I. The historical aspect of hypnotism; the point of
view of modern hypnotism 172
II. Healers of disease by mental methods; their methods;
Greatrakes; Gassner 176
III. Mesmer; the beginnings of Animal Magnetism;
Mesmer's career in Paris; the Commission of 1784;
decline of Mesmerism 180
IV. The system of Animal Magnetism; its practices; a
critical view 189
V. Puységur and the discovery of artificial
somnambulism; the status of Puységur; Pétetin and
his contributions 193
VI. The revival of Mesmerism; Abbé Faria; somnambulism
in the hospitals of Paris; the report of the
Commission of 1825; the report of the Commission
of 1837 200
VII. James Braid; his early observations; his
enunciation of the physiology of the hypnotic
state; his connection with phrenology; his later
views; his recognition of unconscious deception 205
VIII. The chaotic condition of hypnotism in the middle
decades of the nineteenth century; hypnotism
as an anæsthetic; scientific contributions 213
IX. Extravagances of Mesmerism; Deleuze and his
followers; "electro-biology;" Harriet Martineau's
letters on Mesmerism; Mesmeric miracles;
Reichenbach and the "odic" force 216
X. Transition to modern hypnotism; the scientific
recognition of hypnotism; Charcot and his followers;
Bernheim and the school of Nancy 227
XI. Principles illustrated by the history of hypnotism;
lack of proper conceptions; unconscious suggestion;
conclusion 231