He called himself a "Professor of Animal Magnetism." I had come across him in the course of some amateur investigations into the phenomena of animal magnetism.

I don't think he knew anything about medicine, but he was certainly a remarkable mesmerist.

It was for the purpose of being put to sleep by his manipulations that I used to send for him when I found a third night of sleeplessness impending.

Let my nervous excitement or mental preoccupation be however great, Dr.Pillsbury never failed, after a short time, to leave me in a deep slumber, which continued till I was aroused by a reversal of the mesmerizing process.

The process for awaking the sleeper was much simpler than that for putting him to sleep, and for convenience I had made Dr Pillsbury teach Sawyer how to do it.
My faithful servant alone knew for what purpose Dr.Pillsbury visited me, or that he did so at all.