Experts and historical archivists highlight Braid's unique contribution to the transition from occultism to medicine:
The Wood Library-Museum of Anesthesiology provides a complete digital copy of the 1899 edition, which includes Waite's extensive biographical introduction. NEURYPNOLOGY James Braid
Braid debunked the idea that a "magnetic fluid" passed from the operator to the patient. James Braid | Health and Medicine | Research
Braid’s work focused on the physical and psychological mechanisms that induce a hypnotic state: NEURYPNOLOGY James Braid
Initially, Braid believed the state was caused by physical fatigue of the eyes and nervous system from fixed staring.
James Braid | Health and Medicine | Research Starters - EBSCO
“He recognized that hypnosis was a subjective phenomenon, dependent entirely on the state of mind of the hypnotized and not on any mystical fluid or occult magical power wielded by the hypnotizer.” Peter Harrington Recommended Versions of the Article