The efficacy of Perkins's patent metallic tractors, in topical diseases on the human body, and animals; exemplified by 250 cases ... To which is prefixed, a preliminary discourse, in which, the fallacious attempts of Dr. Haygarth, to detract from the merits of the tractors, are detected, and fully confuted / By Benjamin Douglas Perkins.

Benjamin Douglas Perkins

Date:: 1800

Credit: The efficacy of Perkins's patent metallic tractors, in topical diseases on the human body, and animals; exemplified by 250 cases ... To which is prefixed, a preliminary discourse, in which, the fallacious attempts of Dr. Haygarth, to detract from the merits of the tractors, are detected, and fully confuted / By Benjamin Douglas Perkins. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Cover
Title Page
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Cover

24/202

Xviu PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS. vegetables that cover its furface, whofe meciical virtues are entirely unknown, as tliey never have been applied either to the purpofe of heal ng the liumanor brute kind, will n«.t eafily believe that rhe Art of Medicine has arrived at its ntmolh limit; but rather that there frill remains a large held for c^Ui- vation and improvement. “ It is greatly to he re., gretted,” fays Dr. Black, that even medical and lurgical knowledge, in the cure of corporeal infir- mities, and in the prevention of mortality, is very far remote from perfe£Vion, and that important jm- provem.ents are referved for the prefent and future generations.” As thefe judicious opinions are entcrta’ned by gen» tinmen of the firfb clafs in the medical department, it is hoped that the Public will not deem this publi- cation as intrufive, as tlie obje6l of it is to explaiii the nattire and tendency of the Metallic Pra^ice, and to vindicate that Difcovery from the attacks of prejudice and order to accomplilh tliis with as little expence of the time, and indulgence of the reader as poffible, X have publHhed a few Cafes^ which perhaps may be found better calculated to explain and fatisfy any enquiry on the fubje<£l, than an exprefs treatife, compofed of mere obfervathins. l5ome prefatory remarks, however, may be neceffary. Tl'iC Metallic Tradiors have been fubmitted to the Britifh nation about eighteen months ; and in that ftmrt fpace of time, relatively f|;eaking, have ac- quired a degree of folid reputation, that may be faid .to bnghten from the collifion of opponepts ; and to have, in a manner, eiuirely diibpated tlvat cloud of prejudice which is always found to hang over any new invention ; for, as tl.ie Poet fays, ‘‘ A^// novelties mu ft this expecl^ Jf good, our envy] bad, n As the ol^'edliops to thi^ Pra(5i:ice, however, which

Licence and re-use

Contents