Negative mesmerism is a method of animal magnetism, also known as mesmerism, that was invented by German doctor Franz Mesmer in the 18th century. It is based on the idea that there is an invisible natural force (Lebensmagnetismus) possessed by all living things, and that this force can be discharged or reduced by making a rapid motion of the hand over the body of the person who has an excess of it. This is supposed to relieve the symptoms of nervous disorders and restore the balance of the vital energy.

According to Mesmer, negative mesmerism can be performed by following these steps:

– The mesmerizer should be a person of good will and strong vitality, who can concentrate his or her power on the recipient.
– The recipient should be a person who suffers from an accumulation of vital force in some parts of the body, causing irritation or inflammation.
– The mesmerizer should hold his or her hand parallel to, and about an inch distant from, the body of the recipient, starting from the top of the head and moving down to the tips of the toes.
– The mesmerizer should make a very rapid motion of the hand, as if brushing off something from the surface of the body.
– The mesmerizer should repeat this process several times, until he or she feels that the excess vital force has been discharged or distributed evenly.
– The recipient should feel a sensation of relief, calmness, or cooling in the affected parts.

This is how negative mesmerism is supposed to work according to Mesmer’s theory.