page_title: James Graham (sexologist)
section_title: Temple of Health
hierarchical_section_title: James Graham (sexologist) / Temple of Health
caption_attribution_description: English: A sketch of the quack doctor or "sexologist" James Graham with some of his patients at the earthbaths in Panton Street.
context_page_description: James Graham was a Scottish proponent of electrical cures, showman, and pioneer in sex therapy. A self-styled doctor, he was best known for his electro-magnetic musical Grand State Celestial Bed. Dismissed as a quack by medical experts, Graham apparently believed in the efficacy of his unusual treatments.
  Historian Roy Porter writing in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography states that Graham's sexological views were quite typical of the period.
context_section_description: During a research tour of Europe in the summer of 1779, Graham acquired a new patron in Lady Spencer, mother of Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire. In May 1780, Graham opened his first Temple of Health, housed in the centre of the Adam brothers' speculative development at the Adelphi. Here he displayed elaborate electro-magnetic apparatus, treated patients with musical therapy and pneumatic chemistry as well as electricity and magnetism, published marriage guidance material, gave medical lectures and sold medicines such as "Electrical Aether" and "Nervous Aetherial Balsam." He performed with the help of a succession of Goddesses of Health, displayed as models of physical perfection. A later rumour stated that the young Emma Hamilton (then known as Emy Lyon), was employed as the goddess Hebe Vestina. His gigantic porters were nicknamed Gog and Magog, after the Guildhall Giants.
  The Temple of Health was a success and Graham became the talk of London, featuring in satirical plays, poems, prints and newspaper skits. During the 1780s he was publicly associated with society figures.
caption: Graham with some of his patients.
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