The influence of metallic tractors on the human body, in removing various painful inflammatory diseases ... / Lately discovered by Dr. [Elisha] Perkins ... and demonstrated in a series of experiments and observations. By which the importance of the discovery is fully ascertained, and a new field of enquiry opened in the modern science of galvanism, or, animal electricity. By Professors Meigs, Woodward, Rogers, &c, &c.

  • Perkins, Benjamin Douglas, 1774-1810.
Date:
1798
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The influence of metallic tractors on the human body, in removing various painful inflammatory diseases ... / Lately discovered by Dr. [Elisha] Perkins ... and demonstrated in a series of experiments and observations. By which the importance of the discovery is fully ascertained, and a new field of enquiry opened in the modern science of galvanism, or, animal electricity. By Professors Meigs, Woodward, Rogers, &c, &c. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    ( 9* ) dogmatifls of feventeen centuries. Yet there am few difcoveries in the healing art, but what meet with tumultuous oppcfiticn from the congregat¬ ed legions of prejudice, ignorance, and ambition. Some nominal philofophers difbelieve every pro- pofition that does not accord with the dodtrines of their anceftors; and others are fo extremely il¬ liberal as to dilcard every new principle in which they can have no claim to interest. A glaring example of the latter we have in the degrading denunciations of the European philofophers, when the illuftrious Dr. Franklin’s difcovery of the identity of lightning and eledlricity was fir'ft de¬ livered to the world. A fecond, no lefs true* we have in the difcovery of Dr. Perkins’s Metal¬ lic Influence^ which will, like the former, arife triumphant arnidft the counter, but futile vocife¬ ration of prejudice and ignorance. Some rejedt the latter becaufe they were not the difcoverers. Others queftion the teftimony of their fenfes, becaufe they cannot explain the modus operand,% by referring it to the old doctrines of Van Helmont, Doleus, or Stahl. Yet the happy day is perhaps not far diftant, when envy muft fall a facrifice to truth, and behold this problem ac¬ counted for on a native law of the animal oeco- “ That