I'm always quite general in my books about specific teams of mentalists, religious figures, "authoritarians", etc. who gave presentations/demonstrations of healings in the 1800's and onward. Let me clarify here, however. I am not referring to the Magicians/Mentalists (such as in this article: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius_and_Agnes_Zancig) who merely trouped throughout North America and the U.K. with their acts, seeking only to ENTERTAIN, but more to those well-versed in cold reading and other techniques utilized in their shows/presentations/demonstrations for the purposes of ill-gotten gain: more than insinuating that they had "powers"/healing powers, which, for an additional fee, could cure those in the audience or their relatives of a particular affliction. This, of course, has been proven/revealed to be incorporated then, as it is today, in public religious figures who went/go farther than merely proselytizing, to "curing" the lame and blind on stage. Ergo, when I use the term "con-artists", I am referring, generally, to this ilk of folk, who have, and still do, take advantage of those who are emotionally vulnerable. In several of my books, I generally refer-to a certain afroed guru, who utilized a thumb-tip to "manifest" among other things, objects such as small lockets and "holy" powder.
I believe that P.P. Quimby started the two-person presentations, but had honest intentions. As a Clinical Hypnotherapist, I know that much may be accomplished in altered-state, including a slowing-down of bleeding during operations, which is often why (at least in larger centers, and for decades) hypnosis is used as an anaesthetic. Hypnosis (or Mesmerism) was in its infancy during Quimby's years, and much that he and Lucius Burkmar demonstrated, I believe to be legitimate. I'm not at liberty here to disclose who was and wasn't legitimate during and post-Quimby, however, I present for your edification this article from Wikipedia on Mediumship; HINT: look closely at the section on the History of mediumship, and decide for yourself after researching thoroughly some of the names included under the History of Mediumship: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MediumshipKeep in mind that some of these people were legitimate, others self-deluded, and still others, complete frauds. I believe that it's not for me to say who was what. simply decide for yourself after researching things.
