Halált hozó hipnózis. Egy 1894-es eset és a tudomány mentális földrajza
Death from hypnosis

Summary/Abstract: An 1894 Case and the Mental Geography of Science – recovers the story of a curious and fatal hypnotic séance in a provincial Hungarian castle and reconstructs the waves of influence it exerted throughout Europe. The case allows Lafferton to outline a map of scientific and social exchanges in order to recover how hypnosis was embedded in intricate social relations. By sensationalising it, the media propelled the story across national and social boundaries within a few days. European psychiatric and medical mandarins and social commentators were compelled to respond, demonstrating the social ramifications of the issues related to hypnotic practice. The study shows how the provincial hypnotic séance was connected to medical legislation in the Budapest government (which immediately passed a resolution that greatly limited the practice of hypnosis in the country), to experimental research by psychiatric and medical gurus in prestigious institutes all over Europe, to lay hypnosis as well as to the courtroom from where forensic cases invaded private homes with the help of the media. The discussion of Hungarian and European expert opinions and the local court investigation enables Lafferton to shed new light on questions of the locality and status of medico-legal expertise, and to reconsider more general themes of centre and periphery in 19th century Europe.

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