemselvescured。Hishousewasdailybesiegedbythelame，theblind，andthehysteric。Mesmeratonceacknowledgedtheefficacyofhiscures，anddeclaredthattheyweretheobviousresultofhisownnewly-discoveredpowerofmagnetism。AfewoftheFather’spatientswereforthwithsubjectedtothemanipulationsofMesmer，andthesamesymptomswereinduced。HethentriedhishanduponsomepaupersinthehospitalsofBerneandZurich，andsucceeded，accordingtohisownaccount，butnootherperson’s，incuringanopththalmiaandaguttaserena。WithmemorialsoftheseachievementshereturnedtoVienna，inthehopeofsilencinghisenemies，oratleastforcingthemtorespecthisnewly-acquiredreputation，andtoexaminehissystemmoreattentively。
　　Hissecondappearanceinthatcapitalwasnotmoreauspiciousthanthefirst。HeundertooktocureaMademoiselleParadis，whowasquiteblind，andsubjecttoconvulsions。Hemagnetisedherseveraltimes，andthendeclaredthatshewascured；atleast，ifshewasnot，itwasherfault，andnothis。Aneminentoculistofthatday，namedBirth，wenttovisither，anddeclaredthatshewasasblindasever；whileherfamilysaidshewasasmuchsubjecttoconvulsionsasbefore。
　　Mesmerpersistedthatshewascured。LiketheFrenchphilosopher，hewouldnotallowfactstointerferewithhistheory。[Anenthusiasticphilosopher，ofwhosenamewearenotinformed，hadconstructedaverysatisfactorytheoryonsomesubjectorother，andwasnotalittleproudofit。“Butthefacts，mydearfellow，“saidhisfriend，“thefactsdonotagreewithyourtheory。“——“Don’tthey，“repliedthephilosopher，shrugginghisshoulders，“then，tautpispourlesfaits；“——
　　somuchtheworseforthefacts。]Hedeclaredthattherewasaconspiracyagainsthim；andthatMademoiselleParadis，attheinstigationofherfamily，feignedblindnessinordertoinjurehisreputation！
　　TheconsequencesofthispretendedcuretaughtMesmerthatViennawasnotthesphereforhim。Paris，theidle，thedebauched，thepleasure-hunting，thenovelty-loving，wasthesceneforaphilosopherlikehim，andthitherherepairedaccordingly。HearrivedatParisin1778，andbeganmodestly，bymakinghimselfandhistheoryknowntotheprincipalphysicians。Atfirst，hisencouragementwasbutslight；
　　hefoundpeoplemoreinclinedtolaughatthantopatronisehim。Buthewasamanwhohadgreatconfidenceinhimself，andofaperseverancewhichnodifficultiescouldovercome。Hehiredasumptuousapartment，whichheopenedtoallcomerswhochosetomaketrialofthenewpowerofnature。M。D’Eslon，aphysicianofgreatreputation，becameaconvert；andfromthattime，AnimalMagnetism，or，assomecalledit，Mesmerism，becamethefashioninParis。Thewomenwerequiteenthusiasticaboutit，andtheiradmiringtattlewafteditsfamethrougheverygradeofsociety。Mesmerwastherage；
　　andhighandlow，richandpoor，credulousandunbelieving，allhastenedtoconvincethemselvesofthepowerofthismightymagician，whomadesuchmagnificentpromises。Mesmer，whoknewaswellasanymanlivingtheinfluenceoftheimagination，determinedthat，onthatscore，nothingshouldbewantingtoheightentheeffectofthemagneticcharm。InallParis，therewasnotahousesocharminglyfurnishedasMonsieurMesmer’s。Richly-stainedglassshedadimreligiouslightonhisspacioussaloons，whichwerealmostcoveredwithmirrors。Orangeblossomsscentedalltheairofhiscorridors；
　　incenseofthemostexpensivekindsburnedinantiquevasesonhischimney-pieces；aeolianharpssighedmelodiousmusicfromdistantchambers；whilesometimesasweetfemalevoice，fromaboveorbelow，stolesoftlyuponthemysterioussilencethatwaskeptinthehouse，andinsisteduponfromallvisitors。“Waseveranythingsodelightful？“criedalltheMrs。Wittitterley’sofParis，astheythrongedtohishouseinsearchofpleasantexcitement；“sowonderful！“saidthepseudo-philosophers，whowouldbelieveanythingifitwerethefashion；“soamusing！“saidtheworn-outdebauchees，whohaddrainedthecupofsensualitytoitsdregs，andwholongedtoseelovelywomeninconvulsions，withthehopethattheymightgainsomenewemotionsfromthesight。
　　Thefollowingwasthemodeofoperation:——Inthecentreofthesaloonwasplacedanovalvessel，aboutfourfeetinitslongestdiameter，andonefootdeep。Inthiswerelaidanumberofwine-bottles，filledwithmagnetisedwater，wellcorked-up，anddisposedinradii，withtheirnecksoutwards。Waterwasthenpouredintothevesselsoasjusttocoverthebottles，andfilingsofironwerethrowninoccasionallytoheightenthemagneticeffect。Thevesselwasthencoveredwithanironcover，piercedthroughwithmanyholes，andwascalledthebaquet。Fromeachholeissuedalongmoveablerodofiron，whichthepatientsweretoapplytosuchpartsoftheirbodiesaswereafflicted。Aroundthisbaquetthepatientsweredirectedtosit，holdingeachotherbythehand，andpressingtheirkneestogetherascloselyaspossibletofacilitatethepassageofthemagneticfluidfromonetotheother。
　　Thencameintheassistantmagnetisers，generallystrong，handsomeyoungmen，topourintothepatientfromtheirfinger-tipsfreshstreamsofthewondrousfluid。Theyembracedthepatientsbetweentheknees，rubbedthemgentlydownthespineandthecourseofthenerves，usinggentlepressureuponthebreastsoftheladies，andstaringthemoutofcountenancetomagnetisethembytheeye！Allthistimethemostrigoroussilencewasmaintained，withtheexceptionofafewwildnotesontheharmonicaorthepiano-forte，orthemelodiousvoiceofahiddenopera-singerswellingsoftlyatlongintervals。Graduallythecheeksoftheladiesbegantoglow，theirimaginationstobecomeinflamed；andofftheywent，oneaftertheother，inconvulsivefits。
　　Someofthemsobbedandtoretheirhair，otherslaughedtillthetearsranfromtheireyes，whileothersshriekedandscreamedandyelledtilltheybecameinsensiblealtogether。
　　Thiswasthecrisisofthedelirium。Inthemidstofit，thechiefactormadehisappearance，wavinghiswand，likeProspero，toworknewwonders。Dressedinalongrobeoflilac-colouredsilk，richlyembroideredwithgoldflowers，bearinginhishandawhitemagneticrod；and，withalookofdignitywhichwouldhavesatwellonaneasterncaliph，hemarchedwithsolemnstridesintotheroom。Heawedthestillsensiblebyhiseye，andtheviolenceoftheirsymptomsdiminished。Hestrokedtheinsensiblewithhishandsupontheeyebrowsanddownthespine；tracedfiguresupontheirbreastandabdomenwithhislongwhitewand，andtheywererestoredtoconsciousness。Theybecamecalm，acknowledgedhispower，andsaidtheyfeltstreamsofcoldorburningvapourpassingthroughtheirframes，accordingashewavedhiswandorhisfingersbeforethem。
　　“Itisimpossible，“saysM。Dupotet，“toconceivethesensationwhichMesmer’sexperimentscreatedinParis。Notheologicalcontroversy，intheearlieragesoftheCatholicChurch，waseverconductedwithgreaterbitterness。“Hisadversariesdeniedthediscovery；somecallinghimaquack，othersafool，andothers，again，liketheAbbeFiard，amanwhohadsoldhimselftothedevil！Hisfriendswereasextravagantintheirpraise，ashisfoeswereintheircensure。Pariswasinundatedwithpamphletsuponthesubject，asmanydefendingasattackingthedoctrine。Atcourt，theQueenexpressedherselfinfavourofit，andnothingelsewastobeheardofinsociety。
　　BytheadviceofM。D’Eslon，MesmerchallengedanexaminationofhisdoctrinebytheFacultyofMedicine。Heproposedtoselecttwenty-fourpatients，twelveofwhomhewouldtreatmagnetically，leavingtheothertwelvetobetreatedbythefacultyaccordingtotheoldandapprovedmethods。Healsostipulated，thattopreventdisputes，thegovernmentshouldnominatecertainpersonswhowerenotphysicians，tobepresentattheexperiments；andthattheobjectoftheinquiryshouldbe，nothowtheseeffectswereproduced，butwhethertheywerereallyefficaciousinthecureofanydisease。Thefacultyobjectedtolimittheinquiryinthismanner，andthepropositionfelltotheground。
　　MesmernowwrotetoMarieAntoinette，withtheviewofsecuringherinfluenceinobtainingforhimtheprotectionofgovernment。Hewishedtohaveachateauanditslandsgiventohim，withahandsomeyearlyincome，thathemightbeenabledtocontinuehisexperimentsatleisure，untroubledbythepersecutionofhisenemies。Hehintedthedutyofgovernmentstosupportmenofscience，andexpressedhisfear，thatifhemetnomoreencouragement，heshouldbecompelledtocarryhisgreatdiscoverytosomeotherlandmorewillingtoappreciatehim。
　　“IntheeyesofyourMajesty，“saidhe，“fourorfivehundredthousandfrancs，appliedtoagoodpurpose，areofnoaccount。Thewelfareandhappinessofyourpeopleareeverything。MydiscoveryoughttobereceivedandrewardedwithamunificenceworthyofthemonarchtowhomIshallattachmyself。“Thegovernmentatlastofferedhimapensionoftwentythousandfrancs，andthecrossoftheorderofSt。Michael，ifhehadmadeanydiscoveryinmedicine，andwouldcommunicateittophysiciansnominatedbytheKing。ThelatterpartofthepropositionwasnotagreeabletoMesmer。HefearedtheunfavourablereportoftheKing’sphysicians；and，breakingoffthenegotiation，spokeofhisdisregardofmoney，andhiswishtohavehisdiscoveryatoncerecognisedbythegovernment。HethenretiredtoSpa，inafitofdisgust，uponpretenceofdrinkingthewatersforthebenefitofhishealth。
　　AfterhehadleftParis，theFacultyofMedicinecalleduponM。
　　D’Eslon，forthethirdandlasttime，torenouncethedoctrineofanimalmagnetism，orbeexpelledfromtheirbody。M。D’Eslon，sofarfromdoingthis，declaredthathehaddiscoverednewsecrets，andsolicitedfurtherexamination。AroyalcommissionoftheFacultyofMedicinewas，inconsequence，appointedonthel2thofMarch1784，secondedbyanothercommissionoftheAcademiedesSciences，toinvestigatethephenomenaandreportuponthem。ThefirstcommissionwascomposedoftheprincipalphysiciansofParis；while，amongtheeminentmencomprisedinthelatter，wereBenjaminFranklin，Lavoisier，andBailly，thehistorianofastronomy。Mesmerwasformallyinvitedtoappearbeforethisbody，butabsentedhimselffromdaytoday，upononepretenceoranother。M。D’Eslonwasmorehonest，becausehethoroughlybelievedinthephenomena，whichitistobequestionedifMesmereverdid，andregularlyattendedthesittingsandperformedexperiments。
　　Baillyhasthusdescribedthescenesofwhichhewasawitnessinthecourseofthisinvestigation。“Thesickpersons，arrangedingreatnumbersandinseveralrowsaroundthebaquet，receivethemagnetismbyallthesemeans:bytheironrodswhichconveyittothemfromthebaquet——bythecordswoundroundtheirbodies——bytheconnectionofthethumb，whichconveystothemthemagnetismoftheirneighbours——andbythesoundsofapianoforte，orofanagreeablevoice，diffusingthemagnetismintheair。Thepatientswerealsodirectlymagnetisedbymeansofthefingerandwandofthemagnetisermovedslowlybeforetheirfaces，aboveorbehindtheirheads，andonthediseasedparts，alwaysobservingthedirectionoftheholes。Themagnetiseractsbyfixinghiseyesonthem。Butaboveall，theyaremagnetisedbytheapplicationofhishandsandthepressureofhisfingersonthehypochondresandontheregionsoftheabdomen；anapplicationoftencontinuedforalongtime-sometimesforseveralhours。
　　“Meanwhilethepatientsintheirdifferentconditionspresentaveryvariedpicture。Somearecalm，tranquil，andexperiencenoeffect。Otherscough，spit，feelslightpains，localorgeneralheat，andhavesweatings。Othersagainareagitatedandtormentedwithconvulsions。Theseconvulsionsareremarkableinregardtothenumberaffectedwiththem，totheirdurationandforce。Assoonasonebeginstobeconvulsed，severalothersareaffected。Thecommissionershaveobservedsomeoftheseconvulsionslastmorethanthreehours。Theyareaccompaniedwithexpectorationsofamuddyviscouswater，broughtawaybyviolentefforts。Sometimesstreaksofbloodhavebeenobservedinthisfluid。Theseconvulsionsarecharacterizedbytheprecipitous，involuntarymotionofallthelimbs，andofthewholebody:bytheconstructionofthethroat——bytheleapingmotionsofthehypochondriaandtheepigastrium——bythedimnessandwanderingoftheeyes——bypiercingshrieks，tears，sobbing，andimmoderatelaughter。Theyareprecededorfollowedbyastateoflanguororreverie，akindofdepression，andsometimesdrowsiness。Thesmallestsuddennoiseoccasionsashuddering；anditwasremarked，thatthechangeofmeasureintheairsplayedonthepiano-fortehadagreatinfluenceonthepatients。Aquickermotion，aliveliermelody，agitatedthemmore，andrenewedthevivacityoftheirconvulsions。