VOL. L.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRAXSACTIONS. ] 80 



Dr. B. to be much mistaken. For if the proportion be as he says, that one in 

 45 is levied, this directly proves the number of people in England and Wales to 

 be about 5 millions and a half, according to my calculation ; because the elec- 

 tors or balloters are the fencible men, or those able to carry arms. And if the 

 whole levy be 3'2,000 then 45 multiplied by 32,000 will give 1,440,000 for all 

 the fencible men in England. But Dr. Halley has clearly showed that the fen- 

 cible men are one quarter of the whole people, children included ; and there- 

 fore 4 times 1,440,000, or 5,76o,000, will be the whole number of the people; 

 which is nearly what he made them before. 



LIX. On the Effects of Electricity in Paralytic Cases. By Benjamin Franklin, 



Esq. F. /?. ^. p. 48 ] . 



The following is what Mr. F. at present recollects, relating to the effects of 

 electricity in paralytic cases, which have fallen under his observation. Some 

 years since, when the newspapers mentioned great cures performed in Italy or 

 Germany, by means of electricity, a number of paralytics were brought to him 

 from different parts of Pennsylvania, and the neighbouring provinces to be elec- 

 trised ; which he did for them at their request. His method was to place the 

 patient first in a chair, on an electric stool, and draw a number of large strong 

 sparks from all parts of the affected limb or side. Then he fully charged two 

 6 gallon glass jars, each of which had about 3 square feet of surface coated ^ 

 and he sent the united shock of these through the affected limb or limbs ; re- 

 peating the stroke commonly 3 times each day. The first thing observed was 

 an immediate greater sensible warmth in the lame limbs that had received the 

 stroke, than in the others : and the next morning the patients usually related, 

 that they had in the night felt a pricking sensation in the flesh of the paralytic 

 limbs ; and would sometimes show a number of small red spots, which they 

 supposed were occasioned by those prickings. The limbs too were found more 

 capable of voluntary motion, and seemed to receive strength. A man, for m-r 

 stance, who could not the first day lift the lame hand from off his knee, would 

 the next day raise it 4 or 5 inches, the 3d day higher ; and on the 5th day was 

 able, but with a feeble languid motion, to take off his hat. These appearances 

 gave great spirits to the patients, and made them hope a perfect cure ; but he did 

 not remember that he ever saw any amendment after the 5th day : which the 

 patients perceiving, and finding the shocks pretty severe, they became dis- 

 couraged, went home, and in a short time relapsed ; so that he never knew any 

 advantage from electricity in palsies, that was permanent. And how far the ap-. 

 parent temporary advantage might arise from the exercise in the patients journey^ 

 and coming daily to his house, or from the spirits given by the hopes of sue-- 



