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The Treasures of Lyon 1 University: Stories from the Collections Item No. 1: Mesmer's Tub
The treasures of the scientific heritage of Lyon 1 University are preserved in drawers or behind display cases. Their history is often fascinating, and they have made invaluable contributions to research. They have stood the test of time to shed light on modern science. In the series "The Treasures of Lyon 1 University: Stories of Collections," the university invites you to explore its collections and highlights some of its most remarkable pieces. Among them is Mesmer’s tub, which is preserved at the Alexandre Lacassagne Museum of the History of Health. This unusual object transports us to the Age of Enlightenment, when certain therapeutic practices aroused both fascination and suspicion of quackery.
About the Museum
The Musée d’histoire de la Médecine et de la Pharmacie is considered one of the oldest museums of medical history in France. Founded in 1896 by Alexandre Lacassagne, the museum is located within the new Faculty of Medicine on Quai Claude Bernard in Lyon. Lacassagne assembled a particularly rich and diverse collection there: paintings, busts, scientific instruments, and written documents, all of which are on display.
As the father of criminal anthropology, Alexandre Lacassagne recognized early on the value of preserving these specimens. He intended for them to illustrate the historical evolution of medicine and pharmacy for students of these subjects. In 1914, he donated his entire collection to the university for educational purposes. Upon reopening, the museum was named the Musée d’histoire de la Santé – Alexandre Lacassagne.
Among these collections, one object in particular catches the eye: Mesmer’s tub.
The item: a wooden tub with three compartments
Mesmer’s tub is a historical and particularly elegant object. It is an oak vat containing three main components. First, it features a magnetic system and an electrical device consisting of a capacitor and a Chain attached to its inner pole. A third system of strings completes the assembly.
Healing through “animal magnetism”: Mesmer’s project
To understand this unique instrument, we must look back at its history. In the late 18th century, Franz Anton Mesmer proposed a new concept of health and illness based on an unprecedented therapeutic approach: "Animal magnetism" or mesmerism. According to Mesmer, a subtle physical fluid fills the universe and connects humans, the Earth, and celestial bodies, as well as humans to one another. He believed that illness resulted from an imbalance in this fluid and that healing involved restoring harmonious circulation within the body.
Patients sat around the tub, tied together with ropes to promote the circulation of the fluid. The wooden tub, pierced with holes through which metal rods protruded, was then filled with water “magnetized” by a mixture made of iron filings and crushed glass. The metal rods were then placed against the parts of the body to be treated, in the hope of acting locally on the ailments.
A fascinating case study in the history of healthcare concepts and practices
Mesmer’s tub is now a key artefact for examining the history of healing practices and therapeutic knowledge, as well as the XVIIIᵉ century, debates that pitted institutionalised science against alternative therapeutic practices accused of quackery.
The tub illustrates Franz Anton Mesmer’s determination to have animal magnetism recognised as a scientific discipline in its own right. However, his theory was quickly challenged by scholarly institutions and dismissed as a form of quackery. Following an initially mixed reception in Vienna, Mesmer relocated to Paris, where his ideas gained significant popularity among the elite and the royal court. Illustrious figures such as Lafayette, the Princess of Lamballe and Madame de Polignac then gathered around his tub.
Behind the Scenes: preserving the Beauty of the Object
Now housed at the Musée d’histoire de la Santé – Alexandre Lacassagne, Mesmer’s tub continues to intrigue researchers and inspire contemporary research. Its unique design also means it is regularly loaned out for exhibition. Due to its unique design, it is also regularly loaned out for exhibitions.
It will be on loan to the Bibliothèque municipale of Lyon from 2 April to 11 July 2026.
Made largely of wood, this collectible item requires special care and attention to preserve it. The museum enforces strict measures to prevent any infestation by wood-boring insects and ensure the long-term preservation of this iconic piece.
Collect all of our fact sheets from the “Treasures of Lyon 1 University” series, both published and forthcoming!
Download the cover page of the “Treasures of Lyon 1 University” series
Download Fact Sheet No. 1: “Mesmer’s Tub”
© photos : Alexandra Narbonnet / Musée d’histoire de la Santé
