Yes, most of you are correct. More about mesmer here- nice article, fascinating story.
Some of you also included a reference to the glass armonica that Ben Franklin created, and Mesmer used to induce trance.
Although, the guesses that some of you had, about it being a vibrator to treat hysteria, is another juicy story.
The doctors had to do a treatment that could take an hour, to "relieve" the hysteria. In the interest of efficiency, they invented many ways to treat the women. More about this.
Yes indeed, it was a tough time to be a woman.
Anyone up for playing Doctor?
Wendi