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

In Short

This 1848 philosophical treatise argues that science has been led astray by inventing unnecessary forces like "chemical attraction" or "vital energy." Instead, the author posits that all physical occurrences—from the movement of planets and the burning of fire to the miracle of human consciousness—are the result of a single, universal principle: pressure. By framing mesmerism as a natural physiological process rather than a supernatural one, the text seeks to bridge the gap between human health and the mechanical laws that dictate the behavior of all inert matter.

The Story

The narrative begins with a bold rejection of established scientific authority. The author contends that philosophers from Aristotle to Newton have failed to grasp the simplicity of nature because they did not recognize that matter is fundamentally inert. Because matter cannot move itself, the author argues that all motion must be the result of external pressure. This "philosophy of mechanical nature" serves as the foundation for everything that follows. The author moves through a systematic dismantling of conventional physics, asserting that concepts like heat, cold, and light are not properties of matter, but merely sensory effects experienced by the brain.

Once the stage is set, the argument shifts to the atmosphere and the hidden mechanics of space. The author claims that space is filled with a medium—a "minus-pressure" substance—that facilitates all motion. Whether it is the flight of a bird, the movement of a planet, or the dissolution of a substance in water, the author maintains that these are not caused by inherent "affections" or "affinities," but by the displacement of this medium.

From here, the text turns toward the human body, applying these mechanical principles to physiology. The author dissects respiration, digestion, and the function of the spleen, arguing that the body is essentially an elaborate machine that regulates its own internal pressure through the intake and circulation of this subtle medium. This sets the stage for the book’s central focus: mesmerism. By demystifying the "mesmeric sleep," the author frames it as a natural process—a "comatose flow"—that mimics the way the body polarizes itself during ordinary rest.

The progression reaches its climax in the analysis of clairvoyance and the power of the will. The author posits that the mind can exert control over the body’s internal electric state. By voluntarily de-electrizing specific nerves, a living being can enhance its perception, allowing for "long vision" or "opaque vision"—what we call clairvoyance. Animals, according to this view, use these same principles to navigate the world or catch prey. The final arc of the argument suggests that if we stop treating the universe as a collection of mysterious, disconnected forces and start viewing it as a single, self-regulating mechanism governed by pressure, we will eventually master the laws of all physical reality. The book concludes with the assertion that the "wonders of the entire universe" will become fully accessible once we properly apply this philosophy to our study of the mechanical world.

How It Unfolds

The rejection of established theory The author begins by dismissing the "Baconian" method of torturing nature for answers, arguing that centuries of experimentation have been wasted on false principles. He insists that motion is purely mechanical and that the universe is a self-regulating system that requires no constant divine intervention.

The mechanism of the universe The argument moves to the properties of matter, asserting that all substances are inert and that "forces" like gravity or chemical attraction are mere professional jargon. He introduces the "medium of space" as the invisible, omnipresent fluid that transmits pressure between bodies, allowing for everything from planetary orbits to the sensation of color.

The physiology of the body The focus narrows to human biology, reinterpreting organ functions like digestion and respiration as purely mechanical processes of pressure regulation. The spleen, for instance, is reimagined as a vital channel for distributing the medium required for life-sustaining motion.

The mystery of sleep and mesmerism The text describes the "comatose flow," a physical sensation of warmth and relaxation that the author identifies as the natural precursor to sleep. By demonstrating that mesmeric passes merely facilitate this already-occurring natural process, the author strips the practice of its occult reputation.

The application of the will The final movement explores how the mind consciously manipulates these mechanical forces to achieve extraordinary results. From the navigation of carrier pigeons to the clairvoyant sight of a mesmerized subject, the author argues that the will is a tool for adjusting the body’s relationship to the surrounding pressure of the universe.

The People

The book is less a narrative of characters and more a study of the "Great Architect" and the scientists who have either enlightened or misled the world. The author acts as a sharp, corrective presence, positioning himself as a truth-seeker standing in opposition to the established scientific establishment. He seeks to rescue the reputation of Doctor Elliotson, Doctor Ashburner, and Doctor Esdaile—the champions of mesmerism—whom he views as pioneers unfairly targeted by "the fangs of ignorance." Aristotle appears as a recurring touchstone, praised for his early, correct understanding of motion, even though his successors are criticized for failing to build upon his foundation. Finally, the human subject (or patient) is portrayed as a machine-like entity, capable of incredible feats like clairvoyance or the suppression of pain, provided they understand how to tune their own internal "electric" state. These figures are not distinct protagonists, but rather vessels through which the author proves his mechanical laws.

In Its Own Voice

The author’s tone is consistently diagnostic and assertive, as seen in his insistence that we must examine the mechanisms of life with scientific rigor:

"He is not an Esculapian who is unacquainted with the Philosophy of the Animal Economy."

Regarding the pervasive misunderstanding of how we perceive the external world through our senses, he writes:

"Nothing can be like a sensation but a sensation."

He concludes by framing the future of scientific discovery as a task of mastering these universal laws of pressure:

"The science of Mesmerism, which unfolds the hitherto unknown wonders of the Animal system; and will unfold the wonders of the entire universe, when the telescope and microscope are familiarly used by the Clairvoyant."

What It's Really About

At its core, this book is an argument for scientific monism—the belief that all phenomena, no matter how complex or seemingly magical, are governed by a single, universal set of laws. The author is obsessed with the concept of inertia and the idea that the universe is a closed, mechanical system. The central questions are: Why do we invent complex theories to explain what can be solved by simple pressure? Can we categorize the human brain and its sensations as part of the same mechanical grid as a falling stone or a burning fire? The book attempts to prove that the boundary between the physical and the mental is an illusion created by our failure to understand the fundamental, inert reality of matter.

Why Read It Today

Readers interested in the history of ideas will find this book a fascinating look at the mid-19th-century mind. It is a period piece that captures the transition between speculative natural philosophy and modern, data-driven science. If you have an interest in the "fringe" science of the Victorian era—specifically how mesmeric practitioners attempted to legitimize their work through the language of physics—you will find this text essential.

However, it is not a gentle read. The author’s prose is dense, technical, and often combative. He frequently berates the "established philosophy" of his contemporaries, which can make the text feel quite argumentative. Readers should be prepared for archaic terminology, particularly his specific use of "electric" and "minus-pressure" concepts that do not align with modern physics. The book requires patience, as the author expects you to follow his rigorous, if highly idiosyncratic, mechanical diagrams and logic. What stays with you is the sheer, uncompromising confidence of the author’s vision. It is a rare, unfiltered window into a time when a scholar could look at the most mysterious aspects of human consciousness and decide, with absolute certainty, that they were simply a matter of clockwork, pressure, and fluid dynamics.