OF THE IMAGINATION, AS A CAUSE AND AS A CURE OF DISORDERS OF THE BODY; EXEMPLIFIED BY FICTITIOUS TRACTORS, AND v EPIDEMICAL CONVULSIONS. " DECIPIMUR SPECIE." HOR. Read to the Literary and Philofophical Society of Bath. BY JOHN HAYGARTH, M.D. F. R. S. LOND. AND EDINB. THE ROYAL MEDICAL SOCIETY AT EDINBURGH, AND OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES. MATH, PRINTED BY R. CRUTTWELL; AND SOLD BY GADELL AND DAVIES, STRAND, LONDON, 1800. Price One Shilling. T O WILLIAM FALCONER, M. D. F. R. S. THESE FEW PAGES ARE ADDRESSED, AS A MEMORIAL O F A MUTUAL, CORDIAL, AND CONSTANT FRIENDSHIP, FOR THIRTY-SIX YEARS; BY « J. HAYGARTH. Bath, Jan. 1ft, 1800. TRACTORS. rT'TIAT faculty of the mind which is deno- minated the Imagination, has been the fu Eject of two very elegant compofitions in the Engliffi language, in profe and poetry, by Addison and Akenside. It has not wholly efcaped the notice of medical writers, but merits their farther invefti- gation. This flight Eflay may, perhaps, incite others to profecute this inquiry more fully, in order to extend the power of phyficians to prevent and cure the maladies of mankind. §• I- In phyfick as well as in philofophy, to difcover the caufe of an effect is frequently a very nice and difficult inveftigation. The fuccefs of medical praftice effentially depends upon this faculty of faga- cious difcernment. One who is carried away by every B 2 TRACTORS. every wind of dodrine, and who recommends every new medicine which is in vogue and becomes po- pular, without confidering the evidence and fair probability of its efficacy, will frequently adminifter inert, and fometimes injurious remedies, to his patients. " The Traders have obtained fuch high reputa- tion at Bath, even among perfons of rank and un- derftanding, as to require the particular attention of phyficians. Let their merit be impartially invefti- gated, in order to fupport their fame, if it be well founded, or to corred the publick opinion, if merely formed upon delufion. Such a trial may be accom- pliffied in the moll fatisfadory manner, and ought to be performed without any prejudice. Prepare a pair of falfe, exadly to referable the true Traders. Let the fecret be kept inviolable, not only from the patient, but every other perfon. Let the effi- cacy of both be impartially tried, beginning always with the falfe Tractors. The cafes fhould be accu- rately hated, and the reports of the effeds produced by the true and falfe Traders be fully given, in the words of the patients." This hint, and in thefe terms, I communicated to Dr. Falconer. He entirely approved the idea, and very readily confented to make the propofed trial upon the molt proper cafes which could be feleded from his patients in the General Hofpital. We TRACTORS. 3 We contrived two wooden Traders of nearly the fame (hape as the metallick, and painted to refemble them in colour. Five cafes were chofen of chronick rheumatifm, in the ancle, knee, wrift, and hip. One of the patients had alfo gouty pains. All the affeded joints, except the laft, were fwelled, and all of them had been ill for feveral months. On the 7th of January, 1799, the wooden Trac- tors were employed. All the five patients, except one, afiured us that their pain was relieved, and three much benefited by the firft application of this remedy. One felt his knee warmer, and he could walk much better, as he (hewed us with great fatisfadion. One was eafier for nine hours, and till he went to bed, when the pain returned. One had a tingling fenfa- tion for two hours. The woodenTradors were drawn over the (kin fo as to touch it in theflight eft manner. Such is the wonderful force of the Imagination! Next day, January 8th, the true metallick Tradors of Perkins were employed exadly in like manner, and with fimilar effeds. All the patients were in fome meafure, but not more relieved > by the fecond application, except one, who received no benefit from the former operation, and who was not a pro- per fubjed for the experiment, having no exifting pain, but only (liffnefs of her ancle. They felt (as they fancied) warmth, but in no greater degree than on the former day. This B 2 4 TRACTORS. This trial was witneffed by Dr. Falconer, Mr*. Nicholls, furgeon of the Hofpital, Mr. Farnell, apothecary of the Hofpital, and myfelf, on both days; and on the fecond day by Mr. Phillott, alfo furgeon of the Hofpital. It need not be re- marked, how completely the trial illuftrates the nature of this popular illufion, which has fo wonderfully prevailed, and fpread fo rapidly; it refembles, in a ftriking manner, that of Animal Magnetifm, which merited the attention of Frank- lin, when ambaifador from America, and of other philofophers at Paris. If any perfon would repeat thefe experiments, it fhould be done with due foleranity. During the procefs, the wonderful cures which this remedy is faid to have performed ought to be particularly related. Without thefe indif- penfible aids, other trials will not prove as fuc- cefsful as thofe which are above reported. The whole effect undoubtedly depends upon the impref- fion which can be made upon the patient's Imagi- nation. This method of difeovering the truth, diflinftly proves to what a furprifing degree mere fancy deceives the patient himfelf; and if the experiment had been tried with metallick Tra&ors only, they might and moll probably Would have deceived even medical oblervers. Yet this teft of truth is perfectly candid. A fair opportunity was offered to difeover whether the TRACTORS. 5 the metallick Tra&ors poffeffed any efficacy fuperior to the ligneous Traftors, or wooden pegs. In the decifion of this queftion, it ought to be duly confidered that the chronick rheumatifm is a very obflinate and permanent diforder; that out of the five cafes, (being all who were (objected to the trial) four of the patients believed themfelves immediately, and three remarkably, relieved by the falfe Tractors; and that this report is founded upon the unanimous tef- timony of five medical witneffes. This evidence is not inferior to what is alleged in favour of the true Tractors, efpecially if it be confidered that the cafes which have been publifhed are (elected from many which were unfuccefsful, and patted over in filence. This fuccefs of the falfe Tra&ors can only be exceeded by the exaggerated (lories which, for fome months pad, have been reported in every com- pany with increafmg amazement and credulity. The propofer of thefe experiments, if he could have produced authentick and conclufive proofs of the real efficacy of the metallick Traylors, would, with equal franknefs, and much greater fatisfa&ion, have given his teftimony in their favour, as another means of adminiftering relief to the fufferings of mankind. If any profelyte to Perkinifm fhould (till believe in the fuperior virtue of this remedy, both the witneffes of thefe recent events and the patients above-mentioned are ready to fatisfy any farther in- quiries on this fubjecl.---Bath, Jan, 24th, 1799. P, S. The 6 tractors. P. S. The molt intelligent of my medical and other friends advifed the immediate publication of thefe obfervations, as containing information of con- fiderable importance. But with a view to obtain farther and more decifive obfervations on this fubjeCt, the fubftance of this paper, accompanied with a pair of wooden TraCtors, was fent to two medical friends? to Sir William Watson in London, and to Dr. Moncrieffe in Briftol, requefting that fimilar ex- periments might be repeated in both thofe cities. The annexed letter from Mr. Smith was the for- tunate refult of this communication. " To John Haygarth, M. D. « Sir, <c Mr. Dyer fome time lince communicated to me the contents of a letter addrefled by you to Dr. Mon- crieffe. Confidering it the duty of every regular pra&itioner to check the dangerous progrefs of empi- ricifm, I inftantly volunteered my fervices to aflift in the defign of invefligating the merits ignorantly af- cribed to Perkinean Eleftricity. I confefs freely to you, that the very refpe&able American, and even Britifh, teftimonies by which it was recommended to the publick, at firfl: daggered me exceedingly. I could not believe, that the gentlemen mentioned in the pamphlet of Perkins would wilfully bear falfe witnefs, and I could fcarely imagine them to have been TRACTORS. 7 been fo deceived. Your hints, however, enabled me to adopt a plan which quickly difiipated the illufion; and I fincerely hope and truft, that the refult of the experiments will open the eyes of the publick to fo grofs an impofition. I muft premife that the follow- ing were all Hofpital patients, and that for the rnofl part their medicines were, for the time, altogether fufpended. i. " Robert Thomas, aged forty-three, who had been for fome time under the care of Dr. Lovell, in the Briftol Infirmary, with a rheumatick afle&ion of the fhoulder, which rendered his arm perfe&ly ufelefs, was pointed out as a proper object of trial by Mr. T. W. Dyer, apothecary to the houfe. " Tuefday, April 19th, having every thing in readinefs, I palled through the ward, and (in a way that he might fufpect nothing) queftioned him refpect- ing his complaint. I then told him, that I had an inftrument in my pocket which had been very fer- viceable to many in his ftate; and when I had ex- plained to him how fimple it was, he confented to undergo the operation. In fix minutes no other cffcft was produced than a warmth upon the fkin, and I feared that this coup d'effai had failed. The next day however he told me, that " he had re- ceived fo much benefit, that it had enabled him to lift his hand from his knee, which he had in vain feveral times attempted on the Monday evening, as the 8 TRACTORS. the whole ward witneffed." The Tra&ors I ufed being made of lead, I thought it advifeable to lay them afide, left (being metallick points) the proofs againft this fraud might be lefs complete. Thus much, however, was proved--that the patent Trac- tors poflefled no fpecifick powers independent of fimple metals. " Two pieces of wood, properly fhaped and painted, were next made ufe of; and in order to add folemnity to the farce, Mr. Barton held in his hand a ftop-watch, whilft Mr. Lax minuted the effedis produced. In four minutes, the man railed his hand feveral inches, and he had loft alfo the pain in his fhoulder, ufually experienced when attempting to lift any thing. He continued to undergo the operation daily, and with progreflive good efled:; for on the 25th he could touch the mantle-piece. " On the 27th, in the prefence of Dr.Lovell and Mr. J. P. Noble, two common iron nails, difguifed with fealing-wax, were fubftituted for the pieces of mahogany before ufed. In three minutes <c he felt fomething moving from his arm to his hand," and foon after he touched the Board of Rules, which hung a foot above the fire-place. This patient at length fo far recovered, that he could carry coals, &c. and ufe his arm fufficiently to aflift the nurfe; yet previous to the ufe of the fpurious Tra&ors tc he could no more lift his hand from his knee than if a hundred. TRACTORS. 9 hundred weight were upon it, or a nail driven through it;" as he declared in the prefence of feveral gen- tlemen, whofe names I fliall have frequent occafion to mention. The fame of this cafe brought applica- tions in abundance; indeed, it mull be confeffed, that it was more than fufficient to aft upon weak minds, and induce a belief that thefe pieces of wood and iron were endowed with fome peculiar virtues. 2. Thomas Ellis, a negro, from a chronick rheumatifm in his upper and lower extremities, had been incapable of walking without fupport, or feed- ing himfelf for four months; he came under my care on the 19th of April. At firft the Traftors pro- duced no effeft upon his thighs, and but little upon his arms. In the courfe of a few applications, how- ever, he began to move his limbs better, and his nights were not fo reftlefs. In the courfe of this cafe, the nails, lead, and wood were ufed alternately, but there did not appear to be the leaft difference in the refult. Mr. Lang worthy, the agent for Mr. Per- kins in this country, ufually made ufe of the patent ,Traftors for twenty or thirty minutes at a time; but ray patients crowded in upon me fo fall, that I had not leifure to beftow more than four or five minutes upon each: yet fuch effefts were produced as were almoft incredible. It ufually happened, that the ficin was foon warmer, and occafionally darting pains were produced, which fometimes were troublefome long 10 TRACTORS. long after the operation, and at others were of fhorter duration. He complained alfo, that the cicatrix of an old fcald upon his arm fmarted a great deal. He now began to mend fo fall, that he could comb his hair very readily, and on the 29th, in the prefence of Dr. Lovell, and feveral other gentle- men, he put on his jacket, and walked acrofs the ward without a Rick or the lead: afliftance. <c To thofe who have not been eye-witnefles to the force of the Imagination, thefe accounts may appear exaggerated; but they can be too well attefted to need any aflertions of mine as to their veracity. Thefe things were not done in a corner, but under the infpe&ion of the faculty of the houfe, and in the prefence of the whole ward. 3. " With the permiflion of Dr. Fox, I operated upon James Prior, who had been under his care three months with a paralyfis of the flexor tendons of both hands. This was certainly a cafe in which little was to be expected, and I feared would prove a flumbling-block to my reputation. In three mi- nutes, however, (the Traftors having been drawn from the elbow to the wrift) he felt the back of his hand become fenfibly warmer; and after four mi- nutes had elapfed, he could actually touch the palm of the hand with the middle finger of his left hand, which he had not been able to efleft for more than two months before. The right arm did not appear to TRACTORS. 11 to be much affe&ed at firft, but in a few trials he began to have fome power over that alfo; the left hand was, in the courfe of a fortnight fo far reftored, that he could almoft clench his fill; and foon after- wards he left the Hofpital. By accident I fince met him, when he (hewed me, with much pleafure, that he dill retained the ufe of this hand; but the other had relapfed into its former ufelefs Rate. 4. " April 20th, I requeued Mr. Barton to ope- rate upon Peter Seward, aged 32, who had, for four years, been troubled with pains and weaknefs in his right arm. From the minutes taken by Mr. Lax, I learnt that he had experienced a good deal of pain during the operation. The next day I was affifted by Mr. Bernard and Mr. Lowe, jun. and as the cafe is rather curious, I (hall copy verbatim the notes written upon the fpot, In one minute, cc feels the pain coming on at the fame place as yefterday; the limb feels warm; pain higher up, and (harper;" in two minutes, " pain increafes;" in three and a half, <e very acute, darting towards the collar-bone, and begins to give him fo much uneafinefs that he will not have it done any longerperfpires profufely, and is gone to bed. It was fortunate for me that the above gentlemen could bear witnefs to the remarkable effects of the Imagination; it was, notwithftanding, I believe, generally thought in the houfe that the account was exaggerated. On the 25th, however, in 12 tractors. in the prefence of Meflrs. Jolliffe, Barton, Gaisford, Emery, and Wylde, Dr. Lovel made ufe of one bit of mahogany, whilft I gently drew down his arm the point of the other. When he fat down he was perfectly eafy." In a few feconds, " the pain commenced as before;" in two minutes, £C it was very acute at the elbow and collar-bone;" in four, <£ he,became very uneafy," looked very red in the face, " and begged the operation might be difconti- nued." His requeft was complied with, and he im- mediately went to bed, with a pulfe at 120. Three quarters of an hour after (being Rill in bed) I aiked him how' he felt himfelf? He replied, that " he was in more pain than when the furgeon took five pieces of bone from his leg in a compound fracture, which lie unfortunately met with in Wales." It may, per- haps, be thought that he feigned all this. I cannot aflert that he did not; but he could have no point to gain by fuch a conduct, and he certainly mull have been a very excellent mimic k to deceive fo many people. ££ This cafe excited much curiofity; and on the 2d of May, Dr. Moncrjeffe, Meflrs. Noble, Yeat- man, Clayfield, Probert, Notcutt, Lax, and Jolliffe, were aflembled to view the effects produced by thefe two 'wonder-working pieces of wood. The man dreaded the operation fo much, that he requefted to have -it done in bed. Mr. Clayfield TRACTORS; 13 Clayfield and myfelf ufed the Tra&ors. In a few feconds, " a fpafm was evident upon the biceps flexor cubiii'" in two minutes, <c pain in the arm and collar-bone;" in three, " increafed in the hand and arm-pit, and continued in pain fome time after the operation," which had confiderably accelerated his pulfe. This patient could fcarcely be prevailed upon to fubmit any longer to their ufe, although he confefled that " upon the whole he had received much benefit." " By this time the affair began to acquire publi- city, and many vifitors, both out of the profefiion and medical men, were eye-witnefies to the effefts of thefe fpurious Traftors; and in order to render the trials the more ridiculous, two pieces of bone, of flate-pencil, and tobacco-pipes painted, were ufed occafionally, with the fame fuccefs. Dr. Beddoes, to whom I communicated thefe fafls, lent me a pair of the real patent Tra&ors, for the purpofe of try- ing them when my own failed; but I declare, that in no infiance whatever were they ufed. 5. " John Peacock, a patient of Dr. New's, had been afllifled for four months with a weaknefs of the hip, and fevererheumatick pains, brought on by work- ing in a damp coal-pit. " At firft the Tradors occafi- oned confiderable pains, and very reftlefs nights; (I ufe his own words) but after a few trials, he began to fleep unufually well, had fewer attacks of pain, and appeared 14 TRACTORS. appeared confident and happy in the idea that a remedy had been difcovered for his complaints." With Rich a fubjeft, the event may be eafily antici- pated. This morning he came to thank me for my fervices, and he was always exceedingly grateful to Mr. Barton and Mr. Gaisford, who operated upon him in my abfence. I cannot help mentioning one circumftance refpefting this man. He came to me one day complaining of a violent fettled pain in his forehead, which, he faid, " almoft diftrafted him," and requefted me to " draw it out," The pieces of mahogany were drawn gently over his forehead for a minute and a half, " when the throb- bing began to abate, and in two minutes had nearly ceafed." In about three or four minutes the man arofe from the chair, faying, " God blefs you, fir; now I am quite eafy." He was attacked with this pain only once afterwards, which affc&ed his vifion confiderably, but it was removed as eafily as in the former inftance. " All thefe cafes turning out fo happily, it may be imagined that they are /defied. I declare, how- ever, that they are the firft that occur in the minute- book; and if I could imagine it neceflary to add more, there arefeveral remaining, equally fuccefsful. " Mr. Langworthy and myfelf were fellow- ftudents at St. Thomas's and Guy's Hofpitals, in the years 1794-5, and we have occafionally met in Briftol, 15 TRACTORS. Briftol, during his refidence as an agent of Mr. Perkins at the Wells; but he mull excufe me, if I adopt the motto, " Amicus Plato, fed magis arnica veritas." " In thus expofing this revival of Mesmer's impo- fitions, I do no more than comply with the above- mentioned gentleman's own requeft, He openly threw down the guantlet to the faculty, and infidi- oufly begged them to examine " how the Patent Praetors produced fuck wonderful effects?" and very cunningly led the inquirers through the mazes of Galvanifin, in hopes of bewildering their judgments. " It would be as ridiculous in me to call in quef- tion the veracity of the accounts publilhed by Mr. Perkins and others, as it would be unjuft to degrade thefe marvellous pieces of metal (ftamped with the magick word Patent') below the level of ten-pennv nails or tobacco-pipes; fmee there can be no good reafon why they (hould not be all equally efficacious. Let the world then judge between us;-for myfelf, I declare, that I have neither extenuated, exagge- rated, nor fet down aught in malice. " The gentlemen whofe names I have taken the liberty to infert are well known, and will moft affu- redly contradift me, if I have advanced any thing but the truth. I remain, Sir, &c. " RICHARD SMITH. " Briftol Infirmary, May 16th, 1799." The 16 tractors. The faCts above related are fufficient, and more than fufficient, to difcredit the fuppofed virtues of metallick TraCtors; but the fuccefs of the trials, both at the Bath Hofpital and Briftol Infirmary, brought more important objeCts into view. They prove to a degree which has never been fufpeCted, what powerful Influence upon difeafes is produced by mere Imagination. Being defiroUs, that on this in- terefting fubjeCt, the whole evidence fliould be im- partially laid before the publick, I requefted the favour of Mr. Smith to relate the refult of his fubfequent experiments with fictitious TraCtors. He has fent me the following full and inftruftive report, authenticated by the molt refpeCtable witneffes. Pojlcript to Mr. Smith's 6. " Edmund Williams applied to me with a Jiillicidium urina. The man was a poor feeble fubject, and appeared to be imprefled with the idea that nothing would be ferviceable to him; but he was " willing to try any thing.'* In one minute after the points of the'wooden Traftdrs had been drawn in various dire&ions about the pelvis, he laid, " I begin to feel fomething jumping in my infide;" and in three minutes and a half the deter- mination of blood to the capillary veffels of the ikin was evident, giving him the fenfation of warmth, to which he had been a long time a Granger. On the 27th TRACTORS. 17 27th he reported that his hips had been unufually comfortable and warm; this induced me to perfe- vere, efpecially as the patient himfelf wv become lefs fceptical as to the powers of my TraOors. The gentleman who allifted me having borrowed the pieces of hick, I was obliged to make ufe of the two ten-penny nails, which (as I have before mentioned) were difguifed with red and black fealing-wax, and on that account, had the dignified appellation of Rouge et Noir. In fa<ft, it was often neceflary to play the part of a necromancer-to defcribe circles, fquares, triangles, and half the figures of geometry, upon the part affe&ed, with the fmall ends of the Tra&ors. During all this time we converfed upon the difcoveries of Franklin and Galvani, lay- ing much ftrefs upon the power of metallick points attracting even lightning, and conveying it to the earth harmlefs. To a more curious farce I never was witnefs; we were almoft afraid to look each other in the face, left an involuntary fmile fhould remove the mafk from our countenances, and difpel the charm. " But to return to my patient:-In one minute, " he felt a fmarting in his loins, and warmth of his ikin;" in two, " heat increafed in four, the ope- ration ceafed, when he faid " the fkin was very warm." A by-ftander aiked him, ' if he thought himfelf mended ?* He replied, " he would loon anfwer c 18 TRACTORS. anfwer his queftion," and upon fitting down, inch denly exclaimed, " yes, I am better." It was de- manded, 4 how he knew it ?' 44 When I ufed to fit down, (faid the man) there was always a fpirt of water thrown from me, but now I can prevent it." The experiment was two or three times repeated, and with the fame refute ; in fad, the patient abfolutely regained in a great meafure the power of retention afterwards. 44 It may be alked, 4 what phyfical alteration could fo fuddenly have taken place in the fibres of the plunder mufcles, that from a ftate of pallid relax- ation they fhould again be endowed with the power of performing their office?' Permit me, in my turn, to afk the inquirer, 44 what is the primary caufe of of the purple bluffi which inftantaneoufly overfpreads the cheek of the guilty when accufed?" Should it be anfwered, 4 becaufe the vcflels are fuddenly dis- tended with blood,' that will be readily granted, as the proximate caufe; but it is the remotepower which direded that operation that I wifli to be demonftrated. We (hall be equally involved in the fame dilemma; but the fads being eftablilhed, our inability to ac- count for them fignifies nothing. 44 During the month of March he was regularly treated with the pieces of Rick, at the end of which time the parts 'appeared to have recovered much of their healthy tone, and he faid that 44 he had more feeling TRACTORS. 19 feeling than before." I requefted him to explain himfelf. He did fo, by telling me that <c when he firft came to me, he could not diftinguiffi whether his loins were touched by a metallick or a foft fub- (lance, but now he could tell me readily whether I had a glove on or not." 7. " The next cafe which came under my notice was that of Benjamin Quarman, who had re- ceived but little benefit from medicine, having been obliged for fome time to hobble upon crutches with much difficulty, and in great pain. He attributed his illnefs to a violent cold, caught by working in the the mud on a pair of dock-gates; I muft add, how- ever, that he had been all his life a plumber, which contributed, perhaps, not a little to his indifpofition. Upon the firft application of the Tra&ors (which were formed from a piece of bone) to his thigh, he experienced a pricking fenfation ; in a few minutes he could hardly perfuade himfelf that they did not cut; him ; at the end of the operation he could ufe his limb more freely, but complained that " I had driven the pain into his knee." He was under the care of Dr. Moncrieffe, who was prefent when Mr. Lax relieved him, in a few minutes, of a pain which had been for fome time fixed in the ffioulder- blade. This man continued upon our lift until he was under the neceffity of leaving the Hofpital; but he had no reafon to regret the confidence he repofed C 2 20 TRACTORS. in us, as he recovered confiderably the ui'e of his lower extremities, and was able to comb his hair eafily, which the ftiffnefs and pain in his flioulder had heretofore prevented him from doing. " At his departure, Quarman was very inqui- fitive refpe&ing thefe inftruments, and wilhed much to know whether it were poffible to purchafe them for lefs than five guineas, (the price fet down in Mr. Perkins's pamphlet) as he was convinced a perfe- verance in their ufe would completely reftore him. He eyed them very wifhfully, and I could plainly fee that he hoped I would either prefent them to him, or at lead grant him the loan of them. I confefs that I was fomewhat embarrafled by my fituation;-- I felt a ftrong inclination to render him happy, by complying with his willies, yet the dread of deteftion obliged me to deprive him of his panacea. A few days fmce he requeued permiflion to attend as an out-patient, for the purpofe of undergoing the ope- ration, with which, of courfe, I readily complied; indeed, he is fo exceedingly grateful for the benefit he has received, that I could fcarcely deny him any thing which would contribute to his comfort. 8. " Thomas Osborne had been a flout hearty feaman, but returning from the banks of the Nile, was unfortunately fhipwrecked in the Coloflus, off Scilly. The fatigues he experienced, and the dan- gers to which he was expofed, had rendered his right TRACTORS. 21 right leg alinoft ufelefs; he was, in tonfcquence* difcharged the fervice. He complained chiefly of an intenfe pain under the knee-pan; Being in the fame ward with fome of the before-mentioned pa- tients, he was induced to fubmit to the fame opera- tion. This fubjeft complained much of the Traftors cutting him; which idea he had probably deduced from hearing Quarman (7.) exprefs himfelf in that manner. The fecond application " drew down the pain into his leg?' This gave me an opportunity of exprefling my determination of ' getting it ftill lower down;' intimating, that ' when it was once in his toes, the next operation would free him from it entirely.' It unfortunately happened, however, that the pain in his knee returned with great violence during the evening, and he curfed the Traftors as the caufe of his accumulated mifery* No intreaties could afterwards prevail upon him to make another trial; he faid, that " they had tormented him out of one night's reft, and they ftiould do fo no more." This was the firft check I had experienced, and the reputation of my inftruments fuffered a little in con- fequence; as this fellow execrated them as much as they were adored by others. 9. " Nearly about this time, I undertook the cafe of Hannah Weston, who had been tinder the care of Mr. Allard, for a difeafe in the flioulder. About three quarters of a year ago file was attacked with 22 TRACTORS. with a confiderable inflammation in the joint, but the medical plan adopted in all probability prevented the formation of matter. The ligaments had, ne- verthelefs, fuffered confiderably, and there was but too much reafon to fufpeft that there had been alfo abforption of the cartilage, followed by a depofit of bone, which rendered the arm immoveable. She had long defpaired of recovering its ufe, and ap- peared to be reconciled to its lofs. complaining only of a violent rheumatick pain, which prevented her from purfuing her ordinary occupation. There certainly was but little to be expelled from this pa- tient, and fo it turned out. Two pieces of flate- pencil repeatedly relieved her pain, and (he has had lately but very few returns of it. She imagines, too, that flie can move her arm better; it is clear, however, to an attentive obferver, that flie moves the collar-bone and flioulder-blade merely, and that the bone of the arm is as fixed in the focket as it Was before. " Here, then, we have two cafes which did not keep pace with our wiflies, but I do not conceive myfelf at liberty to fupprefs them on that account; neither will they be found to be altogether unin- ftru&ive. We can atleaft deduce from them a proof, that the fame caufes, in different conflitutions, will' produce very different effects; for no man furely can believe that the fpecifick difference of the fub- ftances TRACTORS* 23 fiances employed could vary the refults fo widely. It will prove to us, befides, that there are certain bounds to the powers even of the Imagination over the animal oeconomy; and in the cafe in qdeftion we have feen, that although it may be equal to the prevention of periodical pain, it was incapable of ftimulating the lymphaticks to a removal df the newly-formed bone, or of reftoring tone to the ligaments. io* " On the 24th of May, happening by chance to vifit the phyfick-wards with Mr. DyeR, a patient of Dr* New's complained of great ftiffnefs and occa- fional pain in the fhoulder. I reqUefted permiffion to attempt his relief by the new operation. In con- fequence, Mr. Gaisford began to treat him in the ufual manner with the pieces of pencil. In a few minutes he was feized with a tremor in his limb, and fo violent a fhivering fit, that it was judged prudent to defift for the prefent. The next day I wifhed to repeat the trial, but he pofitively refiifed J alleging that his arm was quite well, and therefore it would be putting him to ufelefs pain. It is worthy remark, that this man's countenance betrayed very evident fymptoms of apprehenfion; and it was the general opinion of the by-ftanders, that the dread of expe- riencing a fecond time fo fevere a difcipline induced him to make ufe of his arm fo freely. " This 24 TRACTORS. " This cafe bears a firiking refemblance to Peter Seward's; both wonderfully depicting the powers of the Imaginatian. Had thefe effects followed the ufe of the Patent Traylors, it would have been termed metallick influence, and would have been confidered as refulting from their myflerious com- bination of metals." REMARKS. Thus our inquiries, which were very fuccefsfully inflituted at the Bath General Hofpital, have been amply confirmed in the Briftol Infirmary by Mr. Smith, and other molt refpeftable witneffes. The whole conftitutes a body of evidence, which, in feveral points of view, affords very important in- ftru&ion. The do&rine of Perkinifm has been honoured by fo many profelytes in America, England, and the continent of Europe, (even including fome of the medical profeflion) that the quellion might, of itfelf, merit publick difcuffion. But I fliould not have been difpofed to publifli a refutation of an error which would probably be temporary, if the experi ments above-recited had not appeared to warrant hill more ufcful and general conclufions. I will not affront the good fenfe of the reader by fuppofing that any apology can be required for the very innocent contrivance here pra&ifed, by infpiring a patient TRACTORS. 25 a patient with the cheering afleftion of hope, and by Rightly touching the Ikin with a piece of wood, in order to perform fo important a profeffional duty as to diferiminate true from falfe remedies. When the event of our inquiries at the Bath Hofpital was firfl: communicated to the enthufiaftick believers in the efficacy of the Metallick TraCtors, the intelligence excited great commotions, accom- panied with threats and abufe. A counter-declara- tion was to be figned by a great number of very refpe&able perfons; but I felt much reluctance to provoke them to record their names as dupes of a popular delufion, by which they might be expofed to ridicule through life. By a little delay, all fuel) apprehenfions appear to be effe&ually obviated. The influence of the paffions upon diforders of the body has been excellently illuflrated by phyficians of fuperior underftanding; as Sir George Baker, Dr. Falconer, and others. The experiments above related ftrongly confirm, and even extend, our knowledge on this fubjeft. As many of the effeCts may appear wonderful, they required to be fup ported by the molt refpeftable teftimony. And none will deny chat the witnefles here produced are fufficiently numerous, impartial, and intelligent. But the reports above related may appear to fome readers fo very marvellous, as to require confirma- tion by analogous fa&s. Duiing 26 TRACTORS. During the famous ficge of Breda in 1615, the garrifon was afflifted with the fcurvy in a moft dreadful degree. " When the Prince of Orange heard of their diftrefs, and underftood that the city was in danger of being delivered up to the enemy by the foldiers; he wrote letters addrefled to the men, promifmg them the moft fpeedy relief. Thefe were accompanied with medicines againft the fcurvy, faid to be of great price, but ft ill of greater efficacy: many more were yet to be fent them. The effects of this deceit were truly aftonifliing! three final! phials of medicine were given to each phyfician, not enough for the recovery of two patients. It was publickly given out, that three or four drops were fufficient to impart a healing virtue to a gallon of liquor. We now difplayed our wonder-working balfams; nor were even the commanders let into the fecret of the cheat put upon the foldiers. They flocked in crouds about us, every one foliciting that part may be referved for their ufe. Cheerfulnefs again appears on every countenance, and an univerfal faith prevails in the fovereign virtues of the reme- dies. The herbs now beginning to fpring up above the ground, we of thefe make deceptions, to which wormwood and camphor were added, that by the prevalent flavour of thofe, they might appear medi- cines of no mean efficacy. The ftiff contracted limbs were anointed with «<■ melted in rapefeed or linfeed TRACTORS. 27 1 infeed oil. The invention of new and untried phy- fick is boafted; and amidft a de fed of every neceffary and ufeful medicine, a ftrange medley of drugs was compounded. The effect, however, of the delufion was really aftoniffiing; for many were quickly and perfectly recovered. Such as had not moved their limbs for a month before, were feen walking the ftreets found, ftrait, and whole. They boafted of their cure by the Prince's remedy; the motion of their joints being reftored by a fimple friction with oil; and the belly now of itfelf well performing its office, or at leaft with a fmall refiftance from medi- cine. Many who declared they had been rendered, worfe by all former remedies adminiftered, recovered in a few days, to their inexpreffible joy, and the no lefs general furprife, by their taking (almoft by their having brought to them) what we affirmed to them to be their gracious Prince's cure." Dr. Lind, from whofe Treatife on the Scurvy this paffage is taken, obferves, that " It is given us by an eye-witnefs,* an author of great candour and ve- racity, who (as he informs us) wrote down every day the ftate of his patients; and feems more to be furprifed with their unexpected recovery, than he poffibly would have been, had he formerly been * Frederic Vander Mye, de morbis et fymptomatibus popular!- bus Bredanis, tempore obfidionis. better 28 TRACfORS. better acquainted with the nature of this furprifiiig malady. The fafts were then alfo notorioufly known to many, at the time when he publiflied his book, viz. the fecond year after they happened." This excellent phyfician remarks, that " an im- portant leffon in phyfick is here to be learned, viz* the wonderful and powerful influence of the paflions of the mind upon the ftate and diforders of the body. This is too often overlooked in the cure of difeafes; many of which are fometimes attempted by the foie mechanical operation of drugs, without calling in to afliftance the ftrong powers of imagination, or the concurring influences of the foul. Hence it is, that the fame remedy will not always produce the like effect, even in the fame perfon, when given by dif- fferent hands." The 4th, 8th, and 10th cafes, related by Mr* Smith, though lefs fuccefsful, are not lefs inftrufiive than the reft. They prove (what ftiould be well underftood) that the Imagination can caufe, as well as cure, difeafes of the body. They clearly eftablifli one rule of medical practice which has always ap- peared to me highly important. In the beft manner poflible a patient ought to be always infpired with confidence in any remedy which is adminiftered. But if a favourable opinion of it cannot be obtained, and efpecial'y if there be a marked prejudice againft it, another (though a lefs powerful) medicine ought to TRACTORS. 29 to be preferred. This rule of medical conduct derives ample confirmation from the fads above related. I have long been aware of the great importance of medical faith. Daily experience has conftantly con- firmed and increafed my opinion of its efficacy. On numerous occafions I have declared, that I never wiflied to have a patient who did not poffefs a fuffi- cient portion of it. Thefe trials place its efficacy in a very confpicuous point of view, and muff even aftoniffi perfons who have particularly attended to this fubjeft; they clearly prove what wonderful ef- fects the paffions of hope and faith, excited by mere Imagination, can produce upon difeafes. On this principle we may account for the mar- vellous recoveries frequently afcribed to empirical remedies, which are commonly inert drugs, and generally applied by the ignorant patient in difor- ders totally different from what the quack himfelf pretends that they can cure. Magnificent and un_ qualified promifes infpire weak minds with implicit confidence. I have fometimes obferved that the adminiflration of a new medicine, even when its compofition was known, if recommended to the publick with exalted praife, has been attended with great fuccefs-much greater than what was confirmed by future expe- rience. Hence 30 TRACTORS. Hence we may difeern the great advantage of medical reputation. This explains what has been frequently obferved, that the fame remedy will pro- duce more beneficial effects when prefcribed by a famous phyfician, than by a perfon of inferior cha- racter. In cafes which have appeared to me defpe* rate, but where the patient poffeffed implicit faith, I have feen very aftonifliingfuccefs; and have afcribed the recovery full as much to the influence of hope and great confidence, as to the medicinal quality of the drug. It is extremely fortunate, when the mofl powerful remedies of both body and mind unite their power to alleviate or remove a difeafe. Medical pra&itioners of good underftanding, but of various difpofitions of mind, feel different degrees of fcepticifm in the remedies they employ. One who poffeffes, with difeernment, the largeft portion of me- dical faith, will be undoubtedly of greateft benefit to his patients. None but the ignorant can fuppofe that fe igned or fictitious affurances of the virtues of a me- dicine will anfwer the fame purpofe. The language of felf-convi£tion is undoubtedly the moft perfuafive. One mull fpeak what he feels, <r Si curat cor fpeftantis tetigiffe.*' He fliould not exprefs confidence to a patient which he does not poffefs, but he fliould exprefs it with pathetick energy: " Format enim natura prius nos intus ad omnem " Fortunarum habitum." TRACTORS. 31 In an irritable ftate of mind, ftrongly agitated be- tween hope and fear, the words and looks of a medical friend, when they correfpond with each Other, have a very powerful and falutary influence: (t Poft effort animi motus, interprete lingua." Hor. S- n. 32 II. EPIDEMICAL CONVULSIONS. From fome of the fa&s above detailed it appears, that when one cafe had made an unfavourable im- prcflion, others follow, by imitation, fympathy, or fome other affection of the Imagination, which is not generally known, nor fufliciently fufpefted.- This interefting but obfcure fubjeff will be illuftrated,- in the belt manner, by a fliort hiftory of Epidemical Convulfions, which lately appeared in Anglefey, North-Wales. It chiefly affected the tenants of the Earl of Uxbridge and Holland Griffith, Efq. For this alarming malady I was confulted about three years ago. The words of my very intelligent cor- refpondent, with brief remarks, will explain the na- ture of this diftemper, and fuggefl: the beft means of checking this and fimilar calamities. Extra fl of a Letter from Holland Griffith, Efq, " Berw, Anglefcy, Sept. 23, 1796. I beg leave to offer to your moft ferious confideration a malady, which, within theft two months, has for the firfl: time been prevalent in this neighbourhood, and which, EPIDEMICAL CONVULSIONS. 33 which is, I believe, perfectly new in this country; never having been before remembered, as I am well informed) by the oldeft inhabitants. " The firft fymptonl of this diforder is a pain of the head, and fometimes of the ftomach and fide, not very violent; fucceeded by an alarming catching or convulfion in the upper extremity, refembling St. Vitus's dance; the pulfe moderate, the body coftive. In bed, the diforder is not fo violent. The patients arc pretty well in health, notwithftanding their great agita- tion of body, which continues with little intermiflion, caufing the flioulders almoft to meet by the exertion. " Yefterday I faw one of thefe unfortunate people for the firft time, and being informed that feveral were affefted in like manner in this neighbourhood, I aflembled them together this morning, in number ten, and fent for an apothecary to meet them. A fight fo fhocking I never before beheld. He took from each of them about eight ounces of blood, which appeared in a diffolved hate. " It appears to me extraordinary, that the diforder is confined to this neighbourhood alone, and only affe&s females from ten to twenty-five years old. This fituation is low and marfhy, but the marfh has been in fome degree drained of late years, although not effe&ually; but I conceive the damps not fo pow- erful as heretofore. My great defire is to relieve, if poflible, thefe poor and unfortunate people, and I truft in 34 EPIDEMICAL CONVULSIONS. in God that, with your advice, I (hall again fee them reinftated; that you may live many years to be a comfort to the diftrefled, is my earned: wifh. I fhall be extremely obliged to you, if you will favour me with your opinion, what you apprehend to be the caufe of this complaint." In my anfwer to Mr. Griffith I explained to him, that above thirty years ago an epidemical dif- temper of the nervous or hyfterical kind had fpread through the fliire of Angus in Scotland, and that I had feen one of thefe patients in the Edinburgh Infirmary; that nervous diforders are very liable to be communicated. Thus, we all know that yawning is caught from one perfon to another. In like manner, hyfterick fits (as I have feen) frequently fpread in hofpitals. In the Edinburgh Infirmary an hyfterical patient infected three or four other girls in the fame ward. When one of them was attacked, I have feen the reft fall down in fuccefiion into con- vulfions.* For this reafon, I propofed a rule, which Was adopted in the Chefter Infirmary, to exclude all convulfive diforders from the women's wards. On thefe confiderations, I defired Mr. Griffith to in- ftitute very minute inquiries in what manner fome of the firft Anglefey patients were attacked; and parti- cularly whether they had not had fuch an intercourfe * A fimilar faft occurred to Dr. Falconkr, at Buxton. See his Diflertation on the Paflions, p. no. with with EPIDEMICAL CONVULSIONS. 35 with each other as to warrant a fufpicion that the epidemick had fpread by a kind of infection. With this idea of the caufe of thefe epidemical convulfions, I could have wilhed to concert fome plan of cure which might make a falutary impreflion upon the Imagination; but being fituated at near eighty miles diftancefrom my correfpondent and my patients, no meafures of that kind could be attempted. I could not do better than order fome antifpafmodick medi- cines, and to defire Mr. Griffith to ufe all his authority to prevent girls and young women from having any communication with perfons affe&ed with thefe convulfions, and to keep thofe who were ill of the diftemper feparate from each other, as much as poflible. I warned him, that if thefe cautions were not obferved, the epidemick might fpread through the whole ifland of Anglefey. The following accurate and judicious detail clearly explains and confirms this opinion. Extracts from Mr, Griffith's Anfwers, " October 7th, 1796. Several of the patients have been here fmce I received your prefcription, and I have minutely examined them, according to your directions. <e ift and 2d Cafes. Margaret Williams, a girl of thirteen years of age, was feized with a pain in her head on a Sunday evening about ten weeks ago. D 2 36 EPIDEMICAL CONVULSIONS. ago. On the Wednefday following, a convulfion in the upper extremities came on, which has continued ever fmce. When the convulfion is molt violent, (he becomes moidered, and in fome degree lofes her recolle&ion, Her legs are very feeble, but not con- vulfed. She has the fpafms while afleep, as fhe is told, but they never awaken her. She was affe&ed about a fortnight, when a filler of hers, who lives in the fame houfe, was attacked in like manner. They were fent to a town to experience ele&ricity, by which, and fome medicines, the filter recovered, but the girl in quellion was not much relieved. In a fhort time, her diforder returned as alarmingly as ever. Her llomach is a good deal fwelled. She can- not afcribe her complaint to any particular caufe. " 3d. Catharine Peters was feized with a tremour at her heart, as lhe was walking linen. She was, for a time, deprived of breath. A convulfion came on, fucceeded by fainting fits. She had feen the firft patient, while in her convulfed ftate. She was rather alarmed at the appearance of the firft patient; the only one, I believe, whom fire faw in that ftate. Her age twenty-one, " 4th. Helen Thomas, while making hay, was taken fuddenly ill. She was foon after feized with convulfions. She loft her hearing and recolle&ion; was feized with a giddinefs. She had been much affe&ed by the firft patient. The above girls had accidental communication with the firft patient only. EPIDEMICAL CONVULSIONS, 37 " The number of girls who have been attacked are eighteen. Two only are recovered. All of them, as far as I can underftand, were raken much in the fame manner with the firfl: three. Their lower extremities are free from fpafms, although they find themfelves confiderably relaxed, The lead alarm throws them into a (baking fit. They have, in general, a hiccup. The anxiety of parents, fillers, brothers, friends, &c. for their recovery, is particu- larly obvious in this neighbourhood." " Oct. Sth. I detained my letter until now, in order to give you fome account of the operation of the eflential oil, &c. which was given to the poor girls on Tuefday laft, with wonderful fuccefs; for all who took the drops have uniformly experienced rhe good effects of them." "'Jan. \%th, 1797. I have no doubt of the truth of your obfervation relative to the contagious qua- lity of this diforder." " 061. gth, 1799. The whole number affected with thefe epidemical convulfions was twenty-four, all females, except one boy of feventeen years of age. They had all intercourfe with each other. They are all confidered as cured; yet two or three of them are fufceptible of the leaft fright or hidden alarm, which brings on the convulfions in a flight degree, and of fliort duration." OBSERVATIONS. 38 OBSERVATIONS. This fubjeft is but imperfe&ly underftood, and an ufeful Diflertation might be written on the dif- eafes which are caufed by powerful affe&ions of the Imagination, if all the fafts recorded by medical authors were hated, and compared with each other. But I am more difpofed, and have had better oppor- tunities, to delineate from Nature than from books. However, a few hints to illuftrate this interefting inquiry, with references to the reader, who may wilh more accurately to inveftigate the queftion, can be briefly ftated. 1. It is univerfally known, that convulfive diforders are communicated to perfons who live in the fame houfe or apartment. Remarkable cafes of this kind are related by Kaau Boerhaave;* by the Com- miflioners of Paris,! who enquired into the power of animal magnetifm; and by Sir George Baker.J 2. In like manner, convulfions in forae inftances are communicated from houfe to houfe, and become epidemical, by the intimate intercourfe of perfons in the fame neighbourhood; probably by feeing the diftrefling convulfions, by hearing their alarming * Impetum faciens, c. ix. 406. t See the Report of the Commiflioners. t See Medical Tranfaftions, T. iii. xi. ilirieks, OBSERVATIONS. 39 fhrieks, and liftening to an account of their fufler- ings, feelingly and frightfully defcribed. Of this kind of convulfive epidemicks may be reckoned that which affli&ed the female inhabitants in the (hire of Angus in Scotland, about the year 1763 or 1764, above-mentioned. A like nervous dillemper appears to have vifited various parts of Germany about the year 1717.* The famous epidemick of Sweden,f afcribed by Linneus to eating charlock, may pof- fiblybe in fome degree propagated in like manner. 3. Fevers, accompanied with violent convulfions, fometimes become epidemical, and both diftempers may poffibly be propagated by contagion. Examples of this kind are recorded by Willis,]: to have happened in England about the year 1661; by Muller,§ in Germany, about the year 1741; and by Barailon,|| in France, in 1774. * Waldfchemed de morbo epidemico convulfivo per Holftatiam graflante 1717. Apud Halleri Difp. ccliv. T. vii. p. 518. Wedel de morbo fpafmodico maligno in Saxonia, Lufatia, &c. 1717. Apud Hall. Difp. cclv. T. vii. p. 551. f Memoires de la Soc. Roy. de Med. a Paris, T. i. Mem. p.319. X Willis de fpafmis univerfalibus, qui in febribus malignis male judicatis, et quibusdam anomalis excitare folent. § Muller de morbis epidemicis fpafmodicis 1741. Apud Halleii Difp. vi. T. i. p. 78. || Sur une efpece d' epilepfie qui reconnoit pour caufe le virus exanthematique miliare. Hift. de la Societe Royale de Medicine a Paris, T. i. p. 215. See alfo Mem. de la Societe Royale de Medicine, T. i. p. 303. % Thefe 40 observations. Thefe fhort hints will give the intelligent reader a fufficient clue, whereby he may profecute this inte- refting inquiry. In the pafiages above-quoted, he will find references which will lead him in fucceflion to many other authors, who have recorded fads of great importance in fuch an inveftigation. It is proper in candour to acknowledge, that few of the authors above-quoted afcribe thefe epide- demical convulfions to any affedion of the Ima- gination ; nor do all of them relate fads which might warrant fuch a conclufion. In general, they attri- bute thefe maladies to unwholfome food, or bad air. But the diftind manner in which Mr. Griffith plainly difcovered, and accurately defer ibed, the commencement and propagation of the Anglefey Convulfions, will induce the medical reader farther to inveftigate this fubjed, whenever an opportunity may occur.* The principles here propofed are forcibly confirmed by the complete fuccefs of the * The whole intelligence above-ftated was confirmed by Paul Pan ton, efq; of Plas-Gwyn, in Anglefey# who was a vifitor of the Literary and Philofophical Society, when this paper was read. He informed us, that hyfterical diforders were very common in Angle- fey, and that Maria Jones, one of the fervants at Plas-Gwyn, about 1790, was attacked with hyfterick fits, and that four other female fervants were infe&ed by her with convulfions. This Maria Jones was fent to the Chefter Infirmary, to be my patient, but could, only be admitted an out-patient, on account of the regulation above-mentioned. It is proper to remark, that Plas-Gwyn is placed in a dry fituation, not at all likely to be affe&ed by marfiiy effluvia. meafures OBSERVATIONS. meafures which were fuggefted and executed from an idea that the diftemper fpread by a kind of in- fection, and might be prevented by the prohibition of intercourfe between thofe who fuflered, and thofe who were moft fufceptible of fuch nervous afledions. I recoiled that Profeflbr Whytt, in his Clinical Ledures, ufed to obferve, that the loweft rank of women in Scotland were much afflided with hyfte- rical and other nervous diforders. The following fad, related by Dr. Falconer,* confirms the doc- trine I wifli to eftablifh, by proving how much they lie under the influence of the Imagination:-" I have been informed from thebefl authority (Dr. Cullen) that during the troubles in Scotland, in the years 1745 and 1746, the hyfteric difeafe fcarcely made its appearance." If the opinion here flated have a folid and true foundation, it is manifefl that fuch maladies may be prevented by pradicable regulations. If Mr. Grif- fith had not benevolently interfered to fuccour his poor diftrefled neighbours, and to check the progrefs of this alarming diftemper, it would probably have fpread through the whole ifland of Anglefey; as had adually happened through larger diftrids in Scot- land, Germany, France, Sweden, &c. When the nature of thefe epidemicks, and the caufe of their * On the Paflions, p. 109. propagation, 42 propagation, become generally known, other gen- tlemen of humanity and intelligence will exert their influence to prevent fuch diflreffmg calamities. A Recapitulation of Concluftons fubmitted to the Con- fideration and Difcuffion of the Society. 1. In the preceding narration, the effects afcribed to the fictitious Traftors are greater and more won- derful than what are related to have been produced by the patent Tra&ors of Perkins. 2. Hence it may be fairly concluded, that the metallick Tractors derive no additional influence from Galvanifm, or animal electricity. 3. The detection of this delufion is not lefs complete than what is reported by the Commiffioners of Paris, in regard to Mesmer's animal magnetifm; whether the number and competence of the witneffes, or the marvellous effects produced by the mere force of Imagination, be confidered. 4. Had the trials at Bath and Briftol been infli- tuted with metallick Traylors only, they would pro- bably, indeed undoubtedly, have deceived the faga- city of the medical witneffes in both hofpitals, as they have done in many other places. It was the mode of trial with fictitious Tra&ors which detected the fallacy, and expofed the truth fo clearly as to remove every doubt. 5- The RECAPITULATION. 43 5. The rule which prohibits the admiffion of females afflifted with hyflerical or epileptickfits, as in-patients into the Chefler Infirmary, ought to be adopted in all hofpitals. It is well known that medicines cannot always cure thefe diforders; and much mifchief in producing them may be juftly apprehended by in- troducing fuch a patient into a female ward. 6. From the fafts above related, and what are recorded by authors, it appears probable, that in fome diflrifts, convulfions are liable to be communi- cated from one family to another, fo as to become epidemical. Such calamities may be prevented by any medical or other intelligent and humane neigh- bour, who has influence and authority to hinder all intercourfe between perfons afflifted with and liable to convulfive diforders. FINIS. Ccruttwell, Printer, Bath. Published by the same Author, AnTNQUIRY how to prevent the SMALL-POX; with the Proceedings of a Society for promoting General Inoculation, and preventing the Cafual Small-Pox in Chefter. Price in Boards, 3s. v' ... t \ *1 AND A SKETCH of a PLAN to EXTERMINATE the SMALL-POX from GREAT-BRITAIN; with a Cor- refpondence on the Nature of the Variolous Contagion, with Mr. Dawfon, Dr. Aikin, Profeflbr Irvine, Profeflbr Wall, Profeflbr Waterhoufe, Dr. Percival, Mr. Henry, Dr. Clark, Dr. Odier, Dr. Currie, and the Magiftrates of Geneva. Two Vols. in Boards, 8s. Preparing for the Press, A LETTER to THOMAS PERCIVAL, M. D. F. R. S. ON THE PREVENTION of INFECTIOUS FEVERS.