James Braid’s seminal work, Neurypnology; or, the Rationale of Nervous Sleep (1843), is considered the foundational text of modern hypnotism. In it, Braid moved the field away from the mystical "animal magnetism" of Franz Mesmer toward a physiological and scientific understanding of trance as a state of "nervous sleep". Core Principles of Neurypnology
For a deeper look at Braid's medical career and his "crucial experiment," see the academic overview on ResearchGate . NEURYPNOLOGY James Braid
James Braid | Health and Medicine | Research Starters - EBSCO James Braid | Health and Medicine | Research
Braid debunked the idea that a "magnetic fluid" passed from the operator to the patient. James Braid’s seminal work
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Initially, Braid believed the state was caused by physical fatigue of the eyes and nervous system from fixed staring.
A concise look at Braid’s legacy as the "Father of Hypnosis" is available on Britannica .