Franz Anton Mesmer

Franz Anton Mesmer was a doctor who lived in the 1700s. He believed that there was a special energy in the world that could be used to heal people. He called this energy "animal magnetism" and tried to use it to help people feel better. He would use magnets to help people, and sometimes a lot of people would gather and hold hands in a circle as part Mesmer's treatments. He was also interested in hypnosis and using it to help people relax and feel better. Mesmer's ideas were not accepted by everyone, but some people did report feeling better after his treatments.