152 Influence of Metallic Trader s. 



As moft phenomena are learned from obfervation long be- 

 fore we arrive at the theory which connects and explains 

 them, fo with this metallic influence, no clear and fatisfac- 

 tory explanation of the modus operandi has yet appeared. 



Notwithstanding the affiduity with which phyfiologifts 

 have purfued their enquiry, and are Mill purfuing*, to dif- 

 cover the laws and properties of Galvanifm, and to afcertain 

 the extent of its action in the animal ceconomy ; yet, like 

 many other phenomena, they (till remain myfteries. 



Mr. Meigs, profefTor of natural philofophyat Newhaven,'in 

 a letter on Dr. Perkins's difcovery, conceives the principles of 

 metallic irritability fo little underftood, that he will not pre- 

 tend to explain how the tractors produce their effects ; but 

 feem? fatisfied in finding that the effects are produced. After 

 ftating an experiment on his own child, eight years of age, 

 very dangeroufly ill with a peripneumonia complaint, and 

 to which the tractors gave almoft inftantaneous relief, he 

 fays, " I have ufed the tractors with fuccefs in feveral 

 ether cafes in my own family ; and although, like Naaman 

 the Syrian, I cannot tell why the waters of Jordan fhould 

 be better thanAbana and Pharpar, rivers of Damafcus; yet, 

 fince experience has proved them fo, no reafoning can change 

 the opinion. Indeed, the caufes of all common facts are, 

 ive think, perfectly well known to us; and it is very probable, 

 fifty or an hundred years hence, we fhall as well know why 



* The celebrated Von Humboldt of Germany has lately publifhed a. 

 volume of 500 pages Svo. and is now preparing another. Thefc confift. 

 of numerous experiments, chiefly nn the nerves and mufcular fibre ; and 

 fioiw the fuccefs with which his enquiries have already been attend- 

 ed, great hopes are entertained that fomething important will rcfult. 

 M. Creve, profefibr of medicine at Mentz, has lately publifhed an im- 

 portant tract on Metallic Irritability. ,He maintains, from a variety of 

 experiments made on the dead bodies of men and animals, that even the 

 ims of putrefaction do not conftitute an infallible evidence of death, 

 a the a;p!ic3 Jen of metals will in all cafes afcertain it beyond the 

 lity of miftake. This difcovery is of great importance, as it may be 

 :o prevent the dreadful error uf premature inhumation. 



the 



