[ 373 ] 
they endeavoured to purge Perfons of all Ages, and 
of both Sexes, by making them hold in their Hand, 
while they were electrized, Scammony, Gamboge, 
Aloes, and fuch-like. But it was very extrordinary, 
that of all the Perfons who were engaged in thele 
Experiments, no one could fuccced ; and, from a 
fort of Shame, each of them expected, that fome one 
would complain of his Want of Succcfs : But this 
was retarded, as yet, by the Hade with which Mr. 
IVinkler * fent to the Royal. Society, and to fome 
ingenious Men in France , the Rcfult of his own 
Experiments, which well agreed with thofc of Italy , 
and upon the Credit of which he had made them. 
For my own Part, I will fpeaic without any Rc- 
ftraint: When I found my Attempts were fruitlefs, I 
without any Difficulty communicated it to all the Phi- 
fofophers with whom I corrcfponded : I deli red them 
to let me know if they had been more fuceefsful 
than my myfclf, and to acquaint one how they had 
proceeded, that I might conform myfelf thereby. I 
was much more willing to confefs my Inability, and 
to learn from others the Method which mult of Nc- 
ceffity be cbferved, than to be deprived longer from 
feeing thofc Phenomena which ought to refult there- 
from. Indead of Indructions, which might con- 
dud me to the Succefs I wanted, I received nothing 
but fuch Confeffions as mine : From thefe I faw, 
that all Methods had been tried; and that nothing 
remained to be done, but either to believe every 
thing upon the Faith of others, or to doubt, without 
Hopes 
* A celebrated ProfefTor of Philofop'hy at Lerpfick, v/ho has writ- 
ten a good deal concerning Eledricity. 
B bb 
