References.—De La Rive, “Electricity,” Vol. I. p. 203; Wilson, “Treatise on Electricity”; Wilson and Hoadley, “Observations on a Series of Electrical Experiments”; Phil. Trans., Vol. XLVIII. p. 347; Vol. XLIX. p. 682; Vol. LI. part i. pp. 83, 308, 331, part ii. p. 896; Vol. LIII. pp. 436, etc.; Vol. LXVIII. p. 999; Vol. LXIX. p. 51; also Hutton’s abridgments; Vol. X. p. 420; Vol. XI. pp. 15, 396, 504; Vol. XII. pp. 44, 147; Vol. XIII. p. 374; Vol. XIV. pp. 334, 337, 458, 480; “The Electrical Researches of the Hon. Henry Cavendish,” Cambridge, 1879, No. 125; L. E. Kaemtz, “Lehrbuch der Meteor,” Halle, 1832, Vol. II. p. 395.
A.D. 1746.—Ellicott (John), of Chester, suggests a method of estimating the exact force of the electric charge contained in the Leyden jar by its power to raise a weight in one scale of a balance while the other scale is held over and attracted by the electrified body. This was the principle upon which Mr. Gralath constructed the electrometer shown in Dantzig Memoirs, Vol. I. p. 525.
With reference to the experiments of Boze (A.D. 1738) and of Nollet (A.D. 1746) made with capillary tubes, he says that the siphon, though electrified, will only deliver the water by drops if the basin containing the water is also electrified. He explains Nollet’s observation, that the electric matter issues more sensibly from the point at the extremity of the conductor, by saying that the effluvia, in rushing from the globe along the conductor, as they approach the point are brought nearer together, and therefore are denser there, and if the light be owing to the density and velocity of the effluvia it will be visible at the point and nowhere else. Ellicott’s theory of electricity is founded upon the following data: (1) electrical phenomena are produced by effluvia; (2) these effluvia repel each other; (3) they are attracted by all other matter. If the word fluid is substituted for effluvia, these data absolutely agree with those adopted by Æpinus and Cavendish, forming the basis of the only satisfactory theory of electricity hitherto proposed.
References.—Boulanger, “Traité de la Cause et des phénomènes de l’électricité,” Paris, 1750, p. 324; Phil. Trans. for 1746, Vol. XLIV. p. 96, and for 1748, Vol. XLV. pp. 195–224, 313; also the abridgments of John Martyn, Vol. X. part ii. pp. 324, 386, 389, 394; Hutton, Vol. IX. p. 475.
A.D. 1747.—Pivati (Johannes Francisco), a Venetian physician, relates in his “Lettere della elettricita medica,” that if odorous substances are confined in glass vessels and the latter excited, the odours and other medical virtues will transpire through the glass, infect the atmosphere of a conductor, and communicate the virtue they may possess to all persons in contact therewith; also, that those substances held in the hands of persons electrified will communicate their virtue to them so that medicines can thus be made to operate without being taken in the usual manner.
This appears to have been likewise asserted especially by M. Veratti, of Bologna, and by M. Bianchi, of Turin; also by Prof. Winckler, of Leipzig, who satisfied himself of the power of electricity on sulphur, cinnamon, and on balsam of Peru even at a distance.
By the above-named means of applying the electric fluid Pivati is reported to have effected cures of ordinary pains and aches, and to have even relieved of gout the old Bishop Donadoni, of Sebenico, who had long been a sufferer, and who was at the time seventy-five years of age. This pretended transudation and its medical effects could not, however, be verified, even with the directions asked of and given by Prof. Winckler, when very careful and exhaustive experiments were made, on the 12th of June, 1751, at the house of Dr. Watson, in presence of the president and other officers as well as friends of the Royal Society. Nor could Dr. Bianchini, Professor of Medicine at Venice, succeed any better. At a later date, Franklin asserted that it was impossible to combine the virtues of medicines with the electric fluid.
References.—Franklin’s Letters, p. 82; Phil. Trans. for 1748, Vol. XLV. pp. 262, 270; for 1750, Vol. XLVI. pp. 348, 368; for 1751, Vol. XLVII. p. 231; for 1753, Vol. XLVIII. pp. 399, 406, and Vol. X. abridged, pp. 400–403.
A.D. 1747.—Louis (Antoine), eminent French surgeon (1723–1792), publishes “Observations sur l’électricité,” of which the first issue appeared in 1747 and wherein he indicates the employment of electricity in medical practice. This he did again in his “Recueils,” upon a more pretentious scale, six years later, 1753.
References.—N. F. J. Eloy, “Dict. de la Médecine,” Mons, 1778, Vol. III. p. 206; “Gen. Biog. Dict.” of Alex. Chalmers, 1815, Vol. XX. p. 419; Hœfer, “Nouv. Biog. Gén.,” Vol. XXXI. p. 1033; Quérard, “La France Littéraire”; “Biog. Univ.,” de Michaud, Vol. XXV. pp. 319–325.