Elliotson (1791-1868) was a physician and phrenologist who incurred the wrath of the medical establishment when he advocated mesmerism as a practical anaesthetic. He began the journal after the pages of The Lancet were closed to mesmerism and the new journal strongly reflected his "scientific" approach. On the advent of spiritualism in England, the Zoist led the opposition with notable attacks on Mrs. Hayden, the American medium. Crabtree 490.