Batdorf, J. C.

Overview Magnetic medicine was a popular (and likely ineffective) medical treatment during the 19th century. It was particularly prominent in the Midwestern United States after the American Civil War. This phenomenon has been attributed to an unsettled frontier atmosphere, a lack of trained physicians, and a tradition of self-treatment. Alternative treatments (or what might be considered quackery) flourished in this region of the United States. The Magnetic Medical Institute was located...