Mesmerising The Body: A Study of Magical Anaesthetic Surgery in Colonial Bengal

Author: Ghosal, Rajib Roson

Brand: Niyogi Books

Edition: First Edition

Binding: hardcover

Number Of Pages: 224

Release Date: 12-12-2025

Details: Can surgery be painless without modern anaesthetics such as ether, chloroform, or chemical sedation? The surprising answer is yes. Before the development of chemical anaesthesia, mesmerism was used to numb patients’ bodies, enabling painless surgeries. Mesmerism, which originated in Vienna, found remarkable success in colonial Bengal thanks to the groundbreaking work of Dr James Esdaile.
Ghosal’s book, Mesmerising the Body, explores this unique chapter in Indian medical history, drawing on rich archival records, medical reports, and contemporary accounts.
The book also explores how mesmerism transitioned from a medical practice to a topic of folklore in Bengali literature during the twentieth century.
With its thorough research and engaging narrative, the book offers valuable insights into a fascinating aspect of medical history. This work is essential reading for historians, medical scholars, and curious readers interested in the intersection of medicine and history.
About the Author: Rajib Roson Ghosal is a Ph.D. research scholar who is currently pursuing his doctorate on thePopularisation of Western Science and Medicine in Colonial Bengal at Visva- Bharati, Santiniketan. His domain of work is primarily the History of Science and Medicine in Bengal.
He has contributed numerous articles to national and international journals, conference proceedings, and edited volumes. His notable works include ‘Science, Medicine and Rabindranath Tagore: An Analytical Study’; ‘Forcible Madness as a Civilizing Mission: Inmates of Lunatic Asylums in Colonial Bengal’; and ‘The Age of Assimilation to Excellence: Spread of Medical Education in 19th Century Bengal’.

EAN: 9788199249417

Languages: English