In a forthcoming article in Studies in History and Philosophy of Biological and Biomedical Sciences historian of science Simon Schaffer (left) examines the influence of astrology on Franz Anton Mesmer’s development of mesmerism.
The abstract to Schaffer’s article, “The astrological roots of Mesmerism,” reads:
Franz Anton Mesmer’s 1766 thesis on the influence of the planets on the human body, in which he first publicly presented his account of the harmonic forces at work in the microcosm, was substantially copied from the London physician Richard Mead’s early eighteenth century tract on solar and lunar effects on the body. The relation between the two texts poses intriguing problems for the historiography of medical astrology: Mesmer’s use of Mead has been taken as a sign of the Vienna physician’s enlightened modernity while Mead’s use of astro-meteorology has been seen as evidence of the survival of antiquated astral medicine in the eighteenth century. Two aspects of this problem are discussed. First, French critics of mesmerism in the 1780s found precedents for animal magnetism in the work of Paracelsus, Fludd and other early modern writers; in so doing, they began to develop a sophisticated history for astrology and astro-meteorology. Second, the close relations between astro-meteorology and Mead’s project illustrate how the environmental medical programmes emerged. The making of a history for astrology accompanied the construction of various models of the relation between occult knowledge and its contexts in the enlightenment.
aloha – on ancient (medical) astrology that Mesmer used for healing the sick with hands-on “animal magnetism” also water, iron rods, organic matter, ropes, special trees, grounding & his voice, touching & eye to eye contact between Mesmer & sick in his dramatic healing sessions. So his use of astrology then i assume was a practical timing & maybe doing the charts of special patients. He then worked to trigger catharsis of releasing inner pain, struggle, fears, hate & toxins that maybe healed or returned. That depending on patients attitudes, fears, beliefs & needs, habits & addiction before & after the AM sessions.
Also the patients belief & trust in their emotions that Mesmer worked to release probably was related to the astrology planetary alinements then. So the history of medical astrology reveals little or nothing of how Mesmer used it in his practice, that i doubt he ever told his patients or accusers. Now there’s a few books on medical astrology, but not in-depth like Mesmer’s Animal Magnetism except some body energy healers with: Chi kung, Shiatzu, Polarity & Bioenergy release & balancing.