Education, Medical -- Massachusetts -- 19th century; Homeopathy; Libraries, Medical -- Massachusetts -- 19th century; Medicine
It was remarkable, also, that Perkinism, which had so little success
with the medical and scientific part of the community, found great favor
in the eyes of its more lovely and less obstinate portion. “The lady of
Major Oxholin,”--I quote from Mr. Perkins's volume,--“having been lately
in America, had seen and heard much of the great effects of Perkinism.
Influenced by a most benevolent disposition, she brought these Tractors
and the pamphlet with her to Europe, with a laudable desire of extending
their utility to her suffering countrymen.” Such was the channel by
which the Tractors were conveyed to Denmark, where they soon became the
ruling passion. The workmen, says a French writer, could not manufacture
them fast enough. Women carried them about their persons, and delighted
in bringing them into general use. To what extent the Tractors were
favored with the patronage of English and American ladies, it is of
course not easy to say, except on general principles, as their names
were not brought before the public. But one of Dr. Haygarth's stories
may lead us to conjecture that there was a class of female practitioners
who went about doing good with the Tractors in England as well as in
Denmark. A certain lady had the misfortune to have a spot as big as a
silver penny at the corner of her eye, caused by a bruise, or some such
injury. Another lady, who was a friend of hers, and a strong believer in
Perkinism, was very anxious to try the effects of tractoration upon
this unfortunate blemish. The patient consented; the lady “produced the
instruments, and, after drawing them four or five times over the spot,
declared that it changed to a paler color, and on repeating the use of
them a few minutes longer, that it had almost vanished, and was scarcely
visible, and departed in high triumph at her success.” The lady who
underwent the operation assured the narrator “that she looked in the
glass immediately after, and that not the least visible alteration had
taken place.”
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