the proper name of what we must think an imposition attempted to be put upon the world by Dr Perkins of North America.

Though the phenomena of electricity had been long familiar to the philosophers of Europe, it is well known that a philosophical theory of these phenomena was first formed by a transatlantic philosopher. In like manner, though the discovery of Galvani, under the name of animal electricity (see Galvanism in this Supplement), had occupied the attention of many of the first physicians and philosophers of the old world, it was reserved for a physician of the new, to apply it to the cure of a number of diseases. Every philosopher of America, however, has not the sagacity of the Philadelphian sage; nor must Dr Perkins or his admirers be surprized, if we treat not incomprehensible mysticism with the respect due to a theory founded on facts. We are told by the son (a) of this rival of Franklin, that before the news of Galvani's discovery had reached America, he had observed several phenomena pointing out the influence of metals in cases of pain. The first remarkable incident that presented itself to his notice was the sudden contraction of a muscle when he was performing a surgical operation. This, he observed, regularly took place whenever the point of the metallic instrument was put in contact with the muscle. Struck with the novelty of the appearance (as Mr. Perkins knew that the appearance was new), he was induced to try the points of wood and other substances; and no contraction taking place on these experiments, he hence inferred that the phenomena could be ascribed only to the influence of the metal. About the same time, he observed that, in one or two cases (and if his practice had been great he might have observed that in a thousand cases), a cessation of pain had ensued when a knife or lancet was applied to separate the gum from a tooth previous to extracting it; and in the same year he discovered, that momentary ease was given, in a few instances, by the accidental application of a metallic instrument to inflamed and painful tumors previous to any incision.

These are the judicious reasonings and assertions of a dutiful child, who, having probably heard of Leibnitz's claims to some of Newton's discoveries, was determined to put in a similar claim for his father, to a bare, at least, of the discovery made by the celebrated professor at Bologna. He has not, however, copied with servility the conduct of the Leibnitzians. We do not remember an instance where any of them attempted to elevate the fame or the merits of their master above the fame and merits of Newton; but, according to our author, the pursuits of Galvani and his European pupils sink into insignificance, when compared with those of the transatlantic physician.

This is evident; for when the physiologists of Europe were engaged in experimenting on the denuded nerves and muscles of the smaller animals, with a view to ascertain the agency of this incomprehensible property in them, Dr. Perkins was prosecuting a series of experiments, which consisted in applying externally, to parts affected with disease, metals, and compounds of metals of every description which occurred to him, and constructed into various forms and sizes. The result proved, that on drawing lightly over the parts affected certain instruments, termed tractors, which he formed from metallic substances into pointed shapes, he could remove most of those topical diseases of the human body, where an extra degree of nervous energy or vital heat was present; unless such disease was situated in some of the internal viscera, too remote from the part where the instruments could be applied.

The diseases which have been found most susceptible of the influence of the tractors are, rheumatism, gouty affections, pleurisy, ophthalmias, erysipelas, violent spasmodic convulsions, as epileptic fits and the locked jaw, the pain and swelling attending contusions, inflammatory tumors, the pains from a recent sprain, the painful effects of a burn or scald, pains in the head, teeth, and indeed most kinds of painful topical affections, excepting where the organic structure of the part is destroyed, as in wounds, ulcers, &c., and excepting also where oils or some other non-conducting substances are present.

But we have other testimonies than those of Dr. Perkins and his son for the influence of the tractors. Mr. Meigs, professor of natural philosophy at Newhaven, in a letter on Dr. Perkins's discovery, conceives the principles of metallic irritability as so little understood, that he will not pretend to explain how the tractors produce their effects; but seems satisfied in finding that the effects are produced. After stating an experiment on his own child, eight years of age, very dangerously ill with a peripneumonic complaint, and to which the tractors gave almost instantaneous relief, he says, "I have used the tractors with success in several other cases in my own family; and although, like Naaman the Syrian, I cannot tell why the waters of Jordan should be better than Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus; yet, since experience has proved them so, no reasoning can change the opinion. Indeed, the causes of all common facts are, we think, perfectly well known to us; and it is very probable, fifty or a hundred years hence, we shall as well know why the metallic tractors should in a few minutes remove violent pains, as we now know why caustics and opium will produce opposite effects; viz. we shall know but very little about either, excepting facts."

Mr. Woodward, professor of natural philosophy at Dartmouth, in a letter also on the same subject, has stated a number of successful experiments in pains of the head, face, teeth, and in one case of a sprain.

Dr. Vaughan, a member of the Philadelphia medical society, has lately published an ingenious tract on Galvanism, the object of which is to account for the influence of the tractors in removing diseases. After a citation of numerous experiments made on the nerves and muscles of animals, he observes, "If we only take an impartial view of the operations of Nature herself, and attend diligently to the analytical investigations of the aforementioned experimentalists on this sublime subject, I think the sceptic must admit that the principle of nervous energy is a modification of electricity. As sensation is dependant on this energy, a pleasurable sensation, or what may be termed a natural or healthy degree thereof; then certainly pain, or imperfect sensation, can only depend on an accumulation of the electric fluid, or extra degree of energy in the part affected. On this principle the problem admits of easy solution; namely, that the metals, being susceptible of this fluid, conduct the extra degree of energy to parts where it is diminished, or out of the system altogether, restoring the native law of electric equilibrium."

We trust we are not sceptics; and yet we feel not ourselves inclined to admit any part of this theory. We have seen no proof that nervous energy is a modification of electricity; and we think that we have ourselves proved, that galvanism and electricity are in many respects different; but we shall not be much surprised if we soon see a demonstration by some American or German philosopher.

(a) See a pamphlet, entitled The Influence of Metallic Tractors on the Human Body, &c. by Benjamin Douglas Perkins, A. M. son to the discoverer; or a very good abridgement of it in the first volume of the Philosophical Magazine. philosopher, that the soul of man is a composition of silver and zinc. One of these fages has lately discovered, that the symptoms of putrefaction do not constitute an infallible evidence of death, but that the application of metals will in all cases affect the possibility of doubt! A proper application certainly will; for when the Perkinist is doubtful whether his patient be dead or alive, he has only to apply the muzzle of a loaded pistol to his temple, and blow out his brains; after which he may safely swear that the man is dead.

From the Philosophical Magazine, we learn that Professor Schumacher at Copenhagen made experiments with tractors of brass and iron on ten patients in Frederik's hospital at Copenhagen. He tried also tractors of ebony and ivory, which are said to have cured a pain in the knee; with others of silver and zinc; and some of copper and lead. By the two last, pains in the knee, arm, and face, are said to have been mitigated. According to M. Klingberg's experiments, this remedy was of use in malum siphoniacum; and according to those of M. Steffens, in malum siphoniacum and megrim. According to M. Bang, the pains in some cases were increased, and in others allayed. According to M. Blech, the tractors were of use in hemorragia and gouty pains in the head; and, according to M. Hahn, in rheumatic pains in both shoulders. The principal document in the Danish collection relating to Perkins, appears to be a letter of Professor Aabergard, in whose opinion Perkins's tractors will never acquire much value in medicine, and scarcely even have the merit of being a palliative; but, in a physical point of view, he thinks they deserve the attention of physicians, and particularly of physiologists. Mankind (he says) hitherto have paid too little attention to the influence which electricity has on the human body; otherwise they would know that the effects produced on it by our beds is no matter of indifference. If the feather beds and hair mattresses, &c., are perfectly dry, the person who sleeps on them is in an insulated state; but the contrary is the case if they are moist. He three times removed a pain in the knee, by sticking the tractors, one on each side of the knee, so deep through the stockings that the points touched the skin. He removed a rheumatic pain in the head from a lady by the same means. M. Kauff, by the tractors, relieved, in others, gouty pains of the head and megrim; and in himself, a rheumatic pain of the back, which, according to his sensations, was like a contraction in the cellular tissue. M. Herholdt, from his experiments, considers the effect of the tractors as indefinite and relative as that of other remedies. He, however, saw relief given by them in the strangury in a case of syphilis. M. Bang also, at Soroe, freed a man from a violent gouty pain in the thigh, by drawing the tractors 200 times over the affected part. M. Jacobsen likewise found benefit derived from these tractors several times in the common hospital at Copenhagen. M. Tode tried them also in rheumatic pains, tooth-ache, and inflammation of the eyes; and observed that they neither did good nor harm.

On some of the attested cures mentioned in Mr. Perkins's pamphlet, an able writer in the Monthly Review has made remarks so very pertinent, that we cannot refuse ourselves the pleasure of transcribing them.

"At page 54 of the pamphlet, we meet (says the reviewer) with a strong proof of the confidence placed in this remedy by several transatlantic philosophers. Dr. Willard, it seems, applied a red-hot piece of iron to a wart on his finger, and burnt himself very severely, in order that he might be relieved by the tractors; which are said to have given him ease in two successive experiments. The author adds, 'many have submitted to similar measures, in order to experience the effects.' I once formed one of five, who burned ourselves so that blisters were raised, to make the experiment; we all obtained relief in a few minutes."

"This zeal for knowledge is truly edifying; especially as the tractors are generously presented to the public at only five guineas a pair; and it is clear that one pair would suffice to cure all the burns and scalds of a large parish. Why are not such luculent experiments repeated here? If Mr. Perkins, or any admirer of the discovery, would submit to have a red hot poker run into some part of his body not necessary to life (into that part where honour's lodged, according to Butler, for example), in any public coffee house within the bills of mortality, and would afterward heal the wound in presence of the company, in ten minutes, or in half as many hours, by means of the tractors, the most flabby-hearted infidel could not refuse such a demonstration. Why trifle with internal inflammations, when such an outward and visible sign might be afforded?

"Mr. Perkins has taken some pains, in the first part of his pamphlet, to show that the operation of his rods is not derived from animal magnetism. In our opinion, this is an unnecessary piece of trouble in England, where there is a constant succession of similar pretensions. The virgula divinatoria, and the baguette of the juggler, are the genuine prototypes of this mystery. We were, indeed, rejoiced, on Dr. Perkins's account, to find that the Connecticut Society had only denounced him as a mesmerist; we trembled lest he should have been put into the inquisitorial hands of the old women as a white witch."

This may be thought too ludicrous a treatment of a discovery which professes to benefit mankind; but to have treated this discovery with seriousness, would have degraded the profession of a scientific critic. As if the very cures pretended to have been performed did not of themselves throw sufficient ridicule over the discovery, Mr. Perkins informs us, "that in some instances the metallic influence, when excited by different persons, produces different effects." Experiments made to ascertain the point, proved that there were persons who might use the tractors for any length of time, in cafes which were suitable for the operation, and produce no perceptible effect; when by placing them in the hands of another person, who should perform the operation precisely in the same manner as before, the pain or inflammation would be removed directly." Hence he endeavors to prove that the influence of the tractors is Galvanic, by an argument as absurd as the pretended fact on which it is founded.

"On the application (says he) of zinc and silver to the tongue, the sensation of taste is very slight to some, while with others it is very strong—when the experiment is applied to the sense of sight, some are hardly sensible of it, while others observe a strong flash." But, not to mention that neither ebony nor ivory can form part of the excitatory arc in Galvanism, though we have... Perkinism have been employed successfully as tractors by a Danish Perkinist; it is enough to observe, that the different effects of the Galvanic metals on different persons depend upon the difference of structure of the organs of sensation in the patients; whereas the different effects of the metallic tractors result, according to this account, from the difference of structure in the organs of sense of the various operators! Nay, what is still more extraordinary, if anything can be more extraordinary than this, is, that the value of the tractors depends not upon the materials of which they are made, or the skill of the manufacturer, but upon some inconceivable virtue conveyed by Mr Perkins to the person of him by whom they are sold. This we learn from a pamphlet published by Charles Cunningham Longworthy, surgeon in Bath; who informs us, that he sells tractors by commission from Mr Perkins the original manufacturer in London.

After this article was sent to the press, and thus much of it printed, we received, from a friend in London, a copy of Mr Perkins's last publication on the subject; in which he endeavours to repel the objections of Perkinism urged by Dr Haygarth and others against the influence of the metallic tractors. Had we not been previously convinced of the fallacy of Perkinism, the perusal of this pamphlet would have removed from our minds every doubt; for we will venture to say, that it is not in the power of Dr Haygarth, and the whole faculty united, to bring more complete proof than Mr Perkins has here brought, that what he calls his father's discovery has no claim to rank otherwise than with the discovery of Mesmer. See Animal Magnetism, Encycl.

He gives indeed 250 cases, which are attested to have been successfully treated by the tractors; but at least an equal number of cases were attested to have been successfully treated by Mesmer and his partisans; and five times that number of cures were said to have been miraculously performed at the tomb of the Abbé Paris (See Paris in this Suppl.) We would willingly allow, however, that these attestations ought to draw the attention of men of science to the subject, did not the author himself betray a want of confidence in the tractors, by his own arguments in their favour, and by his caution to the public against counterfeits. He seems indeed to consider their sanative influence as resulting entirely from his patent.

Dr Haygarth having said that he performed cures of the same kind with those of which Mr Perkins boasts, by the proper application of tractors made of wood; and having added, that "if any person would repeat these experiments, it should be done with due solemnity," in order to work upon the imagination; our author replies, by putting the following question: "Is there a single possessor of the patent metallic tractors in England, who has frequently used them, and will say that this fraud is necessary to make them perform cures?" Instead of answering for the English possessors of these valuable instruments, we beg leave, in our turn, to ask, if there be a single expert chemist in Great Britain who can understand this question in any other sense, than as implying that the virtue of the tractors resides in the patent? This, however, appears still more palpable in the caution to the public.

Among the various articles (says Mr Perkins) which have been employed by certain interested persons, I have to mention the mean attempt to circulate false tractors, and from the failure of these to throw discredit upon the discovery. Three instances of this kind have occurred lately. Complaints having been made to me that my tractors would not cure the diseases for which they are recommended, I was led to make inquiry respecting the cases alluded to; and conceiving them fit subjects for the tractors, I called on the patients to apply them myself. In both instances (it was just now in three instances) I found they had been using counterfeit tractors. Had not this been discovered, the merit of the patent tractors must have suffered extremely!

This is very extraordinary. The character or fame of any thing may indeed be injured by a counterfeit; but we believe this is the first instance of the merit or demerit of one inanimate substance being increased or diminished by another at a distance from it,—of the hardness of steel, for instance, being diminished by the softness of lead! But we beg Mr Perkins's pardon. The merit of his tractors consists in their putting money into his pocket; and that merit might certainly be injured by the use of counterfeits. Hence, with great propriety, he informs the public, that every genuine set is stamped with the words PERKINS'S PATENT TRACTORS, accompanied with a receipt for the five guineas, numbered and signed in the handwriting of the patentee. From these facts we infer (and he must acknowledge the inference to be just), that the virtue of the tractors resides in the patent, restricting the making of them to Benjamin Douglas Perkins, and not to the metal of which they are made. This is indeed most obvious; for he cannot be such a stranger to the state of chemical science in this country, as to suppose that his tractors may not be analysed into their component principles, and, of course, that others may not be made professing all their virtues except such as result from the patent.

We shall conclude this article in the words of the reviewer already quoted: "To trace the relations and dependencies of projects similar to that of Dr Perkins, would now be a work of more labour than utility. The fund of public credulity is an inexhaustible resource for those who can resolve to levy contributions on it. In vain is the spirit of quackery exorcised in one form; it rises again immediately, 'with twenty ghastly murders on its head, to push us from our roots.' We, who have contemplated the progress of real knowledge during a long course of years, have seen many bubbles like this glitter for a moment, and then disappear for ever. People may talk of Mesmerism, or Perkinism, but we consider all such varieties as belonging to the old and extensive class of Charlatanism."