6 Medicine. [Chap. IV, 



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 notice of a 

 few of the most celeljrated and nseful. 



The first application of Electricitij to medical 

 purposes belongs exclusively to the eighteenth cen- 

 tury. It was before observed that Mr. Kratz en- 

 stein, of Germany, was the first person w^io applied 

 the electric fluid to the cure of diseases, and that 

 the course of experiment and inquiry on this sub- 

 ject was further pursued by the abbe Noilet, and 

 by many others, at later periods. After correcting 

 numerous errours arising from the extravagant cal- 

 culations of the first experim^enters on medical elec^ 

 tricity, there remains no doubt of its efficacy in 

 many diseases of nervous derangement and mus- 

 cular debility, so that it is now fully establislied 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 mentioifecl in a former chapter. That this 

 wonderful agent possesses great efficacy in many 

 cases similar to those in which electricity is found 

 to afford relief, seems to be too well attested to 

 admit of doid^t; but the extent of its application, 

 the rules which ought to regulate it, and the de- 

 gree and permanency of relief which it is capable 

 of affording, have been so imperfectly investigated, 

 that it is diflicult to speak with precision or cer- 

 tainty on tlie subject. 



