NationMaster - Encyclopedia: James Braid (physician)

James Braid (1795 – March 25, 1860) was a Scottish neurosurgeon who coined the term and invented the procedure known as hypnotism. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 453 Ã— 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (509 Ã— 674 pixel, file size: 44 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg)Photograph of Portrait of James Braid. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 453 Ã— 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (509 Ã— 674 pixel, file size: 44 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg)Photograph of Portrait of James Braid. ... 1795 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... March 25 is the 84th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (85th in leap years). ... 1860 is the leap year starting on Sunday. ... Neurosurgery is the surgical discipline focused on treating the central and peripheral nervous system. ... Hypnosis, as defined by the American Psychological Association Division of Psychological Hypnosis, is a procedure during which a health professional or researcher suggests that a client, patient, or experimental participant experience changes in sensations, perceptions, thoughts, or behavior. ...

Born in Fife 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. Fife (FÃ¬obh in Gaelic) is a council area of Scotland, situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with landward boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire. ... The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1582,[4] is a renowned centre for teaching and research in Edinburgh, Scotland. ... This article is becoming very long. ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Capital London (de facto) Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification - by Athelstan AD 927 Area - Total 130,395 kmÂ² (1st in UK) 50,346 sq mi Population - 2006 est. ...

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. Hypnosis, as defined by the American Psychological Association Division of Psychological Hypnosis, is a procedure during which a health professional or researcher suggests that a client, patient, or experimental participant experience changes in sensations, perceptions, thoughts, or behavior. ... 1841 is a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... Charles Lafontaine was an early Swiss hypnotist. ... 1803 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... 1892 (MDCCCXCII) was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ...

In 1843 he published Neurypnology: or the Rationale of Nervous Sleep, his first and only book-length exposition of his views. In this book he coined the words hypnotism, hypnotize, 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. 1843 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Hypnotize is the fifth album by System of a Down and the second half of the Mezmerize/Hypnotize double album. ... Hypnosis, as defined by the American Psychological Association Division of Psychological Hypnosis, is a procedure during which a health professional or researcher suggests that a client, patient, or experimental participant experience changes in sensations, perceptions, thoughts, or behavior. ...

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. Franz Anton Mesmer His Grave Franz Anton Mesmer (May 23, 1734 â€“ March 5, 1815) discovered what he called animal magnetism and others often called mesmerism. ... Magnetic lines of force of a bar magnet shown by iron filings on paper In physics, magnetism is one of the phenomena by which materials exert an attractive or repulsive force on other materials. ...

In 1997 Braid’s part in developing hypnosis for therapeutic purposes was acknowledged by the creation of the James Braid Society, a discussion group for those “involved or concerned in the ethical uses of hypnosis.” The society meets once a month in central London, usually for a presentation on some aspect of hypnotherapy.