Du Potet de Sennevoy, Baron (Jules Denis)
(17961881)
A leading exponent of animal magnetism in nineteenthcentury
France, familiar with the whole range of paranormal
phenomena that later figured prominently in Spiritualism.
Du Potet began his experiments in 1821 and recorded his
experiences in Le Propagateur du Magnétisme animal, a journal
founded in 1827, and in the Journal de Magnétisme, which was
founded in 1845 and continued until 1861 and was subsequently
revived by Hector Durville.
He claimed to have discovered in animal magnetism the
magic of antiquity. Apports, fire resistance, levitation of the
human body, and spirit communications were frequently observed
and studied by him. On a visit to England he introduced
Dr. John Elliotson, the first exponent of animal magnetism in
Great Britain, to the phenomena. Over the years he wrote a
number of books that kept the issue of animal magnetism alive
in France.
Sources
Du Potet de Sennevoy, Baron. Cours de magnétisme animal.
N.p., 1834. 1840.
. Discours sur le magnétisme animal. N.p., 1833.
. Essai sur lenseignement philosophique du magnétisme.
N.p., 1845.
. Exposé des expériences sur le magnétisme animal. N.p.,
1821.
. La Magie dévoilée ou principes des sciences occultes.
1852. Translated as Magnetism and Magic. Edited by A. H. E.
Lee. London, 1927.
. Le magnétisme animal opposé à la médecine, mémoire
pour servir a lhistoire du magnétisme en France et en Angleterre.
N.p., 1840.
. Manuel de létudiant magnétiseur ou nouvelle instruction
pratique du magnétisme fondée sur 30 années dobservations. N.p.,
1846.
