The Marquis de Puységur, Artificial Somnambulism, and the Discovery of the Unconscious Mind presents the first full English translation of a foundational text in the history of psychodynamic thinking, and provides a contextual explanation of its contemporary significance. Written by Puységur in 1784, Memoirs to Serve the History and Establishment of Animal Magnetism describes the author’s exploration and discovery of “artificial somnambulism,” a state that reveals insights into the subconscious mind. Building on the healing techniques of Franz Anton Mesmer, Puységur kept detailed notes on his practice with patients, including their names, symptoms, and follow-up information, providing a unique insight into his process. The full text of this original publication is presented here, complemented by a historical introduction and editor’s notes. The Marquis de Puységur, Artificial Somnambulism, and the Discovery of the Unconscious Mind will be of great interest to academics and scholars of psychoanalysis, psychotherapy, and the history of psychology, hypnosis, and mental health. It will also appeal to practicing clinicians.

Writers on the disorders of the mind have frequently remarked that it is difficult to furnish a definition of insanity, which may enable us at once to recognize it when it exists, and to distinguish it from all other conditions whether of health or of disease. Although many excellent treatises exist on various matters connected with mental derangement in the English, French, and German languages, there is yet not one work extant in either of them which exhibits the present state of knowledge and opinion on the whole subject of diseases affecting the mind. This text allows me to state in a more convincing manner my opinions on some important questions connected with the nature of insanity, with respect to which I believe the notions generally prevalent, and sanctioned by the highest medical and legal authorities in this country, to be not only erroneous, but the sources of great practical evils. Original text, J.C. Prichard, 1835. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2004 APA, all rights reserved).