In the year 1812 the Government sent Wolfart from Berlin to Mesmer at Frauenfeld, in order that he might there make himself acquainted with the subject. Wolfart came back a thorough adherent of Mesmer, introduced magnetism into the hospital treatment, and afterwards became a professor at the university. A prize which was offered by the Berlin Academy of Sciences, at the request of the Prussian Government, for an essay on Animal Magnetism was, it appears, withdrawn. However, animal magnetism flourished to an extraordinary extent at that time in Berlin, and Berlin physicians placed a monument on Mesmer's grave at Morsburg. The well-known physician Koreff, also, of whom Cuvier said later if he were not already in Paris he must be entreated to come there, interested himself much in magnetism, and often made use of it for healing purposes so long as he lived in Berlin. Virchow complained in his address as Rector of the University, in 1893, that the Chancellor of State, Hardenberg, had, in 1816 and again in 1817, with the full concurrence of William v.

Humboldt, expressed an earnest wish to promote Wolfart and Koreff, the chief representatives of animal magnetism in Berlin. The extent to which animal magnetism had gained ground in Berlin at that period may be judged from the fact that theological students received instruction in physiology, pathology, and the treatment of sickness by vital magnetism. It was Mesmer's idea to teach magnetism to the clergy, and this may account for the assumption on the part of a few individuals - Nicolai and Biester in Berlin, for instance - that the only object of Mesmer's teaching was to restore their lost power to the Church and the Jesuits.

The attitude of the Catholic Church to animal magnetism has often been discussed. Clerical authorities were frequently asked if the use of animal magnetism in the treatment of disease were permissible. Such a question was propounded in Rome in 1842, and, according to Gousset, the Grand Penitentiary Castracane replied in the following somewhat evasive terms: - A hasty decision might endanger the honour of the Holy Chair, and the question was not of a nature to necessitate an immediate conclusion being come to, because no danger would be run by postponing judgment. The Catholic Church had raised no general objection to the use of animal magnetism in individual cases, but had tacitly permitted it, though she had protested against many abuses.

In the rest of Germany, also, many investigators occupied themselves with animal magnetism; in several universities a knowledge of the phenomena was spread by means of lectures - for example, by Wolfart in Berlin, and by Bartels in Breslau. In 1821, Fritze, the Magdeburg physicist, began to occupy himself with magnetism, and in 1853 Varges, who had commenced his investigations at the same time as Fritze, published the result of his experiences since 1821. In South Germany also the importance of animal magnetism began to be better recognized, and in 1818 Haberl, of Munich, employed it in the treatment of disease in the hospital of that town. As many authors inform us, a royal order in February 1817 made magnetization in Prussia the privilege of physicians only; but in the official code of laws nothing is to be found on the subject. At the same time such laws were enacted in other countries. Magnetism was introduced everywhere, especially in Russia and Denmark, in which countries medical men were bound to report periodically to the authorities the results they had obtained with animal magnetism (Brandis). In Holland such distinguished physicians as Bakker, Wolthers, and Hendriksz devoted themselves to the study of animal magnetism; but in Switzerland and Italy it was at first received with less sympathy.

After Mesmer had left France in the time of the Revolution, in order, after prolonged travels, to settle himself at his native place on the Lake of Constance, magnetism only regained its importance in France at the beginning of the last century. In Germany it was chiefly the medical profession which turned to the study of animal magnetism. True, a number of French doctors experimented with it, and Esquirol states that in 1813-16 he made use of it in eleven cases of mental disorder, but without producing even the slightest improvement in the condition of the patients. Nevertheless, in France mesmerism for the most part fell into the hands of laymen. Here Deleuze may be mentioned as one of the earnest investigators. But the whole doctrine received a great impetus through the Abbe Faria, who came to Paris from India. In 1814-15 he showed by experiments, whose results he published in part in 1819, that no unknown force was necessary for the production of the phenomena: the cause of the sleep was in the person who was to be sent to sleep - all was subjective. This is the main principle of hypnotism and of suggestion, of which Faria made use in inducing sleep.

General Noizet allowed the Abbe to experiment on him, and even if he did not fall into a deep sleep, a condition which we nowadays call the lighter degree of hypnosis was induced. The General relates that he was unable to open his eyes until Faria allowed him to. Shortly afterwards the Abbe was suspected of fraud, simply because he was tricked by an actor who had been persuaded to feign sleep while pretending to submit honestly to the process of hypnotizing. Thus Faria, a thoroughly honourable man, was set down a swindler, in spite of the fact that for a long time he alone, almost, held the only true view of mesmerism; while, as Ochorowicz reproachfully states, not a single scientist gave himself up to a study of the question. Later on, in France, Noizet, whom we have mentioned above, and a physician named Bertrand, paved the way for the doctrine of suggestion, in spite of much inclination to animal magnetism. In 1820, experiments were begun in the Paris hospitals, chiefly under the direction of Du Potet. At the proposal of Foissac, and at the recommendation of Husson, the Paris Academy of Medicine in 1826 appointed a Commission to examine the question of animal magnetism.