Animal magnetism / by Alfred Binet and Charles Féré.

  • Alfred Binet
Date:
1887
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Animal magnetism / by Alfred Binet and Charles Féré. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    “ The magnetic treatment must necessarily be danger- ous to morality. While proposing to cure diseases which require prolonged treatment, pleasing and precious emo- tions are excited, emotions to which we look back with regret and seek to revive, since they possess a natural charm for us, and contribute to our physical happiness. But morally they must be condemned, and they are the more dangerous as it becomes more easy for them to become habitual. A condition into which a woman enters in public, amid other women who apparently have the same experience, does not seem to offer any danger; she continues in it, she returns to it, and discovers her peril when it is too late. Strong women flee from this danger when they find themselves exposed to it; the morals and health of the weak may be impaired. t “ Of this danger M. Deslon is aware. On the 9th of last May, at a meeting held at M. Deslon’s own house, the lieutenant of police asked him several questions on this point in the presence of the commissioners. M. Lenoir said to him, ‘ In my capacity as lieutenant-general of police, I wish to know whether, when a woman is mag- netized and passing through the crisis, it would not be easy to outrage her.’ M. Deslon replied in the affirmative, and it is only just to this physician to state that he has always maintained that he and his colleagues, pledged by their position to act with probity, were alone entitled and privileged to practise magnetism. It must be added that although his house contains a private room origin- ally intended for these crises, he does not allow it to be used. The danger exists, however, notwithstanding this observance of decency, since the physician can, if he will, take advantage of his patient. Such occasions may occur