The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-08-09
THE NATIONAL ERA: WASHINGTON, D. G, AUGUST 1855

planter, and having no Irregular physician,
there was administered to him, according to
the common custom of the country, large guam
titles of mercury, in the form of calomel, which
resulted in checking the chills, but which left
the patient badly saliuGted.
When Mr.. Partz first saw Friedemann, he
was scarcely able to articulate, and was suffer
ing from severe pains in the head, particularly
in the Jaws, which had been broken. Mr.. Partz
says, that Immediately upon beholding the con-
dition of Friedemann, the question arose in his
mind: if it is possible by means of the electric
fluid to extract any metallic substance from its
solution, or otherwise, in a vessel, may it not
also be possible, by the same means, to extract
the mercury from the human vessel?
The hypothesis seemed to him plausible, and
unopposed by any theoretical objection, and he
therefore resolved practically to test the value
of the suggestion. That this might be done,
Mr.. Friedemann was speedily removed to Char
lotte, where Mr.. Partz had galvanic battery
well suited to his purpose, and the experiment
of extracting the mercury was successfully tried
in the presence of (incredulous) Mr.. Graham,
an officer of the United States mint of that
place.
Mr.. Partz took single element of Bunsen
battery, local and zinc,) the zinc cylinder of
which is about nine inches high and seven inches
in diameter. Steer coin were attached to
either pole of the battery, and placed in the
mouth of the patient one on either side, be-
tween the cheek and the jaw. Left thus few
minutes, the positice pole was taken from the
mouth, and placed in the hand, and again in q
few minutes changed to the mouth, and so on
alternately, during half hour, when the coin
on the Negative pole was removed from the
mouth, and found to be covered with heapy
coat Of amalgam!
On the morning following this very satisfac-
tory experiment, the application was again
made-this time behind the ears of the patient
At the expiration of forty minutes, the negative
pole had produced blister, whence exuded a
+ yellowish white matter, and at last very small
quantity of blood, when the coin was removed,
and again found, as before, coated with ANAL
gaml
In the first experiment, the coins were used
uncOcered, and Friedemann was almost entirely
free from, pain at its expiration. During the
second application, the coins were enveloped in
acetted linen. On the day upon which the last
experiment was tried, experiment now no Ion
ger, Mr.. Friedemann returned to his duties at
the mine, and has not since discovered any in
dication of the presence Of mercury in his sys-
tenn This discovery, so simple in its principle
and easy of application, is destined to be hailed
with acclamations of thanksgiving by thousands
suffering from that terrible, and hitherto in
durable, malady-a mercurialized system.
Should any Of the readers of the Post desire
to test by experiment the efficacy and practi-
cability of this remedy, let them observe the
following:
Your battery should consist of only one or
two large elements, so as to produce the re-
quired quantity of electricity. To produce
chemical action, you must have quantity. To
act physiologically or upon the nervous system,
intensity is required. The one is obtained by
a single large element-the other, by multiply
ing the elements.
The proper apparatus secured, common
sense will suggest to nearly every one the
proper place for the application, and the time
necessary for the effect.
These observations and directions are of
course intended only for the professional.
Hoping this discovery will attract from the
profession also that attention which its trans
cendent Importance so manifesty demands,
remain, very truly, yours, d. c. SrUReEs.