Dr. Pearson also made many interesting experiments to ascertain the effect of the application of galvanic electricity for the treatment of diseases, and Noad, who describes one of his successful operations, also details (“Manual,” pp. 343–349) the observations of many others in the same line, notably those of Drs. Apjohn, Majendie, Grapengieser and of Wilson Philip, Petrequin, Pravaz, Prevost and Dumas (Jour. de Physiol., Tome III. p. 207), as well as of Sarlandière and Dr. Golding Bird, besides giving the very important conclusions arrived at by Stefano Marianini.
References.—“Some Account of George Pearson,” M.D., F.R.S. (Phil. Mag., Vol. XV for 1803, p. 274); letter of Humboldt to M. Loder (“Bibl. Germ.,” Vol. IV, Messidor, An. VIII. p. 301); William Van Barneveld, “Med. Elektricität,” Leipzig, 1787; C. H. Wilkinson, “Elements of Galvanism,” London, 1804, 2 vols. passim; Paragraph No. 328 of Faraday’s “Experimental Researches,” J. N. Hallé, “Journal de Médecine de Corvisart,” etc., Tome I, Nivose, An. IX. p. 351; “Annales de l’Electricité Médicale” passim; H. Baker (Phil. Trans., Vol. XLV. p. 270); “Jour. de la Soc. Philom.,” Messidor, An. IX; J. F. N. Jadelot, “Expériences,” etc., 1799; M. Butet (“Bull. des Sc. de la Soc. Philom.,” No. 43, Vendémiaire, An. IX); M. Oppermanno, “Diss. Phys. Med.” (see J. G. Krunitz “Verzeichnis,” etc.); Andrieux, “Mémoire ... maladies,” Paris, 1824; Lebouyer-Desmortiers (Sue, “Hist. du Galv.,” Vol. II. p. 420, and Jour. de Phys., Prairial, An. IX, 1801, p. 467); C. J. C. Grapengieser, “Versuche den Galvanismus,” etc., Berlin, 1801 and 1802; the works of J. Althaus, published in London and Berlin in 1859–1870; C. A. Struve’s works, published in Hanover and Breslau, 1797–1805; F. L. Augustin’s works, published in Berlin, 1801–1803; Karl Friedrich Kielmeyer (Kielmaier), works published at Tübingen (Poggendorff, Vol. I. p. 1253); Einhoff (Gilbert, XII. p. 230); Francesco Rossi’s treatises on the application of galvanism, published in 1809; Gilb. “Ann.,” Vol. XII. p. 450; Jour. de Phys., Vol. LII. pp. 391 and 467; Cuthbertson’s letter in Phil. Mag., Vol. XVIII. p. 358; J. G. Anglade, “Essai sur le Galvanisme,” etc. (Sue, “Hist. du Galv.,” Vol. III. p. 73); Jacques Nauche, in Phil. Mag., Vol. XV. p. 368, as well as in Poggendorff, Vol. II. p. 256, and throughout the “Journal du Galvanisme.”
A.D. 1797.—In No. CCXXII of the Reichsanzeiger, a German publication, it is said that a certain person having an artificial magnet suspended from the wall of his study with a piece of iron adhering to it, remarked, for several years, that the flies in the room, though they frequently placed themselves on other iron articles, never settled upon the artificial magnet.
References.—Cavallo, “Experimental Philosophy,” 1803, Vol. III. p. 560, or the 1825 Philad. ed., Vol. II. p. 286.
A.D. 1797–1798.—Reinhold (Johann Christoph Leopold), while Bachelor of Medicine in Magdeburg, tendered for his theses, on the 16th of December 1797 and on the 11th of March 1798, two Latin dissertations on galvanism, one of which was offered concurrently with J. William Schlegel, then a medical student.
Numerous extracts from both the above very important papers, which treat extensively of galvanic experiments upon animals, vegetables, metals, etc., will be found at pp. 123–195, Vol. I of Sue’s “Histoire du Galvanisme,” Paris, 1802. Both dissertations review galvanism from its origin and make mention of many works which had not up to that time appeared in print.
In the first volume of his “Elements of Galvanism,” London, 1804, Mr. C. H. Wilkinson devotes the entire Chap. VIII (pp. 188–260) to Reinhold’s able review of galvanism, wherein are first cited Gardiner (author of “Observations on the Animal Economy”), Lughi, Klugel and Gardini as “anterior to the discovery of the doctrine of animal electricity.” Then follow accounts of their writings, as well as of those of Galvani and of Volta, “the Prince of Italian naturalists,” after which due mention is made, in their proper order, of the observations of Aldini, Valli, Fontana, Berlinghieri, Monro, Fowler, Corradori, Robison, Cavallo, Wells, Havgk, Colsmann, Creve, Hermestædt, Klein, Pfaff, Ackermann, Humboldt (letters to Blumenbach, Crell, Pictet and M. de Mons), Eschenmeyer, Achard, Grapengieser, Gren, Michaelis, Caldani, Schmuck, Mezzini, Behrends, Giulio, Ludwig, Webster, Vasco, Hebenstreit and others.
The subject of the eighth and last section of Reinhold’s Dissertations, as Wilkinson expresses it, consists of the exposition of the hypotheses of different authors on the galvanic fluid. These hypotheses he brings into two classes, as they relate to the seat which is assigned to the cause of the phenomena. The first of these classes belongs to the animal which is to be galvanized, and the second to the substance applied to its body, or to the arc. As the galvanic phenomena are ascribed by several physiologists to electricity, Reinhold makes a new division, relatively to the opinion of those who assert that the galvanic and electric fluids are the same, and of those who are persuaded that the former differs from the latter. Under the first head or division he ranges Galvani, Aldini, Valli, Carradori, Volta, in the early time of the discovery; then Schmuck, Voigt, and Hufeland; while under the second come Fowler and Humboldt. Of the latter division he makes subdivisions, in the first of which he comprehends Volta, Pfaff, Wells, Yelin and Monro, the second embracing Creve and Fabbroni. The other authors, not having openly avowed their opinion, he passes over in silence.
Reinhold is likewise the author of “Versuche um die eigentliche,” etc. (Gilb. “Annal.,” X, 1802, pp. 301–355), “Untersuchungen über die natur.,” etc. (Gilb. “Annal.,” X, 1802, pp. 450–481, and XII, 1803, pp. 34–48); “Galvanisch-elektrische Versuche,” etc. (Gilb. “Annal.,” XI, 1802, pp. 375–387); “Geschichte des Galvanismus,” Leipzig, 1803; “Versuch einer skizzirten,” etc. (Reil. “Archiv.,” VIII, 1807–1808, pp. 305–354); “Ueber Davy’s Versuche” (Gilb. “Annal.,” XXVIII, 1808, pp. 484–485).
References.—Schlegel, “De Galvanismo”; Figuier, “Exp. et Hist. des Principales Découvertes,” Vol. IV. pp. 310, 433; J. W. Ritter, “Beweis ... in dem Thierreich ...” Weimar, 1796; G. R. Treviranus, “Einfluss ... thier, Reizbarkeit,” Leipzig, 1801, and Gilbert’s “Annalen,” Vol. VIII for the latter year.