390 Scientific Intelligence. (May, 
to make what use of it I think proper, contains information of 
so much importance to humanity, and the medical and chemical 
world in particular, that I lose no time in communicating it to 
the public through your journal, as follows. It is dated Jan. 9, 
1819. 
“T was extremely sorry to find from your last letter that you 
had not recovered of your rheumatism. Have you tried electri- 
city ? It is found here to be a specific in all recent cases. It is, 
however, applied in the new manner I have once before spoken 
to youof; and whether I described the jar used or not, I do not 
now remember : for your advantage, I will now describe the mode 
of making it. The outside only of the bottle is coated with 
paper, having tin or copper extremely thin on its surface ; the 
bottom of the bottle nor its inside has no coating. To the end 
of the wire which passes through the cork or cover, attach about 
half a yard of small brass wire so coiled up, that when it is thrust 
into the bottle it will expand itself against the sides, A bottle 
thus prepared will give shocks similarly to the tin foiled jars in 
this respect, that the strength is proportionable to the distance 
of the electrometer from the conductor; but its sensible effect is 
very different, as it affects the muscles of the limbs more sensibly 
than the joints, and it has been found to remove complaints 
which the common shocks would not reach.” 
My friend having also been kind enough to fayour me with. 
the former letter alluded to, which is dated Oct. 21, 1817; and 
finding that although the manner of constructing the jar is onl 
hinted at, yet that the effects of it are more fully described ; i 
have thought it proper to quote them as follows : 
«« An important improvement in medical electricity is said to 
be invented. It consists in pouring through the body, or diseased 
part, a large quantity of the electric fluid with scarcely any pain 
to the patient. This is effected by coating the jar with tinselled 
paper instead of tin foil, and by using imperfect or very weak 
conductors in making the circuit, The inventor has a patent 
for his invention, and I paid him five dollars for the secret. I 
have made some experiments on his plan, and I find the shock 
much modified, and sensibly different in its effect on the muscles.” 
I also learn from another letter to my friend, but from another 
correspondent in New York, and dated Jan. 9, 1819, that a 
“ Mr, Everit has formed an establishment there for administering 
electricity in this new and superior manner; and the effect of 
which is beyond every thing that can be conceived. . He has 
four machines in use.” 
i sincerely hope that this communication will induce such of 
your readers as may be possessed of the necessary apparatus, to 
fit up some jars in this novel manner; and that they will inform 
the public through your Amnals of the results thereof; as it 
appears to me that the action of the electric fluid in this modi- 
fication of it very much resembles that of the voltaic pile or 
9 
