Experts and historical archivists highlight Braid's unique contribution to the transition from occultism to medicine:
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 .
“He recognized that hypnosis was a subjective phenomenon, dependent entirely on the state of mind of the hypnotized and not on any mystical fluid or occult magical power wielded by the hypnotizer.” Peter Harrington Recommended Versions of the Article
Braid’s work focused on the physical and psychological mechanisms that induce a hypnotic state: