Mesmerism 1

[David Little]

At 08:07 AM 7/30/2004 +0200, you wrote:

Hello All,

Hahnemann note only suggested Mesmerism - he was witnessed performing
magnetic passes on a patients. Hahnemann strongly supported this treatment
a gave a good review of it in the Organon. The phenomenon of now called
hypnosis is closely aligned with Mesmerism. Samuel Hahnemann had personally
witnessed several cures by Mesmerism in Germany and was greatly impressed
by their work. He began to study the phenomena of Mesmerism and became a
practitioner of magnetic healing. Franz Albrecht was a life long friend of
Hahnemann. He wrote a biography of Hahnemann called Life and Works of
Hahnemann. In this book he stated:

"Magnetism and mesmerism, both intimately connected with the study of
medicine, were making progress. Hahnemann paid special attention to them,
and he occasionally applied both, in attacks of sickness, with successful
results."

Life and Letters of Hahnemann; T. L. Bradford, page 449.

A patient named Captain Burroughs came to see Samuel and Melanie on
December 9th, 1837, for treatment of epileptic seizures with catalepsy,
stupor and somnambulism (Paris casebooks, DF-5, p. 294). The patient was
sensitive, sexually excitable and experienced amorous dreams and nocturnal
emissions. He had suffered from convulsions for twelve years and was
experiencing daily fits. On the 13th of November, 1838 the patient had a
seizure in Hahnemann’s office while the Founder was reviewing his case
notes. Hahnemann notes in his casebook that Melanie quickly magnetized the
patient with a single pass that immediately stopped the convulsions. On
November 21st, 1838, Hahnemann included a single slow magnetic pass in his
prescription for the patient (Paris casebooks, DF-5, p. 332).

"One slow magnetic pass. He was taking his medicine four times a day
and it is finished. Tinctura Sulph. 1 globule of C18 in 20 [tablespoons*]
and 2 [tablespoons*] of brandy. 1 tablespoon in one glass of water. 4 times
[daily*] one small spoon."

In a later entry on page 414-415 of the same casebook Hahnemann notes
that a mesmer named Chapelin was going to magnetize Captain Burroughs for
nine or ten days.

Mesmer and his disciples were well aware that their patients were
entering altered states of consciousness marked by trance. They also knew
the power of suggestion during these altered states. By Hahnemann’s time,
hypnosis and Mesmerism were an integrated science and the homœopaths in
Hahnemann’s circle were carrying out many experiments. Dr. Heinrich A. von
Gersdorff, who worked with Hahnemann on The Chronic Diseases, was involved
in one of the most extraordinary experiments. Doctor von Gersdorff wrote:

"The cure of a dangerous disease by idiosomnambulism and the
homœopathic remedies prescribed by the patient in his magnetically
clairvoyant condition, after the careful observation made personally and
described by Heinrich August Baron Gersdorff."

Esienach; Published by Johann Fr. Barecke, 1833.

Von Gersdorff used the patient’s heightened awareness during trance to
assist in the selection of a homœopathic remedy. This offers insights into
the advanced levels of Mesmerism cum hypnosis performed by the inner circle
of the first generation of homœopaths. Von Gersdorff stayed in contact with
Hahnemann by letter after he left Coethen for Paris. He later accompanied
his son, also a homœopathic physician, to Boston, USA, in 1849 where he
took a position at the university. He died in 1870 at the age of seventy-seven.

Dr. Melanie Hahnemann, the second wife of Samuel, also experimented
with Mesmerism cum hypnotism. She used this method to find out information
on the whereabouts of her long lost father. She used a young girl as a
surrogate whom she placed in a clairvoyant trance to find out the
information she sought!

"She had, she said, experimented with the former [mesmerism] herself
when she had magnetized or hypnotized a young girl to find out where her
father was. The subject discovered that he was in California, and this fact
had been verified."

A Homeopathic Love Story, The Story of Samuel and Melanie Hahnemann; R.
Handley, page 182.

Sometimes the conservative wing of homoeopathy acts as if Hahnemann and
the first generation only used their little white pills and were against
all other forms of healing. In truth they were experimenting with a wide
variety of healing arts. As we have seen in the above quotes they not only
used strange, rare and peculiar remedies but also strange, rare and
peculiar methods of healing! I would have loved to be present when Samuel
and Melanie centered their energy, focused their gazes, and raised their
hands to transmit the magnet current or induce trance when necessary!!!
What a moment.

Similia Minimus,
Sincerely, David
---------------
"It is the life-force which cures diseases because a dead man needs no more
medicines."

Samuel Hahnemann

Visit our website on Hahnemannian Homoeopathy and Cyberspace Homoeopathic
Academy at
http://www.simillimum.com
David Little © 2000

[muthu kumar]

David-
Much as I would have loved to be present when Hahnemann practised I
doubt if you will ever would have seen them concentrating and passing
magnetic current.
Modern Clinical hypnosis scarcely resembles Mesmers antics. Modern
hypnosis DOES NOT involve passing of any kind of energy. Dr.Milton
Erickson, the psychiatrist who was the Master Hypnotist of America
and who spurred and inspired many psychotherapies( including Family
Therapy, Brief Psychotherapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Neuro
Linguistic Programming (NLP)) did not do any laying of hands. In
fact many of his trance states were induced conversationally and
without people knowing that they are being hypnotized. Mesmer's
passing of energies is probably now more akin to the Pranic Healing,
Reiki, Chakra, Meridian Oriented Therapies. Probably stage hypnotists
would do that to impress people how magnetic they are.
Mesmer's work probably has resemblances to 1) Magnetotherapy 2)
Pranic or BioEnergy oriented therapies 3)Modern Hypnosis which
believes more in suggestion, verbal and non-verbal communication etc.

I know laying of hands works - I have practised Pranic healing,
Hypnosis and NLP at various times and have found them effective in
their own way.

So we do not know what Hahnemann would have done had he seen the kind
of improvement in modern psychotherapy.
--- In minutus@yahoogroups.com, David Little wrote:
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[Miguel F]

hahnemannian2002;


Is there any magnetic or electric or wahtever current? Certanlly there should be. Kirlian Camera show the field, and the cupper bed has show effectiveness on relieving illness. But it is only an effect, not the cause. Yes, Kirlian show it and we can measure illness in some grade. That show us there is some base to "vital force" but no as occultism and gnosticism try it. It exist, and it is ruled by universal laws, as gravity (and there are not mistery in it), we should investigate and use to cure patient.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[muthu kumar]

Thanks Miguel for your response.

yes there are energies that we may not know about. When doing Pranic
healing we can really feel the aura of the patients. I was not a very
sensitive healer but even I could sense some energy. I do believe
that there is some form of bio energy or whatever whether
demonstrable or not. I have come across texts in my native language
which talk about using these energy forms and some magic incantations
with that etc.

What I meant to convey was that there being a difference between
Modern Hypnosis and mesmerism it is doubtful if hahnemann would have
still used Mesmerism or use Hypnosis for some of the things. More
over since the concept of Hypnosis has changed whether still passing
of hands would have been needed now. Whether physical diseases have
changed or not- the mental make up of people has changed a lot from
Hahnemann's times till now. There were probably more hysterical
states in those times some of which respond to dramatic forms of
treatment. Many cases of possessions were hysterical states. In many
countries priestly power had been used to"exorcize" some of
these "spirits" where probably the religious rites and rituals
induced a trance state and cultural and religious beliefs effected
the "cure". In these laying of hands was only symbolic and whether
any real energy passed in all cases is not known. I do not question
that there is an energy.
At the same time just because there is an energy that does not mean
that we should always investigate and use it as homeopaths. There are
so many things in the world that are true - in India we have Ayurveda
and Siddha forms of treatment which are also very effective. Does not
mean we should include them in our treatment. When we have different
interpretations even for one Organon and questions about what
Hahnemann meant where do we have time to investigate everything else??

Hahnemann used these systems in combination - was not attempting to
explain one thru the other.
ahoogroups.com, "Miguel F" wrote:
passing
there should be. Kirlian Camera show the field, and the cupper bed
has show effectiveness on relieving illness. But it is only an
effect, not the cause. Yes, Kirlian show it and we can measure
illness in some grade. That show us there is some base to "vital
force" but no as occultism and gnosticism try it. It exist, and it is
ruled by universal laws, as gravity (and there are not mistery in
it), we should investigate and use to cure patient.

[Miguel F]

Dear Hahnemannian2002:

I agree with you. Here in Mexico we have a lot of people which cure with hands. But I think it is more psychological (somatically) that anything else. The best proof is that anyone ask first "faith" in the "guru". WAW!!!!

Well, homoeopathy don't ask for faith, it works even when there is mistrust.

How long that "miracle" cures last? Well, science tell us:

1) If it was only a suppressive cure, the real illness will be worst (physical better, mind worst).

2) If it was a partial similar, then the cure will last as long as its strong.

3) If it was the similar, then it cure.

Unfortunately, almost all the time the first case occurs so many times.
And I agree that we can't investigate all paths of cure. But certainly there are some that are worthy and should be investigate for the ones who could do it. I remember that except for some masters, almost all them died very young, and that simple mean that homeopathy is not the panacea; health, our and of our children, is worthwhile.

The only rule is the reality.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[David Little]

At 08:23 PM 7/31/2004 +0000, you wrote:

Well, I can only go by the eyewitness accounts of using magnetic passes and
how that confirms written works. This is what you would have seen.
I know about Milton works, etc.. My first teacher, Dr. Strahl, was a master
in this work and was also a Mesmer who transmitted the life force even at
great distances. The work of the early Mesmerists was a mixture of magnetic
healing (prana, chi, etc.), and hypnosis as well as psychology.
Yes, I am familiar with such things. There is also a natural magnetism
which can be stimulate, reduced, or redistributed.
First comes what Hahnemann did and then comes what he might do. I am
speaking about what he did do.
Magnetic healing and hypnotism are two branches of a similar phenomena and
where both used by early Mesmers. There are still great magnetic healers
who transmit the life force.

Sincerely, David Little
---------------
"It is the life-force which cures diseases because a dead man needs no more
medicines."

Samuel Hahnemann

Visit our website on Hahnemannian Homoeopathy and Cyberspace Homoeopathic
Academy at
http://www.simillimum.com
David Little © 2000