A brief address to the American people / by N.W. Seat ; with remarks by Addison Kendall.

  • Seat, N. W.
Date:
1852
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A brief address to the American people / by N.W. Seat ; with remarks by Addison Kendall. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    [ « ] are the result of sad experience. I ask the reader's kind attention for a few moments, and I will briefly and as delicately as pos- sible, explain. Having been many years engaged in the practice of medicine in the Western and Southern States, where Fevers of various types, grades and peculiarities, were the prevailing diseases, I became dissatisfied with the ordinary modes of treatment; I longed for some improvement corresponding somewhat with the vast strides in other departments of Science; something to correspond with the rail-road speed of the present age. Reflecting thus, I conceived a new idea of that condition of the system called fever; partly from my own reflections and partly from other sources. Having formed my conclusions, (which it is not necessary to set forth here, as I do not propose to battle with opinions at present, but confine my- self to facts,) I instituted a series of experiments, not confining myself to substances known in the Materia Medica to confirm or explode my new views; the result surpassed my most sanguine expectations. I obtained or produced a preparation harmless in itself, which holds entire and complete control over fevers of all types and peculiarities: having no other effect than to dissipate all febrile and nervous excitement; it might appropriately be called an antidote to fever. I have named this preparation Negative Electric Fluid. Though this name may appear singular, it will nevertheless, be found to fully explain not only, its nature, but its modus operandi, when man and the real nature of disease is more fully understood. After becoming fully satisfied of the immense value of the dis- covery, my next object was to bring it to public notice. I soon found that the proper parties—the Medical Faculty—were, with a few exceptions, so far from aiding me, disposed to treat the whole subject with ridicule or contempt; many not hesitating to declare