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Mesmers Baquet
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Mesmers Baquet
Franz Anton Mesmer (1734-1815), Viennese physician and hypnotist who claimed to be able to cure the sick by using animal magnetism", later known as mesmerism. Following the contemporary craze for " medical electricity", Mesmer created in his salon in Paris the " baquet" (tub) which consisted of a large, circular, wooden tank containing shaped iron rods and filled with " magnetized water." It was able to accommodate a number of patients at a time. The treatment, conducted here by Mesmer with his wand, consisted of pressing the iron rods against the afflicted part of the body. His clientele was mainly Parisian society women from the middle- and upper- classes. The seance-like atmosphere induced hypnotic trances and convulsions which were considered cathartic and curative. In 1784 a commission of scientists denounced Mesmer as a charlatan and mesmerism fell into disrepute."
Science Photo Library features Science and Medical images including photos and illustrations
Media ID 9245055
© SHEILA TERRY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
Charlatan Charlatanism Electricity Magnetism Society Women Animal Magnetism Baquet Convulsions Hypnosis Hypnotism Hypnotist Mesmer Mesmerism Trance
EDITORS COMMENTS
This print depicts the mesmerizing world of Franz Anton Mesmer, a renowned Viennese physician and hypnotist from the 18th century. Mesmer claimed to possess the extraordinary ability to heal the sick using animal magnetism, later known as mesmerism. In his Parisian salon, he introduced a revolutionary contraption called the "baquet" or tub. The baquet was an impressive circular wooden tank filled with magnetized water and adorned with shaped iron rods. It could accommodate multiple patients at once, attracting mainly middle- and upper-class women from Parisian society. Under Mesmer's skilled guidance and his wand-like instrument, patients would experience a unique treatment involving pressing the iron rods against their afflicted body parts. The ambiance within this salon resembled that of a seance, inducing hypnotic trances and convulsions among its attendees. These phenomena were believed to be cathartic and curative in nature. However, in 1784, a commission of scientists denounced Mesmer as nothing more than a charlatan, leading to mesmerism falling into disrepute. This intriguing image offers us a glimpse into an era when medical electricity was alluringly fashionable. It showcases both the societal fascination with hypnosis and magnetism while also highlighting how easily such practices can be dismissed as charlatanism by skeptics. Science Photo Library brings this historical moment back to life through their remarkable collection without any commercial intentions involved
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