736 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



The experiments of Galvani in 1785 attracted great attention. 

 The most extravagant expectation of the practical value of gal- 

 vanism in curing disease gradually spread among non-experts 

 all over the scientific world. Various empirics appeared claim- 

 ing remarkable results based on this new force. Finally, in 1796, 

 Dr. Perkins, of Connecticut, announced that he had discovered 

 two metals which, combined in a secret way, possessed marvelous 

 powers of galvanism, which he called tractors, or pullers-out of 

 disease. These tractors resembled a piece of gold and silver fitted 

 together, about four inches long, and were used, by being moved up 

 and down over the part affected, to draw out the disease and re- 

 store the vital forces. Almost every disorder known was cured or 

 relieved by this means. The discoverer challenged the world of 

 science everywhere, and invited criticism, and pointed to the per- 

 sons cured for irrefutable evidence. The psychological soil was 

 prepared, and the army of credulous enthusiasts were all ready to 

 welcome him. In two years these tractors attained great popu- 

 larity in this country. They were literally recommended and in- 

 dorsed by the faculties of three medical colleges, and vast numbers 

 of clergymen, members of Congress, and public officials. A spe- 

 cial patent was issued, and signed by George Washington, as a 

 slight recognition of the great service the inventor had rendered 

 the world. Pamphlets, sermons, lectures, papers, and even books 

 were written and scattered everywhere, giving the theories and re- 

 sults following the use of these tractors. In 1798 Perkins went to 

 London. His boldness and dogmatism immediately commanded 

 popularity. After a time a hospital was established, called the 

 Perkinson Institute, officered by the nobility, with Lord Revois 

 as president. Large sums of money were given for the treatment 

 of the poor by this method. Free dispensaries were opened, and 

 trained assistants used these tractors for all cases, with boasted 

 success. Lectures were given on the philosophy of this method, 

 and students were instructed and sent out to open branch insti- 

 tutes. The rich purchased these tractors and became their own 

 doctors, and the poor were obliged to accept treatment from oth- 

 ers. With empiric shrewdness, certificates of cure were gath- 

 ered, which exceeded ten thousand in number, and were signed 

 by princes, ministers of state, bishops, clergymen, professors, 

 physicians, and wealthy laymen. The inventor was recognized 

 as a great public benefactor and pioneer, also one of the few im- 

 mortals who would live down the ages. Perkinsism seemed to 

 have won a place in the scientific history of the world. By and by 

 this gilded cloud of popularity burst, and the charm was dissolved. 

 Two physicians made tractors of wood and sold them as the origi- 

 nal, producing the same results and the same crop of certificates 

 of cure. After making a respectable sum of money, they pub- 



