VOL. XLVII.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 243 



medical electricity, as too hasty a publication. Mr. Winkler, however, from 

 Leipsic, sent to the ScK:iety, long since these publications, some tubes and 

 globes, whicli he said had transmitted odours by electrifying. What he con- 

 jectured the glasses would do, fell infinitely short of what he first gave out; but 

 even after the most careful trials, and complying with his instructions most scru- 

 pulously, we were disappointed in our expectations. 



The gentlemen concerned in conducting these experiments, published by Dr. 

 Bianchini, divided them into 3 classes. The first class contains a series of expe- 

 riments made with tubes and globes containing odoriferous or other substances, 

 in order to observe, when these were closely stopped, whether the odorous, as 

 well as other effects of the substances included, would pervade the glass. The 

 second class includes experiments made with tubes and globes, which have no- 

 thing within them ; but the persons electrified hold in their hands, or sometimes 

 place under their naked feet, odoriferous, purging, or even the most poisonous 

 substances, in order to observe, whether the persons electrified in this manner 

 would be sensible of the effects of these substances. The third class gives a 

 series of experiments different from the two former,^ in which the substances 

 before-mentioned are mixed with the water, as in making the experiment of 

 Leyden. From these experiments we are to discover, whether from receiving 

 the shocks from these bottles, the person is sensible of the effects in his body of 

 the substances contained in them. But after many numerous and accurate trials 

 of all these, on several persons, no such effects were felt by them. There ap- 

 pears, through the whole course of the experiments contained in this work a 

 great deal of care and accuracy. They were made by persons fully acquainted 

 with the manner of employing their apparatus, and many of the experiments 

 were several times repeated. 



After what has been done here at London, at Paris, and at Wirtemberg, 

 with the like success, these experiments cannot, to unprejudiced persons, but be 

 conclusive, that the extraordinary accounts from Italy and Leipsic, had no foun-- 

 dation in fact ; and that no method has yet been discovered, by which from elec- 

 tricity the powers of medicines could be made to insinuate themselves into the' 

 human body. 



This conclusion, however, does not, nor is meant to operate, against the ad- 

 vantages said to be gained by electricity itself. So subtil and so elastic a fluid 

 admitted in a large quantity into our bodies, as, from undoubted experience, it 

 greatly heats the flesh, and quickens the pulse, may, more especially when assisted 

 by the expectation of success in the patient, in particular cases be attended with 

 very great advantages. 



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