Description:
François Azouvi : Irritability and animal magnetism : an unpublished letter by Servan. This unpublished letter, which dates probably from 1785 or 1786, comments on Tardy de Montravel's theses concerning magnetic somnambulism. In order to explain the facts presented by the magnetists, Servan proposes to use the theory of irritability, as revised by the Monpellier school. Servan — who had little confidence in 'systems' but wished to remain faithful to the facts — was seeking a middle way between credulity and scepticism.