Mesmerism in India

Mesmerism in India and its Practical Application in Surgery and Medicine is a fascinating presentation of Mesmerism, by a surgeon in India, who taught himself magnetic healing and used it to perform a variety of surgical operations on his native patients.

First published in 1846, and written by Dr James Esdaile, this book deals with mesmerism and its use in India. Based on the beliefs of Franz Anton Mesmer, an 18th-century doctor, who developed the theory that a natural force exists in the world that can be utilized to aid in surgical procedures, similar to hypnotism. Later, this style of treatment came to be known as mesmerism.

This book is a detailed examination of the history of mesmerism, the mesmeric processes, outcomes of mesmeric procedures, and a detailed list of 73 painless surgical operations (including the removal of an 80-pound scrotal tumour) performed while patients were in mesmeric trances.