John Elliotson's involvement with mesmerism forms one of the most remarkable chapters in medical history. To tell this story alone, however, would belie the curious truth behind an eminent professor whose whole life was hallmarked by unsuppressed, unorthodox tendencies. With a reputation for flouting convention and a history of unorthodox affiliations, Elliotson went on to embrace the phenomenon of “mesmerism” with ungovernable enthusiasm. What follows is extraordinary, as mesmerism's most controversial patron lost his reputation, position, fortune and friends.
The Lancet Gallery of Medical Portraits: John Elliotson. Lancet1833; ii:341–4.
2.
ElliotsonE.Clinical Lecture. London Medical Gazette1831; 8:411–13.
3.
BramwellMilne J.Hypnotism: Its History, Practice and Theory.London: William Rider & Son Ltd, 1921:4–5.
4.
Munk's Roll of the Royal College of Physicians1822; 3:258–62.
5.
For early biographical material on Elliotson, in addition to refs 1, 3 & 4 above, see: Obituary notice for John Elliotson. Lancet1868; ii:203–4. Elliotson; Dictionary of National Biography;6:682–4. Kaplan F. John Elliotson on Mesmerism. New York: Da Capo Press, 1982: Introduction. William H. Doctors Differ. London: J Cape, 1946:25–39.
6.
SternMB. Heads and Headlines: The Phrenological Fowlers.Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma Press, 1971.
7.
CooterR.The Cultural Meaning of Popular Science.New York: Cambridge University Press, 1984:28–32.
8.
MillerJ.A Gower Street Scandal, The Samuel Gee Lecture. J R Coll Physicians Land1983; 17:181–91.
9.
CooterR. (op. cit. ref 7):48–66.
10.
BlochG.Mesmerism – A Translation of the Original and Scientific Writings of F A Mesmer.California: William Kaufmann Inc., 1980: Introduction.
11.
ElliotsonJ.The Medical and Physical Journal. Lancet1829; ii:341–4.
12.
Obituary notice for John Elliotson. Lancet1868; ii:203–4.
13.
Anonymous. Experiments of Baron Dupotet (Letter). Lancet1837; ii:836–40.
14.
ElliotsonJ. Dr Elliotson on clinical instruction and its improvements. Lancet1837;i:122–4.
15.
ElliotsonJ.Abstract of a clinical lecture by Dr Elliotson on remarkable cases of sleep walking. Lancet1837; ii:866–73.
16.
KaplanF.John Elliotson on Mesmerism.New York: Da Capo Press, 1982: Introduction.
17.
Exhibition of the effects of animal magnetism in the theatre of UCH. Lancet1838; ii:282–8.
18.
PodmoreF.Mesmerism and Christian Science.London: Methuen and Co., 1909:126–7.
19.
Animal magnetism; second report. Lancet1838; ii:377–83.
20.
Animal magnetism; third report. Lancet1838; ii:441–6.
