The commissioners learned about Mesmeric theory, and saw its patients fall into fits and trances. Considered the "language of sensation", Poe used sensationalism via the mesmeric trance. Their method was to spend prolonged periods "magnetizing" their customers directly or through "mesmeric magnets". It's both creepy and strangely mesmeric. In August 1784 Mesmer visited a Mesmeric society in Lyon. Mahnke's voice in the podcast is described as "coolly mesmeric". Mesmeric and other stage performances changed their names to "stage hypnotist" in the 19th century. The mesmeric experiments gave way to sensationalism, which many critics accused Poe of using. This atmosphere was fuelled in great part by the artist's mesmeric personality and stage presence. I think Frank Beck was a mesmeric character and very intelligent. Quimby demonstrated mesmeric practice with Burkmar in front of large crowds. He had a slow flow, and every line was blunt, mesmeric.