Stephenson:Neal:The System of the World:122:Pendulums

From the Quicksilver Metaweb.

Stephenson makes [a] historical error. On p. 122 of "System of the World" he notes that pendulums are sought by Natural Philsophers and mesmerists. it is true that the pendula are sometimes used in hypnotic inductions, but Franz Anton Mesmer (1734-1815), who pioneered this type of healing practice was not yet even a mote in the eye of his parents when the action takes place.

Posted on Talk:Stephenson:Neal:The System of the World:All annotations by page number by anon user, moved by Pronoiac (who still hasn't read this book)