The inventor of Mesmerism, Franz Mesmer, believed there was an invisible fluid referred to as the ‘magnetic fluid’ that flowed through all living things and that an imbalance could lead to an illness. He claimed to be able to restore this balance using magnets and through a process called ‘laying on of hands’. A Royal Commission, which included Benjamin Franklin, proved that Mesmer’s claims were incorrect and that the magnetic fluid did not exist; however, according to NIH, Mesmerism’s work had a huge impact on modern-day hypnosis.

PC: Wikipedia