A Further Account of the Effects of Electricity in the Cure of some Diseases

To spread information to the medical community in the 18th century, doctors would often write up their experiences with strange, or unexpected medical cases and submit the papers to the Royal Society of London for publication in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society. This paper, "A Further Account of the Effects of Electricity in the Cure of some Diseases: In a Letter from Mr. Patrick Brydone to Dr. Robert Whytt, Professor of Medicine in the University of Edinburgh, and F.R.S.", was read before the Royal Society of London on May 11, 1758. It was one of a series dealing with the potential benefits of the newly found "electricity" to the lives and activities of mankind. In this paper, the way electric shock was used to cure some ailments is described, as well as including attestments by the two people so treated as to the success of the "cure".

The paper was published in 1758 in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, Vol. L, Part II For the Year 1758, pages 695 to 699. This copy of the paper, which measures approximately 6 x 8 ½ inches, has been removed from the volume. The pages are tanned, but the text is clear and easily read. The overall condition of the paper is good.

The illustration accompanying this description shows the first page of the paper.

Patrick Brydone, F.R.S. (5 January 1736 – 19 June 1818) was elected Fellow of the Royal Society in 1773, as "a Gentleman of good Character, well versed in several Branches of Natural Knowledge, and already known by two Papers of Experiments upon Electricity, published in the Transactions". His nominees included John Pringle, Benjamin Franklin, John Hunter Thomas Dundas, Rudolph de Valltravers and Richard Huck. [Wikipedia]

Robert Whytt (1714–1766) was a Scottish physician. His work, on unconscious reflexes, tubercular meningitis, urinary bladder stones, and hysteria, is remembered now most for his book on diseases of the nervous system. He served as President of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. [Wikipedia]