The Philosophy Which Shows the Physiology of Mesmerism and Explains the Phenomenon of Clairvoyance

The author proposes a mechanical philosophy founded on inert, spherical atoms and a universal general pressure as the primary cause of physical action, arguing that prevailing scientific doctrines cannot explain mesmeric phenomena. The text outlines physiology and sensory function, defines magnetism and a putative nervous fluid, and distinguishes natural, comatose, and mesmeric sleep while offering a physiological account of clairvoyance. It treats related physical topics—motion, media, fire and combustion, oxygen, water and solvents—and discusses diaphragmatic and splenic roles, correlative elements, ethereal agents, curative applications, and experimental methods for applying mesmeric principles to medical practice.