ELECTRICITY. 521 



system, and its power here has been employed exten- 

 sively for medical purposes. The benefits resulting have 

 been at some periods highly exaggerated, but there is 

 perhaps no doubt that in many diseases the effects of 

 this agent are salutary. 



'Electricity may be administered medicinally in four 

 different ways. The first and most gentle is under the 

 form of a continued stream, or aura as it is termed, de- 

 rived from a wire or pointed piece of wood connected 

 with the prime conductor, and held at the distance of one 

 or two inches from the point to which it is to be direct- 

 ed ; an impression is felt similar to a current of air ; 

 and in this way it may be borne by parts of great sensi- 

 bility, such as the eye. The second mode is by direct- 

 ing sparks of various sizes to the affected part, by means 

 of a metallic ball at the extremity of a brass rod, which 

 is within a moderate distance from the part ; or else by 

 placing the patient on an insulating stool, and while he 

 is in communication with the prime conductor of the ma- 

 chine, taking sparks from him by another person with a 

 metallic ball at the end of a rod which he holds in his 

 hand. The size and intensity of the sparks will, of course, 

 be regulated by the distance at which the ball is placed 

 from the body, provided the machine be steadily work- 

 ed. The third mode is that by shocks from the discharge 

 of a Leyden phial, which is, of course, the most severe 

 and painful method of applying electricity. Great cau- 

 tion is required against the indiscriminate application of 

 this last method, which is not wholly free from danger.' 



We have thus presented a brief, and it has been in- 

 tended to be, a simple view of the science of electricity. 

 Our design has been to give in the confined space allotted 

 to us, as full a description of the nature and effects 

 of this mysterious agent, as is in our power. 



Some very interesting incidents which have occurred 

 in the history of this science, we should have been glad 

 to have presented, if our limits had allowed. We can- 

 not, however, forbear quoting in the conclusion of our 

 treatise, the following description of Franklin's experi- 

 ments to identify the electric fluid and the lightning of 

 the clouds. 



VOL. I. NO. XXI. 46 



