[CHARDEL (Casimir-Marie-Marcellin-Pierre-Célestin)] Esquisse de la nature humaine expliquée par le magnétisme animal ; précédée d'un aperçu du système général de l'univers, et contenant l'explication du somnambulisme magnétique, et de tous les phénomènes du magnétisme animal. Paris : Dentu, Delaunay, 1826. - In-8, 207 x 125 : xj, 308 pp. Half red basane, smooth spine, speckled edges (period binding). Uncommon first edition. At the end of the Age of Enlightenment, the development of "animal magnetism" (with Franz Anton Mesmer) and then of artificial somnambulism (with the Marquis de Puységur) opened up a new field of care for certain patients who had not been relieved by medicine: a specific operator, frequently effective, yet ambiguous, but still interesting to question today. Certain properties of the functioning of the mind in its reciprocal relations with the body were outlined and then affirmed, leading to the emergence of other self-systems conducive to healing" (Jean-Pierre Peter, summary of the book De Mesmer à Puységur. Animal magnetism and somnambulic trance, at the origin of psychic therapies). The themes mentioned above are those addressed in this book by former MP and Court of Cassation Councillor Casimir Chardel. It is important because no author had until then really shown and explained the real interest of the phenomena of animal magnetism. Spine faded and rubbed. Freckles