Editing Franz Mesmer (section)

===Procedure===
Mesmer treated patients both individually and in groups. With individuals he would sit in front of his patient with his knees touching the patient's knees, pressing the patient's thumbs in his hands, looking fixedly into the patient's eyes. Mesmer made "passes", moving his hands from the patient's shoulders down along their arms. He then pressed his fingers on the patient's [[hypochondrium]] (the area below the [[diaphragm (anatomy)|diaphragm]]), sometimes holding his hands there for hours. Many patients felt peculiar sensations or had convulsions that were regarded as crises and were supposed to bring about the cure. Mesmer would often conclude his treatments by playing some music on a [[glass harmonica]].<ref>Gielen & Raymond, 32ff.</ref>

By 1780, Mesmer had more patients than he could treat individually, and he established a collective treatment known as the "baquet." An English doctor who observed Mesmer described the treatment as follows:[[File:Le baquet de Mesmer Georges Méliès 1905.ogv|thumb|A caricature of Mesmer "baquet" filmed by [[Georges Méliès]], 1905|262x262px]]<blockquote>In the middle of the room is placed a vessel of about a foot and a half high which is called here a "baquet". It is so large that twenty people can easily sit round it; near the edge of the lid which covers it, there are holes pierced corresponding to the number of persons who are to surround it; into these holes are introduced iron rods, bent at right angles outwards, and of different heights, so as to answer to the part of the body to which they are to be applied. Besides these rods, there is a rope which communicates between the baquet and one of the patients, and from him is carried to another, and so on the whole round. The most sensible effects are produced on the approach of Mesmer, who is said to convey the fluid by certain motions of his hands or eyes, without touching the person. I have talked with several who have witnessed these effects, who have convulsions occasioned and removed by a movement of the hand...<ref>{{Cite book |last=Morton |first=Lisa |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3CnxDwAAQBAJ&q=In+the+middle+of+the+room+is+placed+a+vessel+of+about+a+foot+and+a+half+high+which+is+called+here+a+%22baquet%22.+It+is+so+large+that+twenty+people+can+easily+sit+round+it%3B+near+the+edge+of+the+lid+which+covers+it%2C+there+are+holes+pierced+corresponding+to+the+number+of+persons+who+are+to+surround+it%3B+into+these+holes+are+introduced+iron+rods%2C+bent+at+right+angles+outwards%2C+and+of+different+heights%2C+so+as+to+answer+to+the%25&pg=PT91 |title=Calling the Spirits: A History of Seances |date=2022-10-10 |publisher=Reaktion Books |isbn=978-1-78914-281-5 |language=en}}</ref></blockquote>