on the actual State of Magnelhm in Germany. 363 



euro ; nay, that in certain cases it does not appear to have any 

 effect, cannot be denied; — but unfortunately we are not more ad- 

 vanced with respect to most of the other remedies in "our art : 

 we do not know their manner of acting; we cannot determine 

 with certainty what effects they will produce; we fail repeatedly 

 in employing them in diseases of the nature of which we know 

 i!o more than of the remedy ; nor as yet are the physicians of 

 Berlin, most of whom have recourse to magnetic treatment in 

 certain cases, quite agreed as to the extent of its efficacy. Some 

 apply it without distinction to every internal malady ; others li- 

 mit its application to determined cases. But in this respect 

 magnetism shares the fate of all other remedies, which at one 

 time rise, and at another fall, in the opinion of the faculty. Dr. 

 Hufeland has himself too often and too clearly declared his own 

 sentiments, to leave it to any one else to interpret them. He ac- 

 knowledges the efficacy of magnetism ; he ranks it among the 

 most powerful remedies in his materia medica ; and it is incon- 

 ceivable that Mr. F. should appear to know nothing of this. 

 Dr. Hein), Dr. Formey, and other eminent physicians, are of the 

 tame opinion. There are, indeed, a few who cannot yet bring 

 themselves to admit the existence of a power of which they have 

 no conception : but these persons are too wise and too modest 

 to judge of and condemn what they as yet know very imper- 

 fectly. 



The public usually sides with those physicians who are most 

 e-teemed. The majority are by this time acquainted with the 

 effects of magnetism, and the admirable phaenomena which some- 

 times accompany it. The great influx of sick persons tp the 

 magnetic treatment of Mr.Wolfart and of some other physicians, 

 is sufficient proof of their confidence in it. 



Persons of the highest consideration are not above inquiring 

 into all that this new doctrine offers, that is remarkable and in- 

 teresting; but indeed here all the mystery and juggling, which in 

 other countries have been so inimical to the propagation of this 

 discoverv, have been carefully avoided. No man thinks of esta- 

 blishing a magnetic treatment to make his fortune. At Berlin, 

 as in the greatest part of Germany, the disinterested love of truth 

 and the most rigid principle reign in the empire of the sciences. 



The government in Prussia has not aeen with indifference the 

 progress which the doctrine of magnetism has made towards 

 perfection. Too enlightened not to be sensible of the advan- 

 tages derivable from its protection of the science and of indi- 

 viduals, but too circumsj)ect not to foresee the abuses whicii 

 might counterbalance them, — it has taken such measures as are 

 favourable to ^liem, while they prevent the other. The public 



practice 



