Mechanical Philosophy, 35 



Many other writers, of acknowledged scien- 

 :tific eminence, have distinguished themselves by- 

 new experiments, and ingenious hypotheses on 

 magnetic attraction, within the period of which 

 we are speaking. Among these may be mentioned 



MuSCHENBROECK,' WhISTON, CeLSIUS/ VanS WIN- 

 DEN, Lambert,^' Euler/' Knight,'' Mitchel, 

 -Canton and Cavallo. To detail the opinions 

 entertained, and the facts successively :brought to 

 light by each, would far exceed our prescribed 

 limits. But, after all the inquiries of these phi- 

 losophers, it must be acknowledged that '^clouds 

 and darkness rest" upon this part of science; 

 •ihat even its general principles are little under- 

 stood ; and that we are yet far frombeing furnished 

 with materials for a satisfactory system on the sub- 

 ject. Perhaps another century may accomplish 

 this, which, when viewed in its various relations, 

 must be regarded as a grand desideratum in phi- 

 losophy. 



In 1774 arose the idea of a certain sympathy 

 existing between the magnet and the human 

 body, by means of v/hich the former might be ap- 

 plied to the cure of diseases. This opinion ap- 

 pears to have originated with Father Hehl, of 

 Germany, who greatly recommended the use of 

 the magnet in medicine. On some experiments 

 and suggestions of Hehl, the famous Messmer, a 

 German physician, about the year 1766, erected 

 his fanciful system oi Animal Magnetism. The noise 



t Dissert. Physko Experimenialis de NLagnete. 



u Tentamina Magnetica, 4to. Also Memoirs on the Analogy between Elect, 

 and Mag. 3 vols. 8vo. 1 7 85. 



•y The experiments and calculations of M. Lambert, on the polarity znd 

 variations of the magnetic needle, deserve particular attention. He was a 

 most accurate and sagacious philosopher. See the Memoirs of the Academy 

 kJ Berlin ^ for 1756, published in 1758. 



IV Euleri Opuscula. torn. iii. Continens Theoriam Magnetis, Berlin, 1 75 1. 



X An Attempt to e>cplain the Phenomena of i^aiure by Tivo Principles^ "i^c, 

 «to. 1748. 



