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James Braid ( 1795 – March 25 , 1860 ) coined the term and invented the procedure known as Hypnotism . A surgeon, born in Fife , Scotland and educated at the University Of Edinburgh . Braid practised in Scotland for a short time, then moved to Manchester , England , where he lived for the rest of his life. Braid became interested in Mesmerism in November 1841 , when he observed demonstrations given by a traveling mesmerist named Charles Lafontaine ( 1803 - 1892 ). Convinced that he had discovered the key to understanding these phenomena, Braid began giving lectures the following month. In '', and '' Hypnotist '', which remain in use. Braid thought of hypnotism as producing a "nervous sleep" which differed from ordinary sleep. The most efficient way to produce it was through visual fixation on a small bright object held eighteen inches above and in front of the eyes. Braid regarded the physiological condition underlying hypnotism to be the over-exercising of the eye muscles through the straining of attention. He completely rejected Franz Mesmer 's idea that a Magnetic fluid caused hypnotic phenomena, because anyone could produce them in "himself by attending strictly to the simple rules" that Braid laid down. ''Braidism'' is a synonym for hypnotism, though it is used infrequently. FURTHER READING
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