Medicine, 309 



very valuable addition to the knowledge before 

 possessed on this subjeet, and reflects high honour 

 on its learned author. From the extent of infor- 

 mation, the vigour of mind, and the ardent zeal by 

 v^hich this American naturalist and physician is 

 distinguished, we may hope for further investiga- 

 tions, and richer discoveries of the medical trea- 

 sures of our country. 



Though it is impossible to enumerate all, or even 

 the greater part of the new articles with which the 

 materia medica has been enriched, in modern 

 times, it may not be improper to take some no- 

 tice of a few of the most celebrated and useful. 



The first application of Electricitij to medical 

 purposes belongs exclusively to the eighteenth 

 century. It was before observed that Mr. Krat- 

 ZENSTEiN, of Germany, was the first person who 

 applied the electric fluid to the cure of diseases, 

 and that the course of experiment and inquiry on 

 this subject Vv^as further pursued by the Abbe Nol- 

 LET, and by many others, at later periods. After cor- 

 recting numerous errors arising from the extravagapt 

 calculations of the first experimenters on medical 

 electricity, there remains no doubt of its efficacy 

 in many diseases of nervous derangement and mus- 

 cular debility; so that it is now fully established as 

 an article of the materia medica. 



Within a few years past, an agent, which is pro- 

 bably nearly allied to electricity, and which is de- 

 nominated Galvanism, or the Galvanic Fluid, has 

 become a popular application in certain diseases. 

 The original discovery, together with the progress 

 and gradual extension of this branch of philosophy, 

 was mentioned in a former chapter. That this 

 wonderful agent possesses great efTicacy in many 

 cases similar to those in which electricity is found 

 to afford relief, seems to be too well attested to 

 admit of doubti but the extent of its application. 



