The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1859-09-14

WHOLE NO. l5X.
Hor the TImss.
Medical JottlnGs-No. HI.
tits generally conceded that the live an.
kee takes the lead Of the rest of the world
in whatever he undertakes, and no matter
what he turns his hand to do, it seldom fails
to supply him a good livelihood and often
earns for him fame and fortune. His great
energy, his untiring perseverance and pa.
tient industry carry him through hardships
and trials that none but himself can endure
and in the end, he is sure to be crowned
with success. He has been victorious in
every strife with foreign power, whether
contending with fire and sword for rights
dear to him, or with peaceful implements,
for honors that were to supply him with a
consciousness Of his superiority in power to
meet and oVercotne difficulties. He first
employs the lightning to print for him
first applies steam to his commerce, that he
may not depend on the tickle minds-estab-
fishes the fastest printing presses in the
world-and now, when he and Uncle John
60 out together on the sea to try the speed
of their ships, Jonathan generally manages
in way to lead the ''old fellow" into port.
Not content with outstripping' all other ma
tons in telegraphing, steamboating, yacht
ing, and horse-trotting, he must try the air,
and he makes the largest balloon voyage on
record. Being able to take such long vow
ages through air, VIC do not wonder that he
is rather y0ssy, and when he attempts to
sell. he is as likely to sticceed as when he
attempts anything else, and in the field Of
medicine he accomplishes some of his great
est personal results. That silent agent, mag
netism has been perfect God-send to
him-by it he has encircled our bodies,
wrists, fingers and ankles, and through its
mysterious influence frightened away cur
aches and pains. He catches the "su6tle
auid," compounds it with other substances
and produces an ointment whose wonderful
properties are "for the healing Of the ma
tions." But perhaps one Of his grandest
performances was the " tructoration," by
which bruised and sickened man was to be
made whole, and one poor soul made rich.
Sixty three years ago, when the experiments
Of Galvani were bringing into notice some
wonderful phenomena, one DR.. Elisha Per
kins, living away down in the CUtitiectifdt
valley where horn gun fints are found in
great abundance, "conceived the idea that
metallic substances might have the effect of
removing disease if applied in certain man.
ner," and possessing the power of contri-
vance in good degree, he soon produced in
struments said to be made of brass and iron,
shaped blunt at one end and sharp at the
other, about three inches in length, and
these were to be lightly drawn over parts
affected with diseases such IS local pains,
swellings, rheumatism, and even tumors
were to diminish in size after about twenty
minutes exercise with the Tractors. Dr..
Perkins soon succeeded in obtaining q pa
tient for his Metallic Tractors, and now what
must be done? Facts must be collected to
prove that the Tractors would remove dis
ease; this accomplished, and in the Doc
tors hands the Tractors were sure to earn
riches for their inventor. DR.. Perkins now
employs himself travelling up and down the
country explaining the wonderful power of
t;s ..s~ t,et-s...."v.ts. ...sa ...rraysns clergy
men gratis.
Parsons felt grateful for the consideration
shown them; they recommended the Tract
ors to their lay friends, who, ofcourse, must
try the new remedy. Somebody who tfses,
finds sudden relief The Tractors have
performed cure lis the conclusion jumped
at). An excitement is created from the
novelty Of the cure; it spreads and is car
ried across the Atlantic The son of the
inventor goes to England, and under his
guidance the Tractor is soon EMPLOYED in
the highest circles-finds royal patronage
soon to be profitable-is employed in the
Royal Hospital at Copenhagen-founds an
Institution in London-receives the sane
ton of the Royal Society, "that best tribu-
nal that Great Britain can appeal to in ques-
tons Of science" and in England alone it
is computed that the number Of cases treat
cd by the Tractors must have exceeded
1900, 900, and in six years, DR.. Perkins,
Jr., carries home over $50, 900 from the sale
of his brass and iron. Meanwhile, the eld-
er Perkins was accumulating golden testi-
monials of the value of the Tractors, and
every one appeared willing to contribute to
the riches Of the two doctors. In fact, no
thing in the whole range of medicine had
been so popular. Still, there were some
who held out and would not believe in the
extravagant stories of wonderful cures per-
formed some who could see no connection
between bits of metal and disease. The
most numerous class Of doubters were ply
sicians, and as body they were opposed
to the Tractors, they believing them to be q
humbug. DR.. Perkins, at one time men,
Dor Of the Connecticut Medical Society, was
expelled in 1897, for violating their law
against the use of nOstruxns, and thereby
fund of sympathy was created for DR.. P,
who, like other quacEs, declared the regu-
lars were prosecuting him because he was
taking their business out Of their hands
When the excitement was at its height, sew.
eral eminent men determined to make the
necessary experiments, to prove the Tract
ors worthy or unworthy public patronage.
DR.. Haygarth, Of Bath, England, performed
various experiments upon patients afflicted
with different complains. A peculiar val
ue, 1T that time, was attached to the five
guinea Tractors as made and patented by
Mr. Perkins. DR.. Haygarth's patients sup
posed him to be using the genuine and most
costly Instruments, whom no WAS, In fbct,
using Tractors made o. wOod-of lead-of
nails-of pieces Of bone-of slate pencils
and even Of tobacco pipe; yet he obtained
some really wonderful results, curing some
very bad cases Of disease. DR.. Anderson
sham Tractors made of wood, and
produced such effects upon Ave patients
that they publicly rendered thanks at
church for their cures. One Anne Hill suf-
fered for months with pain in the right arm
and shoulder. Wooden Tractors were en-
ployed, and in the space Of five minutes,
she expressed herself relieved in the fol-
lowing apostrophe: BLESS me! Why,
who would have thought it, that one Of