The fragmented account of Antoine Despine's magnetic cure of Estelle L'Hardy's dissociative disorder

Dr. Charles-Humbert Antoine Despine's (1777-1852) De L'Emploi du magnétisme animal et des eaux minerales dans le traitement des maladies nerveuses, suivi d'une observation très curieuse de guérison de névropathie [A Study of the uses of animal magnetism in the treatment of disorders of the nervous system followed by a case of a highly unusual cure of neuropathy] (Paris: Germer, Baillière, 1840) is one of the earliest published, complete accounts of a successful cure with animal magnetism of a dissociative disorder. Despine's methodical and gentle treatment of more than 20 patients with multiple personalities repeatedly brought fusion to separation. His writing style displays a lack of order and unity that resembles the dissociative symptoms of his patients, but the monograph's sloppiness belies Despine's methodical approach to his work and his thoughtful handling of his patients. This paper explores these inconsistencies and how translators of the monograph act as literary therapists for his confused and fragmented account.

Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2007 Oct;55(4):486-96. Comment in: Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2007 Oct;55(4):497-8. McKeown JM. Moravian College, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18018, USA. mejmd01@moravian.edu