MostofthosepresenthaveatsometimeintheirlivesheardmentionmadeoftheMETALLICTRACTORS，inventedbyoneDr。Perkins，anAmerican，andformerlyenjoyinggreatreputeforthecureofvariousdiseases。Manyhaveseenorheardofasatiricalpoem，writtenbyoneofourowncountrymenalso，aboutfortyyearssince，andcalled“TerribleTractoration。“TheMetallicTractorsarenowsoutterlyabandonedthatIhaveonlybygoodfortunefallenuponasingleoneofapair，toshowforthesakeofillustration。Formorethanthirtyyearsthisgreatdiscovery，whichwastobanishatleasthalftheevilswhichafflicthumanity，hasbeensleepingundisturbedinthegraveofoblivion。Notavoicehas，forthislongperiod，beenraisedinitsfavor；itsnobleandlearnedpatrons，itspublicinstitutions，itseloquentadvocates，itsbrilliantpromisesareallcoveredwiththedustofsilentneglect；andofthegenerationwhichhassprungupsincetheperiodwhenitflourished，veryfewknowanythingofitshistory，andhardlyeventhetitlewhichinitspalmydaysitboreofPERKINISM。Takingitassettled，then，asnooneappearstoanswerforit，thatPerkinismisentirelydeadandgone，thatbothinpublicandprivate，officiallyandindividually，itsformeradherentsevenallowittobeabsolutelydefunct，Iselectitforanatomicalexamination。Ifthispretendeddiscoverywasmadepublic；ifitwaslongkeptbeforethepublic；ifitwasaddressedtothepeopleofdifferentcountries；ifitwasformallyinvestigatedbyscientificmen，andsystematicallyadoptedbybenevolentpersons，whodideverythingintheirpowertodiffusetheknowledgeandpracticeofit；ifvariouscollateralmotives，suchasinterestandvanity，wereembarkedinitscause；if，notwithstandingallthesethings，itgraduallysickenedanddied，thentheconclusionseemsafairone，thatitdidnotdeservetolive。Contrastingitsfailurewithitshighpretensions，itisfairtocallitanimposition；whetheranexpresslyfraudulentcontrivanceornot，somemightbereadytoquestion。Everythinghistoricallyshowntohavehappenedconcerningthemodeofpromulgation，thewidediffusion，theapparentsuccessofthisdelusion，therespectabilityandenthusiasmofitsadvocates，isofgreatinterestinshowingtowhatextentandbywhatmeansaconsiderablepartofthecommunitymaybeledintothebeliefofthatwhichistobeeventuallyconsidered’asanidlefolly。Ifthereisanyexistingfolly，fraudulentorinnocentinitsorigin，whichappealstocertainargumentsforitssupport；providedthattheverysameargumentscanbeshowntohavebeenusedforPerkinismwithasgoodreason，theywillatoncefalltotheground。Stillmore，ifitshallappearthatthegeneralcourseofanyexistingdelusionbearsastrongresemblancetothatofPerkinism，thattheformerismostfrequentlyadvocatedbythesameclassofpersonswhowereconspicuousinbehalfofthelatter，andtreatedwithcontemptoropposedbythesamekindofpersonswhothustreatedPerkinism；ifthefactsinfavorofbothhaveasimilaraspect；ifthemotivesoftheiroriginatorsandpropagatorsmaybepresumedtohavebeensimilar；thenthereiseveryreasontosupposethattheexistingfollywillfollowinthefootstepsofthepast，andafterdisplayingagivenamountofcunningandcredulityinthosedeceivinganddeceived，willdropfromthepublicviewlikeafruitwhichhasripenedintospontaneousrottenness，andbesucceededbythefreshbloomofsomeotherdelusionrequiredbythesameexcitableportionofthecommunity。
　　Dr。ElishaPerkinswasbornatNorwich，Connecticut，intheyear1740。Hehadpractisedhisprofessionwithagoodlocalreputationformanyyears，whenhefelluponacourseofexperiments，asitisrelated，whichledtohisgreatdiscovery。Heconceivedtheideathatmetallicsubstancesmighthavetheeffectofremovingdiseases，ifappliedinacertainmanner；anotionprobablysuggestedbythethenrecentexperimentsofGalvani，inwhichmuscularcontractionswerefoundtobeproducedbythecontactoftwometalswiththelivingfibre。Itwasin1796thathisdiscoverywaspromulgatedintheshapeoftheMetallicTractors，twopiecesofmetal，oneapparentlyironandtheotherbrass，aboutthreeincheslong，bluntatoneendandpointedattheother。Theseinstrumentswereappliedforthecureofdifferentcomplaints，suchasrheumatism，localpains，inflammations，andeventumors，bydrawingthemovertheaffectedpartverylightlyforabouttwentyminutes。Dr。Perkinstookoutapatentforhisdiscovery，andtravelledaboutthecountrytodiffusethenewpractice。Hesoonfoundnumerousadvocatesofhisdiscovery，manyofthemofhighstandingandinfluence。Intheyear1798thetractorshadcrossedtheAtlantic，andwerepubliclyemployedintheRoyalHospitalatCopenhagen。Aboutthesametimethesonoftheinventor，Mr。BenjaminDouglassPerkins，carriedthemtoLondon，wheretheysoonattractedattention。TheDanishphysicianspublishedanaccountoftheircases，containingnumerousinstancesofallegedsuccess，inarespectableoctavovolume。Intheyear1804anestablishment，honoredwiththenameofthePerkineanInstitution，wasfoundedinLondon。Thetransactionsofthisinstitutionwerepublishedinpamphlets，thePerkineanSocietyhadpublicdinnersattheCrownandAnchor，andapoetcelebratedtheirmedicaltriumphinstrainslikethese：
　　“See，pointedmetals，blestwithpowert’appeaseTheruthlessrageofmercilessdisease，O’erthefrailpartasubtlefluidpour，DrenchedwithinvisibleGalvanicshower，Tillthearthriticstaffandcrutchforego，Andleapexultingliketheboundingroe！“
　　Whileallthesethingsweregoingon，Mr。BenjaminDouglassPerkinswascalmlypocketingmoney，sothataftersomehalfadozenyearsheleftthecountrywithmorethantenthousandpounds，whichhadbeenpaidhimbythebelieversinGreatBritain。Butinspiteofallthissuccess，andthenumberofthoseinterestedandcommittedinitsbehalf，Perkinismsoonbegantodecline，andin1811theTractorsarespokenofbyanintelligentwriterasbeingalmostforgotten。Suchwastheoriginanddurationofthisdoctrineandpractice，intothehistoryofwhichwewillnowlookalittlemorenarrowly。
　　Letussee，then，bywhoseagencythisdelusionwasestablishedandkeptup；whetheritwasprincipallybythosewhowereaccustomedtomedicalpursuits，orthosewhosehabitsandmodesofreasoningweredifferent；whetheritwaswiththeapprobationofthoselearnedbodiesusuallysupposedtotakeaninterestinscientificdiscoveries，oronlyofindividualswhoseclaimstodistinctionwerefoundedupontheirpositioninsociety，orpoliticalstation，orliteraryeminence；whetherthejudiciousorexcitableclassesenteredmostdeeplyintoit；whether，inshort，thescientificmenofthattimeweredeceived，oronlyintrudedupon，andshouteddownforthemomentbypersonswhohadnoparticularcalltoinvadetheirprecincts。
　　Notmuch，perhaps，wastobeexpectedoftheMedicalProfessioninthewayofencouragement。OneDr。Fuller，whowroteinEngland，himselfaPerkinist，thusexpressedhisopinion：“Itmustbeanextraordinaryexertionofvirtueandhumanityforamedicalman，whoselivelihooddependseitheronthesaleofdrugs，oronreceivingaguineaforwritingaprescription，whichmustrelatetothosedrugs，tosaytohispatient，’YouhadbetterpurchaseasetofTractorstokeepinyourfamily；theywillcureyouwithouttheexpenseofmyattendance，orthedangerofthecommonmedicalpractice。’ForveryobviousreasonsmedicalmenmustneverbeexpectedtorecommendtheuseofPerkinism。TheTractorsmusttrustfortheirpatronagetotheenlightenedandphilanthropicoutoftheprofession，ortomedicalmenretiredfrompractice，andwhoknowofnootherinterestthantheluxuryofrelievingthedistressed。AndI
　　donotdespairofseeingthedaywhenbutveryfewofthisdescriptionaswellasprivatefamilieswillbewithoutthem。“
　　Whetherthemotivesassignedbythismedicalmantohisprofessionalbrethrenexistedornot，itistruethatDr。Perkinsdidnotgainagreatdealattheirhands。TheConnecticutMedicalSocietyexpelledhimin1797forviolatingtheirlawagainsttheuseofnostrums，orsecretremedies。TheleadingEnglishphysiciansappeartohavelookedonwithsingularapathyorcontemptatthemiracleswhichitwaspretendedwereenactinginthehandsoftheapostlesofthenewpractice。Inlookingoverthereviewsofthetime，Ihavefoundlittlebeyondbriefoccasionalnoticesoftheirpretensions；thecolumnsofthesejournalsbeingoccupiedwithsubjectsofmorepermanentinterest。ThestateofthingsinLondonisbestlearned，however，fromthesatiricalpoemtowhichIhavealreadyalludedashavingbeenwrittenattheperiodreferredto。Thiswasentitled，“TerribleTractoration！！APoeticalPetitionagainstGalvanizingTrumperyandthePerkinisticInstitution。MostrespectfullyaddressedtotheRoyalCollegeofPhysicians，byChristopherCaustic，M。D。，LL。D。，A。S。S。，FellowoftheRoyalCollegeofPhysicians，Aberdeen，andHonoraryMemberofnolessthannineteenverylearnedSocieties。“TwoeditionsofthisworkwerepublishedinLondonintheyears1803and1804，andoneortwohavebeenpublishedinthiscountry。
　　“TerribleTractoration“issupposed，bythosewhoneverreadit，tobeasatireuponthefolliesofPerkinsandhisfollowers。Itis，onthecontrary，amostzealousdefenceofPerkinism，andafierceattackuponitsopponents，mostespeciallyuponsuchofthemedicalprofessionastreatedthesubjectwithneglectorridicule。TheRoyalCollegeofPhysicianswasthemorepeculiarobjectoftheattack，butwiththisbody，theeditorsofsomeoftheleadingperiodicals，andseveralphysiciansdistinguishedatthattime，andevennowrememberedfortheirservicestoscienceandhumanity，wereinvolvedinunsparingdenunciations。Theworkisbynomeansofthesimplyhumorouscharacteritmightbesupposed，butisoverloadedwithnotesofthemostseriouslypolemicalnature。Muchofthehistoryofthesubject，indeed，istobelookedforinthisvolume。
　　Itappearsfromthisworkthattheprincipalmembersofthemedicalprofession，sofarfromhailingMr。BenjaminDouglassPerkinsasanotherHarveyorJenner，lookedverycoldlyuponhimandhisTractors；anditisnowevidentthat，thoughtheyweremuchabusedforsodoing，theyknewverywellwhattheyhadtodealwith，andwerealtogetherintheright。ThedelusionatlastattractedsuchanamountofattentionastoinduceDr。HaygarthandsomeothersofrespectablestandingtoinstitutesomeexperimentswhichIshallmentionintheirproperplace，theresultofwhichmighthaveseemedsufficienttoshowtheemptinessofthewholecontrivance。
　　TheRoyalSociety，thatlearnedbodywhichforageshasconstitutedthebesttribunaltowhichBritaincanappealinquestionsofscience，acceptedMr。Perkins’sTractorsandthebookwrittenaboutthem，passedthecustomaryvoteofthanks，andneverthoughtoftroublingitselffurtherintheinvestigationofpretensionsofsuchanaspect。Itisnottobedeniedthataconsiderablenumberofphysiciansdidavowthemselvesadvocatesofthenewpractice；butoutofthewholecatalogueofthosewhowerepubliclyproclaimedassuch，noonehaseverbeenknown，sofarasIamaware，tothescientificworld，exceptinconnectionwiththeshort-livednotorietyofPerkinism。Whowerethepeople，then，towhoseactivity，influence，orstandingwiththecommunitywasowingallthetemporaryexcitementproducedbytheMetallicTractors？
　　First，thosepersonswhohadbeeninducedtopurchaseapairofTractors。Theselittlebitsofbrassandiron，theintrinsicvalueofwhichmight，perhaps，amounttoninepence，weresoldatfiveguineasapair！Amanwhohaspaidtwenty-fivedollarsforhiswhistleisapttoblowitlouderandlongerthanotherpeople。Soitappearedthatwhenthe“PerkineanSociety“appliedtothepossessorsofTractorsinthemetropolistoconcurintheestablishmentofapublicinstitutionfortheuseoftheseinstrumentsuponthepoor，“itwasfoundthatonlyfiveoutofaboveahundredobjectedtosubscribe，onaccountoftheirwantofconfidenceintheefficacyofthepractice；andthese，“thecommitteeobserves，“thereisreasontobelieve，nevergavethemafairtrial，probablyneverusedtheminmorethanonecase，andthatperhapsacaseinwhichtheTractorshadneverbeenrecommendedasserviceable。““PurchasersoftheTractors，“saidoneoftheirardentadvocates，“wouldbeamongthelasttoapproveofthemiftheyhadreasontosupposethemselvesdefraudedoffiveguineas。“HeforgotpoorMoses，withhis“grossofgreenspectacles，withsilverrimsandshagreencases。““Dearmother，“criedtheboy，“whywon’tyoulistentoreason？Ihadthemadeadbargain，orIshouldnothaveboughtthem。Thesilverrimsalonewillsellfordoublethemoney。“
　　Butitisanundeniablefact，thatmanypersonsofconsiderablestanding，andinsomeinstancesholdingthemostelevatedpositionsinsociety，openlypatronizedthenewpractice。Inatranslationofaworkentitled“ExperimentswiththeMetallicTractors，“originallypublishedinDanish，thencerenderedsuccessivelyintoGermanandEnglish，Mr。BenjaminPerkins，whoeditedtheEnglishedition，hasgivenacopiousenumerationofthedistinguishedindividuals，bothinAmericaandEurope，whosepatronageheenjoyed。HegoessofarastosignifythatROYALTYitselfwastobeincludedamongthenumber。
　　WhenthePerkineanInstitutionwasfounded，nolessapersonthanLordRiverswaselectedPresident，andelevenotherindividualsofdistinction，amongthemGovernorFranklin，sonofDr。Franklin，figuredasVice-Presidents。LordHenniker，amemberoftheRoyalSociety，whoisspokenofasamanofjudgmentandtalents，condescendedtopatronizetheastonishingdiscovery，andatdifferenttimesboughtthreepairsofTractors。WhentheTractorswereintroducedintoEurope，alargenumberoftestimonialsaccompaniedthemfromvariousdistinguishedcharactersinAmerica，thelistofwhomisgiveninthetranslationoftheDanishworkreferredtoasfollows：