360 Observations on the Letter of Mr. Fr'tedlanJer 



tlie simplest retreats of science, has given to these machines an 

 elegance under which the sceptical think they trace mystery and 

 chicanery. Mr. Wolfart's baquets were at first of ihe most sim- 

 ple construction; those of other physicians, whether in Berliner 

 any of the smaller towns of Germany .are so stilh in fact, they are 

 nothing but vessels filled with magnetized water and furnished 

 with steel conductors. In the course of his practice Mr. Wol- 

 f irt made additions to this apparatus ; some of no importance, 

 a'ld others useful in promoting the circulation of the fluid. He 

 inclosed the vessel of water in a mahogany case, wiiich Mr. F. 

 is pleased to compare to an altar, with the same aptitude with 

 which he compares to a sanctuary a room in no respect different 

 from any ordinarvapartment. A steel rod is in.mersed perpendicu- 

 larly in the raiddleof the vase, woollen ropes of about three lines 

 diameter are attached to this conductor, and the patients surround 

 with these cords such parts of their body as they conceive to be 

 the seats' of their disease. Mr. Wolfart thinks they increase the 

 effect of the apparatus, by conducting the fluid which emanates 

 from the reservoir. They are not of silk, as Mr. F. states them 

 to be, but of worsted ; for, according to Mr. Wolfart, silk will 

 not serve the purpose of a magnetic conductor. As to the brass 

 wires of which Mr. F. speaks, there are not any in the machine; 

 and he is deceived in imagining that he recollects any communi- 

 cation established from the baquet to the sides of the apartment ; 

 for this would be entirely useless. In the u])per part of the ma- 

 hogany case there is a space above the bacjuet, which is filled 

 with lambs' wool. The wool thus placed becomes charged 

 with the magnetic fluid ; and is applied in several local affec- 

 tions, to continue on the parts affected the constant influence of 

 magnetism. Above the machine Mr. Wolfart has suspended a 

 glass globe, quicksilvered like a looking-glass, which communi- 

 cating with the central conductor l)y means of a woollen cord, 

 partakes of the properties of the machine, He believes, in com- 

 mon with many magnetizers, that magnetism is propagated like 

 light by irradiation; that, concentrating itself in a body within the 

 glass globe, it is thence radiated so that its effects are diffused 

 every way. For this purpose, and not to use as a lustre, he 

 added a ball of glass to his apparatus. 



Mr. Wolfart makes use of the baquets as they were at first used 

 in the magnetic treatments. The patients seated round it take 

 hold of the steel conductors, to draw thence the streams, which 

 they direct according to their complaints. They experience 

 nearly the same effects as from direct manipulations, — cessation 

 from fatigue ; the sensation of warmth; perspiration; every de- 

 gree of sleepiness, and somnambulism ; — indeed, all the effects 

 consequent on direct manipulation are produced equally in the in- 

 dividuals 



