Chap.;.] [ 359 



CHAP. VU. 

 MEDICAL ELECTRICITY. 



Declaration of the Abbe Nollet on this Subjett. Mr. Adams an Ad- 

 'vacate for Medical Electricity. M-bde of Application, Difiafes 

 to 'which it may be applied. Apparatut mojl proper for Medical 

 Purpofes. 



THE declaration of Abbe Nollet, that he received 

 more pleafure from difcovering that the motion 

 of fluids in capillary tubes, and the infenfible perfpira- 

 tion of animated bodies, were augmented by electricity, 

 than from any other difcovery he had made, reflects 

 the higheft honour upon his character as a friend of 

 mankind. 



Mr. Adams, who was not inferior in humanity and 

 philanthropy to the French philofopher, ftrongly con- 

 tends for the medicinal effects of electricity, and brings 

 to aid his arguments the acknowledged property in 

 the electric fluid, to accelerate the vegetation of plants. 

 We may indeed be convinced, by a variety of experi- 

 ments, that the electric fluid is materially connected 

 with the human frame, and is continually exerting its 

 influence upon it. As the natural equilibrium of this 

 fluid is eafily deftroyed in the human body, we may 

 fafely infer, that any alteration in the quantity or in- 

 tenfity of the action of this powerful fluid, will produce 

 correfponding changes In the habit or health of the 

 body. The following experiment proves the effect of 

 this fluid upon organized bodies. 



A a 4 Let 



