The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-03-01
Interesting Medical Lecture.

PEW THb0RY OF CUKE-MATTEH AND ELECTRICITY.
Doctor A. Grandson Hull delivered lecture in the
Chapel Of the University Washington square, last
ing on the Forces Of Nature their Adoption the
Cure Of Disease" In this discourse he advanced the
original theory Of matter and electricity forming the
bass Of system Of medicine lately tested in the
hospitals OF England and France.
At half past seven o cock there was q very Limited
but scientific audience present, made up principally Of
members OF the medical profession. In few m,men;s
after Dr. Hull came forward and delivered the fol
lowing
DISCOURSE.
In developing the principles Of agent Sound,ess
tie material uniyere and pr'senting these a. the basis
ierng feel the difficulty Of enforcing the truths OF
and inmutable theory-of combating those preiu.
dices which successive generations have held
trovertibe ruths-which the time honorsd tons
Of ages have in measure consacrated, and which
nothing but clearer and Ell clen. system should
presume 10 distrus But the progre.sve spirit Of the
age demands that the mst, II 81 be which has 20
long surrounded and obScured the theories practice
Of medicine deprived them Of the dignity Of sciesce
agent that pervades the most minute atoms Of
animate or inanimate naturs-the laws OF whieh
are mmutabe, and the effects OF which are 50
decided in the alienation the cure Of diseases, Ia
maintaining the planets 10 their respective orbits while
they perform their harmonious and undertaking revolu
tons around the great centre Of light and heat Phloso
piers Of all ages have endeayored 10 discover the gene
raj laws which govern the universe Many theories have
been advanced 20 explain the phen omsna of nature
Come have msintaincd different ones az dIncrea. pc
RODS Of their lives but those o the present dAy believe
II 10 BE- profound mystery. No system has ever been
advanced sufficiently comprehensive 20 account for the
varied phenomena of nature. The Doctor then PRO.
posed offering capable Of eK planning in some msa
sure those changes. lie sad, An active motive power
acting inert matter produces every change In nature
This principle, under dferen. conditions called by
different ere, heat light electricity chemical
actoh attraction Of cohesion, capillary attraction Nc
Believing IL important that II should be known by
name, indicative OF It's nature under all conaltions
he proposed calling II power, the prime motive
All the changes We see produced by it, operation
matter, sustatns the gives mot on 20 the planets
It's Law IL the entire Law u nature controlling every
change, great and small, ami producing all the phs
nomena In nature Power giving motion u matter ap
parcny gives II active principles though Of ssf IL u
wholly inert without force activity, and IL chaotic
and void IL first created. Power giyes matter
place position, FORM weight rssstsnc@. &c These df
ferent effects being exhibited have given rise vari,u
names. When there Ia great excess producing dscompo.
called fre Of power with very little tension
IL called heat with great ansion traossrrn ng
Particles Of matter ia called light With high
tensoa electricity This power acting atoms Of mat
ter and changing their combination, callei chemical
action when setting on atoms Of matter holding thsr
particles together, cohesion IL the given 10 ii
when atoms Of already combnsi and others a al
state, brought within its influence, that tts
particles novel and without decomposition II
"a called capillary attraction. An ercess ~ poweF Act.
the repslling force of itself 10 strongly erhisltsa ii
named magnetism II acting . SOLID vith force
enough 10 dscomposs without producing isoorn poe ton
in the solid itself IL Ia called eatelyss IL operating
means Of battery, II - caiisS ssctrolyas Power
eectreity Ia real thing, n Ia neither rrincipls
ether, GuA, nor Substance IA has quantity aad ~
eoai'y, BAT oaly tesnthsd by M fleets On matter