In today’s usage Animal Magnetism refers to a person’s sexual attractiveness but this is misleading. According to Franz Mesmer, Animal Magnetism (French: magnétisme animal), as it was originally used, referred to a “Magnetic fluid” or “ethereal medium” residing inside of living beings. It is worth noting that Mesmer chose the word “animal” to offer contrast between the Magnetic fluid, or Magnetic force, in living beings (humans and animals) from other magnetic forces referred to at that time, such as mineral Magnetism, cosmic Magnetism and planetary Magnetism. He also chose the word animal for its root meaning, from the Latin animus meaning “breath” to identify this force as a quality that belonged to all creatures with breath.