Crystal Pendulum
notes: label: Description
content: Volney G. Mathison (1897-1965) was an American chiropractor, inventor, and follower of Dianetics. The Mathison Chevruel Crystal Pendulum consists of a plastic ball attached to a short length of chain, that promised to induce a state of hypnosis during which the user could cure various ailments. The FDA disputed the claims, and transferred this example to the Smithsonian in 1967.
label: Description
content: Ref: Volney G. Mathison, <i>Practical Self-Hypnosis: How to Achieve and Effectively to Use Hypnosis Without the Presence of an Operator. Mathison Electro Psychometers</i> (1957).
label: Description
content: Volney G. Mathison, <i>Space-Age Self Hypnosis</i> (1957).
label: Description
content: Volney G. Mathison, <i>The Secret Power of the Crystal Pendulum. Institute of Self Hypnosis</i> (1958).
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
setName: label: See more items in
content: Medicine and Science: Medicine
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Food and Drug Administration
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: MG.274347.084
label: catalog number
content: 274347.084
label: accession number
content: 274347
objectType: label: Object Name
content: divination device
label: Object Name
content: food safety device, quack
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: glass (crystal pendulum material)
label: Physical Description
content: metal (crystal pendulum material)
label: Physical Description
content: paper (booklet material)
label: Measurements
content: overall, all pieces, as stored togther in mylar: 1 in x 11 1/4 in x 14 1/4 in; 2.54 cm x 28.575 cm x 36.195 cm
label: Measurements
content: overall, pendulum, with coiled chain: 1 in x 1 1/2 in x 1 1/2 in; 2.54 cm x 3.81 cm x 3.81 cm