20 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1750. 



An Examination of Certain Phenomena in Electricity, published in Italy. By 

 the Abbe Nollet, F. R. S., and translated from the French by Mr. IVatson, 

 F. R. S. N" 494, p. 368. 



Electricity, after having excited every where the emulation of the ingenious, 

 after having filled us vv^ith wonder by an infinite number of phenomena more 

 singular and more admirable one than another, seems, within these few years, to 

 have shewn itself equally surprizing, but more useful, in Italy, than it had done 

 in England, France, G^ermany, &c. where, for these 20 or 25 years, so great a 

 progress had been made. We have heard of nothing less than the cure, or the 

 almost sudden relief, of distempers of every kind, and of purging all sorts of 

 persons in a manner of all others the most proper to avoid the repugnance and 

 disgust we naturally have to medical potions. Even that disease which we are 

 most desirous of concealing, was not by these means without its remedy ; the 

 mercury being volatilized, and carried, by the electric matter, into the body of 

 the patient, tinged his skin of a leaden colour, and procured him a certain cure 

 by a copious salivation. 



The manner in which this was done was not less to be wondered at than the 

 thing itself; persons afflicted with inveterate gouts, rheumatisms, fluxions, tu- 

 mours, &c. were relieved by being electrized for a few hours, and often a less 

 time was sufficient. Sometimes the rubbing a glass tube only, or at other times 

 a glass tube lined with some medicine appropriated to the disease of the patient, 

 was employed. These medicines, to exert their operation on the patient, 

 passed through the glass ; and this they were very certain of, as they saw them 

 sensibly diminish in their quantity, though the glass containing them was 

 stopped as close as though sealed hermetically. To promote stools, it is only 

 necessary that a person should be electrized for 6 or 8 minutes, holding in his 

 hand a piece of scammony or gamboge ; the effects were as certain, as though 

 these drugs were taken internally. Besides, if a person was desirous of being 

 perfumed from head to foot, nothing more was necessary than being electrized 

 with a glass vessel lined with balsam of Peru, benjamin, or some such drug ; 

 and from this electrization the odours were perceptible for 2 or 3 days, even so 

 much as to incommode those to whom these smells were disagreeable. 



Effects no less wonderful than these were published every day, by writings 

 printed, and printed again, or by particular letters and memoirs in manuscript 

 addressed to the ingenious all over Europe. They were also confirmed by re- 

 spectable witnesses, and by such as were capable of imposing them on persons 

 the most guarded against the exaggerations, which never fail accompanying the 

 relations of interesting novelties. 



The importance of the facts themselves, and the appearance of authenticity 

 which attended them, demanded that they should be considered ; and indeed 



