MDDM18: German

[Dave Monroe]

Well, just curious as to why "German Enthusiasts"
(however you want to read that ..) are among "Quack
Physicians, Land-Surveyors, Iron-Prospectors, and
Watch-Thieves" in the "Clientele" of "a Coffee-House
frequented by those with an interest in the
Magnetick," why "Data" from "the German packet" ...

http://www.baycom.org/bayweb/pr/

http://www.darc.de/distrikte/g/T_ATV/prreport.htm

... is all.  Again, a little early for Mesmer ...

http://waste.org/mail/?list=pynchon-l&month=0109&msg=59962&sort=date

But as it stands, that "Clientele" reminds me of that
"Chinese Encyclopedia" in J.L. Borges' "The Analytical
Language of John Wilkins" ...

http://www.multicians.org/thvv/borges-animals.html

... as, er, popularized by Michel Foucault's The Order
of Things (q.v., both).  But ...

But here's something I just came across ...

Gauld, Alan. - A HISTORY OF HYPNOTISM. Cambridge 1992,
large sewn octavo, 738pp. This massive new history,
written with a sympathy for the paranormal and the
unusual (the author also wrote a history of psychical
research, and was an officer of the SPR), begins with
a substantial 275-page history and analysis of
Mesmerism in all its forms, including mystical
magnetism in Germany [!] and France, Electrobiology,
Reichenbach, etc. & etc., and ends with a 100-page
bibliography and two indexes. It eclipses all previous
histories.  The material on Mesmer alone surpasses any
modern work except that of Crabtree’s.

http://www.pratum.com/psychic.html

Note Patricia Fara's Sympathetic Attractions just
above (q.v., both).  But I still think something
vaguely contemporary (to the novel itself, vs. its
various elements) is going on as well.  Will report
back ...

--- Paul Mackin <paul.mackin at verizon.net> wrote:
>
> Has it been noted that "German enthusiast" if
> uttered in a late 20th Century American context
> (1997, say) would most likely refer to devotees
> of Mercedeses, BMWs, Porsches and Audis.
> 
> Much of the magnetick iron from below the earth's
> surface has been transformed to motor cars above.
> 
> As below, so above.

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