The first person known in Western history who developed a scientific model of life

The first person known in Western history who developed a scientific model of life energy was Franz Anton Mesmer. He called life energy "animal magnetism." He developed methods to magnetize ("mesmerize") people for healing. He also set up devices that seemed to cause a healing. These devices were wooden barrels that he had filled with iron filings and that had iron rods sticking out. People who wanted a healing held these rods in their hands.

- magickalcourse.com