The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1803-03-08 00:00:00

erStISISEAN SOCIETY.
A T a MEETING of the COMMITTEE of
thy! PrRKINEAN SOCIETY, held on Tusselev,
Maras 1, 1803, seneal imaorenit .Pepas, addressed to the
Secretary, havitig bee., raid, it was resolved, that the folloe.
tug Letter aeons HENRY LYSTER e Esq. of Bath, misv
years Sealer Surgzeu of the Dublin %%alal be pule
PAM in the Morning Pest, the Meriting Herald, the Times,
and the Betish Ph F 5, as :etch a einninunication from a medics
c'aeracter, of nit first reeeectability, mast etferd the neatest
satisfaction to the Friends of the proposed Perlciitean 'meatus
tiara es well as to all medial and disinterested Person., who
may yet entertain doubts Concerning the efficacy of the Me=
taflic Tractor.
To tae SECR ET.'S.RY of the COMMITTEE on the Euabilelt-
meat of the PERKINEAN INSTITUTION.
Sri, ISath, Feb. 9, 11103.
Understanding that it is the intention of tee Peeltoseee
Society to publish, together eeth their own transactions, such
communicatiene on the Efficient of the Metallic Tractors as
may be addreesed to them for that purpose, I have conceived
you would not be averse from receiving and siring publicity to
a fewsexeerimenti I have made.
It is new abeve four years since flint becante poetwed of a
Oita the Tractors. During this period, I have used them in
agent variety of Cases, as well on Infante as Adults I. and
front the long aid extensive practice in winch I have been en
gittared in the meelicel profession, feel myself not ill-qualified
to express an opinion on their merits.
My exeerintentse which have been some hundreds in num-
ber, have been conducted from the beginning with caution,
and particularly with a view alp...Mehl the contested questioil
on their virtues to the test of the strictest asnitiny ; and I
think 1 am authorised to assert, that had some of my brethren
in ens phete carries on their investigetion in the same ,amours.,
and with the same views, they could not possibly have made
Inch representations on the merits of the fracture; as the pub-
lic have witnessed.
The re=nt of my trials has been to establish Perkinism very
high in my estimation. 1 have performed Cures by Use-twain,
which 1 have neither done iniself, nor known others to have
done, with any other Medical 'lreatinent. I shall subjoin two
or three Cases, and leave others to judge from them of Mr.
Perkins" Tractors.
CASE 1 —TOTAL BLINDNESS IN A CHILD.
A Boy, about six or seven years of age, son of a domestic in
"he family of Mr. Raussini, the celebrated musician, was
brnught to my house by his mother, in a state of total Blind-
ness. This had taken place Inconsequence of the small Pox,
and had elrealy existed for some years, though I am net cer-
tain of the exact tune. OR et.•artlilling the Eyes, I perceived
the exterior Coats were yielently inaanted, and iminteliateiy
set about applying the Tractor:. Attar a few minutes appli-
cation, l been:cued tae mother how to use them, which she
istia are :Meet twenty-five minutes, when I to!d her it was suf-
beient for that time. On examining the Eyes araiii, 1 saw
that the iitletrerotion was greatly levelled. His atelier then
taking hold of his term to lewl him away, the Child died out,
Si Mother, you need not lead mite now t I eau see! I can see
di. floor ! I CV. lee the chair ' I can see the galtiell33ll% face: !"
She Came daily with him fur about three weeks, in whiCli time
his eyes were cured; and when I last saw her, which was but a
goat time after, :the told rise the buy was at school, and in per-
fect possession of his sight. l uught to have mentioned, that
the us.tal medical means hail been previously tried, without
.the least benefit. l trust this child will not be said to hate
.owed his cure e titer to imagination or to nature.
CASE II —VERY /LENT RIIEUNIATISM.
A servant man, belongine. to Mrs Pluuket, of the Cirrus,
afflicted with a must violin Rheumatism, which stfectsd all
has limbs, in such a manner that he was incipaale of dressaag,
and of tieing am/ thing to help himself, tame to my
house, or rather• was assisted to curiae by a fellow-servant. I
lusts mtod the man who came with hint hoer to use the Trac-
tors, which he did, as the Patient lay on the sofa, for about
twenty-five unnutev, drawing them over his arms and legs. In
this time; tee pain was greatly relieved, and he went away i:1
every respect much acneniled,wheu he came the next day, lie
said ha ttitd been able to dress himself, whielt he had not one
before tie many weeks. This mail repeated Ins visits dally for
about three weeks, and received his cure.
CASE lII.—EPILEPTIC FITS.
J was called toinsert Dr. Parry, in a ease of Epileptic Fits,
on a lad of about nine or ten years of age, the sou of Mr
Clarke, an ernitteet Attorney of this piece. Alter exam
wuug
the case, I propel:sod a trial of the Tractors. Dr. Parry assent-
ing, I Isegen by drawing them over the head in almost every
direction, but espeinalle down the occiput to the vertebrc of
she neck. Frklal that merneet he never had another ht. To
ist.,seta a return, Icu ttiliued their use daily orsf veal weeo.
re io U to the trial of the Trectors he had been subject to
these fits as often as once a day, aural prom their severity, and
Jung continuance, was very much reduced. lie remains
this day in perfect health, and is a remarkable arm lad. It is
now four years since the oreratem.
1 could multiply cases, but these are sufficieet ; and I trust
the more reasonable east of the Public will n omot differ fr
amge
In the opinion, that the attempt to aseribeeoch effects to imi-
nation, I. WV absurd to merit serious couaderatittat.
Wishing every success to your iaud.age iusfeution, I have
the bottom to be, Sir,
Your most ohedi-ent serra,t, • •
(Signed) HENRY LYSTER.
9; Older of the Committee,
tgLIMSTOI`4, Chairman.