SPECIFICS FOR THE CURE OF INEBRIETY. 737 



lished their experience, together with the thanks and public 

 prayers for the great blessing conferred on the world by these 

 means. Like the " South Sea bubble," Perkinsism dissolved and 

 was no more. The branch institutes for treatment by the tract- 

 ors closed for want of patients, and the tractors disappeared. 

 Behind all this tremendous enthusiasm for the good of science 

 and humanity appeared a commercial spirit that was startling. 



These tractors were claimed to be gold and silver, and sold 

 at from ten to twenty-five dollars each. In reality, they were 

 made of brass and polished steel, at a cost of about twelve cents 

 each, in an obscure Connecticut village, from which they were 

 shipped to the inventor, who sent them all over the world. Of 

 course, Perkins made a fortune, which compensated in a meas- 

 ure for his sudden fall from greatness. 



While this was a great empirical epidemic, with a mercenary 

 object, based on a few half -defined truths, it materially furthered 

 the growth and evolution of this subject. Many of the wild 

 theories which gathered about Perkinsism suggested clearer con- 

 ceptions to later observers. Like the specific inebriety epidemic, 

 it began as an assumed discovery of some new power, claimed 

 from metals (not used), with some new physiological action by 

 some new process, enveloped in mystery and only known to the 

 discoverer. The tractors were patented, and only made by Per- 

 kins, and the certificates and statements of those cured furnished 

 all the evidence. Literally, the effects were entirely mental, 

 depending on the credulity and expectancy of those who claimed 

 to be helped. 



The present epidemic wave for the cure of inebriety is hardly 

 up to the average of former empiric efforts in adroit manipula- 

 tion of the credulous public. 



The successful charlatan of modern times has always ex- 

 hibited some psychological skill in the display of assumed truth 

 and the concealment of his real motives. In these inebriety cures 

 there is a coarseness of methods, with brazen assumptions and 

 display of pecuniary motives, that quickly repel all except the 

 unthinking. The circulars, statements, and appeals to the pub- 

 lic are overdone, and sadly lacking in psychological skill. A 

 certain crankiness, with strange combinations of rashness and 

 caution, stupidity and cunning, strongly suggests that inebriate 

 intellects are the guiding spirits in the management of these 

 cures. 



On the other hand, the very spirit and hurry of the movement 

 suggest a full recognition of the brevity of the work and the need 

 of active labor before the "night cometh when no man can 

 work." In this the highest commercial and psychological skill 

 appears. Dependence for popularity of the cure on the emotional 



VOL. XLI. 53 



