/x SURGEON GENERAL'S OFFICE LIBRARY. Section ....&^?.^^..^:.^. No3.2^..3.yJ. / No. 113, W.D.S.G.O. 8—613 NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE Washington iLi) / if /© tW| Vn/ J# K I'/V V..''W b / ■ - I -J CERTIFICATES OF THE ttfitmv O F Do£tor Perkins's Patent MetalUf Injlruments. NEW-LONDON ':-—F.ROM S, GREEN S PRISS* ~ ■>;"'""""'^- «; J •■: .xt«?"». * »TVV: '' To the PUBLIC. OENSIBLE that every attempt at improvemc r in any of the ufeful arts, ever has, and probably ev:r will meet with oppofition, either from interefted or certain other motives, which in a greater or lefs deg <"» influence the generality of mankind,—the fuhfcribei takes the liberty to cite a few among very many cafes in which his method of removing pains, inflammations, and fpafmodic affections from the human body, has been attended with fuccefs. The novelty and apparent fimplicity of this practice, may poflibly induce fome, before they have attended with candor to the fubjtc. to treat it with ridicule. That the public may be more fatisfa6torily informed as to its utility and importance, he publifhes the following certificates, as received fr^uj feveral refpe&able dbara&ers. ELISHA PERKINS. Plaintield, Auguft 12, 1796. CERTIFICATE Sy &c. Gen. TYLER, and Mr. LORD. 1 JOHN TYLER, of Prefton, in the county of New-London and flate of Connecticut, hereby certify, that on or about the 17th day of June laft, I was con- fined by a wound, which I had before that time recei* ved, by cutting my right leg tranfverfely, in which I . had taken cold ; and at that time the fore was in a high flate of inflammation, and gave me great pain, to fuch a degree that I had been obliged to keep my leg in a horizontal pofition, in a chair, the moft of that day,— when Dog~L Elifha Perkins, of Plainfield, called on me, and having operated on me a few minutes with his pa- tent metallic inftruments, the pain in my leg wholly eeafed, and the rednefs and inflammation of the wound entirely difappeared. I was free/rom pain that night, and indeed the pain and inflammation both eeafed from that operation, and never returned again. And I further certify, that my wife at that time was forely affli&ed with rheumatic pains in her hip, which had been upon her a number of years, and had affected her to fuch a degree as to render that fide fhorter than the other, and to make her unable at that time to raife herfelf from her chair without the greateft diffieulty, or to walk acrofs the room without leaning on her ftaff, and with that fupport, not without the greateft inconvenience; and Do£r.. Perkins operated upon her a few minutes, when flie declared herfelf free from pain, and immediately rofe from her chair, with- out any afliftance or apparent difficulty, and walked L" 4 ] ieveral times acrofs the room without her ftaff, or any other fupport, and has continued to this time able to walk in that manner ; not having complained of, or been troubled with pain in the night ^of which fhe had much complained before;) and has truly been to all appearance, a different perlon, as to the ufe of her limbs, from the time of that operation, from what fhe had been for years before. JOHN TYLER. Prcflon, July 29, 1796. I the fubfcriber was prefent at the time of the above operation, and fully concur in the above ftate- ment of fafcfcs by Gen. Tyler. JAMES LORD. Mr. NATHAN GLOVER, tf Mr. AMOS SIMONS. 1 NATHAN GLOVER, of Plainfield, in the county of Windham and flate of Connecticut, certify, that for feven years paft, 1 have been frequently vifi- ted with fevere turns of the Quinfcy, which (notwith- flanding the application of internal and external means, adminiftered by the molt fkilful neighboring phyficians) have never left me within eight or ten days. About the firfl of July, 1796, I was again feverely attacked by this difeafe, and in about twenty-four hours, my throat became very much fwelled and in- flamed, and extremely painful. I was at this time vifited by D06I. Perkins, who operated on the difeafed part, with his patent metallic inftruments. The pains after two or three operations, wholly left me. and the inflammation entirely difappeared; the fwelling did not maturate and break as it had ufu- aliy done,—but in about twenty-four hours wholly iubfided, and my throat became perfectly well. [ 5 ] The turns of the quinfey which I have heretofore had, though not more fevere in their firft attacks than this, have never left me fhort of the term of eight or ten days ; whereas this continued but two : And I have no doubt but it would have lafted as long as the others, had not D06I. Perkins operated with his in- ftruments. I believe the cure to be effected wholly by his means. NATHAN GLOVER. Plainfield, Augzfl g, ^796. I the fubfcriber was rending at the houfe of Mr. Glover, and was prefent at the above operation, and perfectly agree with him in his ftatement of facts. AMOS SIMONS. Capt. JOSHUA BOTTUxM. JL JOSHUA BOTTUM, of Plainfield, in- the county of Windham and flate of Connecticut, certify, that I have been troubled with a rheumatic pain in my arm for four months, which was often extremely dif- trefiing. Having heard much of the furprifmg efficacy of D06I. Perkins's patent inftruments, but being my- ielf an unbeliever in this method of removing pains, in confequence of the fuggeftions of his enemies, I ne- glected ufing his means, until on or about the 15th of July, when I myfelf operated on my pained arm about fix minutes, and to my utter furprize, the pain entirely eeafed, and has never returned. I have every reafon to believe that a radical cure was effected by that one operation. JOSHUA BOTTUM. Plainfield, Augufl 5, 1796. [ 6 ] Mr. and Mrs. SNOW. 1 ELIZABETH SNOW, of Plainfield, in th«: flate of Connecticut, certify that in the month of June, 1795, I was forely afflicted with pains in my ancles, which had fettled there after a fevere fit of ficknefs, and had troubled me to fuch a degree that I became very weak and emaciated. In this unhappy fituation I continued about three months, until in the month and year above-mentioned, I applied to Doctor Elijha Perkins, who vifited me and operated on the pained part of my ancles, with his' metallic inftruments. Im- mediately the pain eeafed and has never fince returned. I am perfuaded a radical cure was at that time effedled. ELIZABETH SNOW. Plainfield, Augvjl 3, 1796. I the fubferiber fully concur with my wife, in the above ftatement of facts. ABRAHAM SNOW. Mrs. STEARNS. A HEREBY certify, that I have been troubled with a pain and weaknefs in my wrift, for upwards of fix years, attended with a tumor, which had be- come hard and protuberant, about the fize of a walnut. In November laft, Doctor Elifha Perkins operated on the part affected, with his metallic inftruments, which gave an immediate relief; and I have experi- enced no pain there fince. The tumor very foon fubfided, and my wrift is in all reipedis as well as ever. RACHEL STEARNS. Plainfield, Augvjl 2, 1796. C 7 ] Mr. DAVID MOORE, AND Maj. PERKINS, Phyfician, and Member of the Medical Society of the State of Connecticut. r~r^ -____ JL HIS may certify that I have for many years been occafionally fubjedt to rheumatic pains, which have at times confined me to my houfe for fome weeks, and that I was fome time paft feized violently with a pain in my back, loins and hips. I called two different phyficians to my affiftance, and followed their directions, but with no apparent benefit. In four or five days from the firft attack, the pain removed into my feet, particularly into my great toe joints, which fwelled and inflamed, and became extremely painful, and remained in that fituation feveral days, giving me little or no reft. Having heard of the ef- fects of Doctor Eliflia Perkins's metallic inftruments, I was induced to try them. I accordingly had them applied in the mode prefcribed. It. was in the evening I thought I felt relief, and in the morning when I a- woke, my pains, to my very great furprife, had wholly left me, and have never returned. The fwelling and forenefs gradually abated, and in two or three days I was well, excepting a weaknefs which I fuppofe was in confequence of fo much pain. DAVID MOORE. Norwich, Augufl 12, 1796. This may certify that I was knowing to the above cafe ; alfo, to feveral others, where thefe inftruments have been ufed with fuccefs, and am of opinion, ihv.t they promifc important benefit to mankind. JOSEPH PERKINS. [ « 3 Doctor RUFUS JOHNSON, A Member of the Medical Society of the State of Connecticut. A CERTIFY, that in the courfe of my practice, a few months paft, I have made frequent experiments with Doctor Perkins's patent inftruments, and nave with but very few exceptions, fucceeded to my great afton- ifhment, in removing rheumatic pains, head-achs, agues in the face, qramp-convulfions, and inflammatory fwel- Iings of the throat. The pains, after being once eafed, have in but few inftances returned ; and then by a repetition of the operation, have been wholly removed. From my own practice, and from what I know of the practice of others, I efteem Doctor Perkins's method of removing pains, a very important and ufeful im- provement in the healing art;. arid wifh that his inftru- ments may be generally difperfed, that mankind at large may have it in their power by thefe fimple means, to eafe themfelves of molt of the bodily pains which fo many experience. RUFUS JOHNSON, Phyfician. Canterbury, Augufl 10, 1796. Doctor T. BACKUS, Member of the Medical Society, of the State of Connecticut. A THE fubfcriber was called on the 4th inftant, ■ to attend a patient, by the name of James Crawfon, who for the term of nearly five years, has been fre- , quently troubled with a fpecies of epileptic fits.— . When I firft faw him, he had experienced in the courfe | of the day, about twelve, each of which ufually held him nearly fifteen minutes. At the commencement of one of them, I took from him about fourteen ounces r 9 ] of blood ; but diicovering no happy effect, I applied Doctor P>.'Kivs p. k i ;*- 4* 5 ■ w S ■■ * >CERTIFICATES O F T H E EFFICACY OF /■ \y DOCTOR PERKINS'S Patent Metallic Injlruments, NEWBURYPORT :—PRINTED BY EBMUtfD M. ILUJJT, /IT Iff 4 To- the PUBLIC. s IENSIBLE that every attempt at improve- ment in any of the ufeful arts, ever has, and probably ever will meet with oppofition, either from interefted or certain other motives, which" in a greater or lefs degree in- fluence the generality of mankind,-sr-the fubferiber takes the liberty to cite a few among-very many cafes in which his method of removing pains, inflammations, and fpal- modic affections from the human body, has been attend- ed with fuccefs. The novelty and apparent fimplicity of this practice, may poffibly induce fome, before they have attended with candor to the fubject, to treat it with ridi- cule. That the public may be more fatisfactorily infor- med as t© its utility and importance, he publifhes the fol- lowing certificates, as received from feveral refpectable characters. ELISHA PERKINS. . Plainfield, October, 1796. wsvrsr-vr-^T~x-tmx v/c* Cut, ct\-, a iihout any affiftance or apparent, diriicul- y, an, ->'alk<:'; v :ral times acrofs the room without, hen ( 4 ) ftafF, of any other fupport, and has continued to this time able to walk in that mannet ; not having com* plained of, or been troubled with pain in the night (of which fhe had much complained before ;) and has truly been to all appearance, a different perfon, as to the ufe of her limbs, from the time of that operation, from what fhe had been for years before. JOHN TYLER. Prejion, July 29, 1796. I the fubfcriber was prefent at the time of the a- bove operation, and fully concur in the above ftatement of Facts by Gen. Tyler. JAMES LORD. 1 nmwmmammmm m.i Mr. NATHAN GLOVER, fc? Mr, AMOS SIMONS. X NATHAN GLOVER, of Plainfield, in the county of Windham and flate of Connecticut, certify, that for feven years paft, I have been frequently vifited with fevere turns of the Quinfey, which (notwithstanding the application of internal and external means, adminif- tered hy the moft fkilful neighboring phyficians) have never left me within eight or ten days. About the firft of July, 1796, I was again feverely at- tacked by this difeafe, and in about twenty-four hours, my throat became very much fweiled and inflamed, and extremely painful. I was at this time vifited by Doct. Perkins, who operated on the difeafed part, with his pa- tent metallic inftruments. The pains after two or three operations, wholly left me, and the inflammation entirely difappeared ; the fwelling did not maturate and break as it had ufually done,—-but in about twenty-four hours wholly fubfided, and my throat became perfectly well. ( 5 ) The turns of the Quinfey which I have heretofore had, through not more fevere in their firft attacks than this, have never left me fhort of the term of eight or ten days; whereas this continued but two : And I have no doubt but it would have no doubt but it would have lafted as long as the others, had not Dodt. Perkins operated with his inftruments. I believe the cure to be effected whol- ly by his means. NATHAN GLOVER. Plainfield, Augufl 9, 1796. I the fubfcriber was refiding at the hqufe of Mr, Glover, and was prefent at the above operation, and per- fectly agree with him in his ftatement of facts. " AMOS SIMONS, Capt. JOSHUA BOTTUM. Jl_ JOSHUA BOTTUM, of Plainfield, in the county of Windham and flate of Connecticut, certify, that I have been troubled with a rheumatic pain in my arm for four months, which was often extremely diftret- fing. Having heard much ot the furprifmg efficacy of Dodt. Perkins's patent inftruments, but being myfelf an unbeliever in this method of removing pains, in confe- quenceofthe fuggeftions of his enemies, I neglected ufmg his means, until on or about the 15th of July, when I myfelf operated on my pained arm about fix minutes, and to my utter furprize, the pain entirely eeaf- ed, and has never returned. I have every reafon to be- lieve that a radical cure was effected by that one opera* tion. JOSHUA BOTTUM. Plainfield, Augufl 5, 1796. .( 6 ) Mr. and Mrs. SNOW. j[ ELIZABETH SNOW, of Plainfield, in the flate of Connecticut, certify that in the month of June, 1795, I was forely afflicted with pains in my ancles, which had fettled there after a fevere fit of ficknefs, and had troubled me to fuch a degree that I became very weak and emaciated. In this unhappy fituation I con- tinued about three months, until in the month and year above-mentioned, I applied to Doctor Elifiha Perkins who vifited me and operated on the pained part of my an- cles, with his metallic inftruments. Immediately the pain eeafed and has never fince returned. I am perfuad- ed a radical cure was at that time effected. ELIZABETH SNOW. P/ainfield, Augufl 3, 1796, I the fubferiber fully concur with my wife, in the a- bove ftatement of fads. ABRAHAM SNOW. Mrs. STERNS, J[ HERBY certify, that I have been troubled with pain and weaknefs in my wrift, for upwards of fix years, attended with afiwelling which had. become hard and protuberant, about the fize of a walnut. In November laft, Doctor Elifiha Perkins operated on the part affected, with his metallic inftruments, which gave an immediate relief; and I have experienced no pain there fince. The Jwfliing very foon lubfided, and my wrift is in all refpects as well as ever. RACHEL STERNS. Plainfield, Augvfi 2, 1796. t 7 ) doctor RUFUS JOHNSON, A Member of the Medical Society of the State of Con- , riecticut. X CERTIFY, that in the courfe of my pra&ice, a few months paft, I have made frequent experiments with Doctor Perkins's patent inftruments, and have with but very few exceptions, fucceeded to my great afton- ifhment, removing rheumatic pains, head-achs, agues in the fiace, cramp-convulfiiom,.and inflamatory fiwellings of the throat. - The pains after being once eafed, have in but few in- ftances returned j and,.then by a repetition of the oper- ation, have been wholly removed. From my own practice, and from what I know of the practice of others, I efteem Doctor Perkins's method of removing pains? a very important and ufeful improve- ment in the healing art ; andwifh that his inftruments may be generally difperfed, that mankind at large may have it in their power by thefe fimple means, to eafe themfeives of moft of the bodily pains which fo many experience. RUFUS JOHNSON, Phyfician. Canterbury, Augufii 10, 1796. Doctor T. BACKUS, Member of the Medical Society, of the State of Con- necticut. J[ THE fubferiber was called on the 4th inftant, to attend a patient, by the name of James Crawfion, who . for the term of nearly five years, has been frequently ( 8 ) trouble with a fpecies of epileptic fits.—When I firfl faw him, he had experienced in the courfe of the day, about twelve, each of which ufually held him nearly fifteen mi- nutes. At the commencement of one of them, I took from him about fourteen ounces of blood ; but discov- ering no happy effect, I appl'ed Doctor Perkins' patent metallic inftruments to his right leg, in which he ufually experienced the firft attack of his fits. The whole leg immediately became limber and free from fpfams, and he foon revived without fuffering a general convulfion. About twenty minutes after, I being out of his room, was informed that the fymptoms of another fit appear- ed, and before I could operate on him, he was uriiverfally convulsed with an entire lofs of reafbn. I then applied the inftrument to his right leg, fix or eight ftrokes, when the fpafms Immediately eeafed, and he recovered his rea- fon. In a fhort time, he was feized with another, which was removed very much in the manner of the laft, the in- ftruments not being applied until a general convulfion had taken place. I then feated myfelf On his bed, that I might be enabled to apply the means more feafonably. Here I very Toon difcovered the fymptoms again, but by applying the inftruments, the fymptoms immediately difappeared. Several others at intervals, commenced with;their ufual fymptoms, by fo contracting and cramp- ing the right leg, that the'utmoft exertions of two men were fcarcely able to ftraighten it, each of which were, in lefs then a minute removed by five or fix ftrokes of the inftruments, before they had extended to the other parts of the body, the leg almoft inftantaneoufly be- coming perfectly lax. By the requeft of a number of gentlemen, who were then prefent, when the fymptoms of one appeared, I eeafed to operate, that we might determine whether the above operations had prevented the general convulfions, which before the applications of the inftruments, had always fucceeded the firft attack in his leg. Immedi- ately he fell into a fevere fit, which appeared in one uni- verfal fpafm. In this fituation, I iuffered him to conti- nue a few minutes, when by applying the inftruments to ( ) ) his leg again, in lefs' than one minute he was entirely free from any kind ,cf fpafm, and imme- diately recovered his reafom I ftill continued by his fide, and prevented feveral other genera! attacks by opera- ting with the inftruments at the beginning of the fymp- toms. About one hour and a half after the firfl: opera- tion, the fits entirely fubfided. He became ealy and ex- perienced none of thofe difagreeabie hnfatibns, which he ever had after former attacks of this kind. He informs that he had ufually been afflicted with thefe fits except at a few intervals, about twenty four hours from the time they firft commenced, and it is prefumed the application of the metallic inftruments, not only fhorteried the fits, but leffened their number, as at this time they continued not more than nin^ or ten hours from their firft com- mencementi and about an hour and a half after the firf application of the inftruments. He further obferves* that he has difcovered none of that debility which had univerfally fucceeded his former attacks,and continues to this day enjoying better health than ufual.' THOMAS BACCUS, Phyfician. We the fubferibers were prefent at the above opera- tions and fully agree with Doctor feachus, in his flate- ment of facts. „ , . ., .,-■:., CHARLES MILLER, JOHN LESTER, 2HINEHAS KlNDAL, JOHN PIKE, RECOMPENCE HALY. Plainfield, Aug. 9, 1796: doctor JAREB DYER, , ,, Member of the Medical Society of the State of Con- necticut, and Surgeon to the 21ft Regiment. J[ CERTIFY, that for feven. years paft, I have been troubled with almoft a con/lant Rheumatic pain B ( I* ) in my left fhoulder. For the two laft years it has gradu- ally irlcreafed till it became very diftreffing, and has been attended with a ftiffnefs, to fuch a degree that I could not raife my hand to the top of my head without great v difficulty. On or about the 18th June laft, I myfelf o- perated on my fhoulder when it was in extreme pain, with Doctor Perkins's patent tractors.—The pain, to my great furprife, wholly left me within fix minutes, and my fhouider was foon freed from its former ftiffnefs, fo that I could move that arm and fhoulder with the fame eafe,that 1 could the other.—The pain has but once returned, and then very lightly, in confequence of fevere exercife : It was immediately removed by applying the tractors. I further Certify, that I have been afflicted with a pain in my head for twenty years paft. It has ufually come on in the fore part of the day, and continued ten or twelve hours. Has often been very diftreffing. About the time of the above operation, 1 applied the inftruments to my head, when in fevere pain. 1 was in a few min- utes eafed, and the pain has not yet returned. For three years before this operation, I do not think I have been three weeks at a time free from this complaint. From what 1 have experienced, and heard of the efficacy of Doctor Perkins's inftruments, I doubt not.but they will prove of great utility to mankind. JAREB DYER, Phyfician. Canterbury, Augufl u, 1796. Doctor EBENEZER ROBINSON, r , J[ HEREBY certify, that, I have been acquaint- ed with Doctor Perkins' method of removing pains and inflamations by pointed metallic inftruments, for near a year : that I have frequently operated myfelf, and have generally had fuccefs in removing pains and in- flamations of 'various kinds, among which, are ( II ) pains of the head, burns, and rheumatifms, that I have full confidence in the efficacy of the means, and that it is a very valuable difcoverv. EBENEZLR ROBINSON. Plainfield, Aitgufi ip, 1796. Capt. CYRUS SPAULDING. X CYRUS SPAULDING, of Plainfield, in the flate of Connecticut, certify, that from the month of May, to the month of July, 1795, I was in a feeble, de- bilitated flate, and was afflicted with alinoft a conftant pain acrofs the fmall of my back, which at times was very fevere. In the month of July, I applied to Doctor Eli/ha Perkins, for phyfical aid : He propofed removing my pain with his metallic inftrument, without any inter- nal application. As I was far from having any faith in fuch apparently fimple means, I treated them with ridi- cule. However, I conrented to his operating on the af- fected part; when 'in a few minutes, to my great af- tonifhment, the pain wholly left me, and has never fince returned. CYRUS SPAULDING, Rev. JOEL BENEDICT, 1 JOET BENEDICT, of Plainfield, certify, that I was prefent at the time that Capt. Cyrus Spaulding was eafed of pain by Doctor Perkins, as certified a- bove ; and that I have alfo myfelf feveral times removed pains of different kinds by his patent metallic inftru- ments. Cures performed in this way appear to me as real, and no more liable to a relapfe, than thofe by any other means. The cure of aa accidental fcald, I have ( 12 ) myfelf experienced. The pain was relieved in a few minutes, and the forenefs foon left it and the cure was entire. I am perfuaded that the invention is important, and will be of great benefit to mankind. JOEL BENEDICT, Pafior of a church in Plainfield. Augufl. ip, 1796. Rev. WALTER KING. r 11 "H---- Jt HIS may certify, that the fubfcriber has been prefent-, in fundry inftances, where pains have been appar- ently removed by the application of metallic inftruments, invented and improved by Doctor Elifiha Perkins of Piainfield, and that the ufe of faid inftruments appear to me, to promile extenfive benefit to fociety. WALTER KING, Paflor ofi the Juond Church m Norzvich. Norwich^ Augufl j 2,1796. Rev. SOLOMON MORGAN. JL HEREBY certify, whom it may concern, that I have had opportunity of miking ufe of Dr. EUfha Per- kins's tractors, in cafes of pain in' the h~ad, and burns, and have fucceeded to the relief of the patients ; and from what I have heard from others, I believe that faid trac- tors are ufefuhto the removing of many of ihe pains to which we are fubject, and think that a more general ufe of them, may be for the benefit of mankind. SOLOMON MORGAN, Paflor ' sf the.firft church in Canterbury. Canterbury, Augufl 10, 1796. i *3 ) Rev. ELHANAN WINCHESTER, JL CERTIFY that on the 21ft of March, 1796, J faw Dodt. Perkins's method of cure by pointed metallic inftruments, tried with fuccefs, upon feveral patients in the poor-houfe or bettering-houfe in Philadelphia j— efpecially upon a man who was unable to lift his right hand to his head, as was tried before hand, but who after a few minutes operation, was able to remove it at pleafure, and in my fight, put it with eafe on the top of his head and back of his neck, and in all directions. Nearly the fame effects took place upon a woman ; and all that I faw treated profeffed that their pains eeaf- ed after being treated a fhort time : And feveral came voluntarily, and in my hearing, thanked the Doctor for cures he had performed on them about eight weeks be- fore, in removing pains from them, which they declared had not fince returned. So that from what I faw with mine own eyes, and what I have heard, I have great hopes that this method will greatly tend to alleviate the miferies of mankind. ELHANAN WINCHESTER. Philadelphia, April 4, 1796, — ' mii^iiiii 111111'"' 1 1 1 1 1 ■—■in 1 Rev. MICAIAH PORTER. X MICAIAH PORTER, of Voluntown, in the county of Windham and State of Connecticut, certify, that I have myfelf made repeated experiments with Doctor Perkins' metallic inftruments, for removing pains and inflammations ; that I have almoft invariably fuc- ceeded to my own aftonifhment, in curing head-faeries, teeth-aches, rheumatifms and burns : In other com- plaints, I have not had opportunity for trial: But I am fully convinced, from my own experiments, and from what-I have known of others, that this method of re- moving pains and inflammations from human bodies, is a very important diicovery, and that it muft contribute very much to alleviate the diftreffes and infirmities to which our frail bodies are fo liable. MICAIAH PORTER, Paflor Augufl', 9, *7%6. of the firfl church in Vohmtowu. ( 14 ) of the Medical Convention. WIVindham County, Aug. 16, 1796. E the fubfcribers certify, that from a variety of cafes, which have occured, not only in our own pradice, but in that of our neighbouring phyficians, we are fully convinced of the utility of Doctor Perkins's patent metal- lic inftruments, in removing various pains, fpafms and inflammatory affections from the human body,and that the difcovery is of importance to the healing art. *JOSEPH BAKER, -1 Fellows * JONATHAN HALL, *ELISHA LORD, *JOHN BREWSTER, THOMAS HUBBARD, Member of the Medical Society, * Dodors Baker, Hall, Lord and Brewfter, with the author of the metallic difcovery, are the five reprefen- tatives from Windham Qounty to the Connedicut Medi* cal Convention. ..... --T —^————————— ■Extract of a letter from JobnFaughan, M.D.State of Delaware, CHRISTIANA, JULY 14, I796. " DEAR SIR, I HAVE operated in a few cafes only with your in- ftruments, for but few have offered fince I poffefTed them-—One cafe oi nervous or hyfieric head-acb-^perfe€t-> ly cured—a cafe of odontalgia relieved. The third a young man, who had fallen ten or fifteen feet on the edge of an open ended hogfhead, and received a coniiderable contufion, in the Umbilical Region, with Tumefaction* I bled him three times to little purpofe.—But after a- bout two minutes operation, with the inftruments, he exclaimed, in extafy—" 1 am well—I am well-—my pain is gone.'* The pain, however returned in a lefs degree, but in thirty or forty minutes went off entirely> and he went to work as ufual ?" Your friend and obliged humble fiervant ]OHN VAUGHAN. Dr. EL1SHA PERKINS, ( *5 ) CALVIN GODDARD, es Plainfield, Sept. 25, 1796. BEAR SIR, " T TNTIL of late' I have not Deen eye witnefs to \J many operations, with your Metallic Points—one cafe which appeared to me a little lingular, I will relate__ A rough, hardy labourer had a very bad boil upon the outfide of his ancle—His leg was fwollen to the knee, and his foot, to the toes, looked as tho' the fkin was rea- dy to burft—The leg up to the hip, he faid, was in ex- treme pain, fo that he was deprived of fleep the night preceeding, and the foot was in a high flate of inflama- tion—I drew the inftruments repeatedly up and down the leg, without any vifible effed or decreafe of pain, fo long that I was almoft difcouraged—at length however the patient pulled off his coat and flung it afide—(It was one of thofe cold nights the beginning of this month)—Upon obferving his leg, it was of a fudden wet, with fweat— Indeed the fweat burft inftantaneoufly from all his pores —The inflamation, upon the furface of the foot, fubfid- ed and the fwelling abated—the man declared himfelf tree from pain, went to bed and flept well, and I heard no further complaint—As I had never known of this fweating effed being produced I thought the cate worth reporting to you.* With fentiments of refped and efteem, Your friend and very humble Servant, CALVIN GODDARD, This fweating is not unufiual. ( 16 ) T Rev. JOSEPH DANA. HE following is a tranfcript of minutes, taken by the Rev. Mr. Dana, of Ipfwich, containing a number (tho' not the whole) of cafes in that town, where the fubjeds have received very fenfible and immediate re- lief from Dr. Perkins's metallic points—from the 21ft to the 24th of Oct. 1796. Capt. D. R. Old rheumatic pain and inflamed eye; eapt. E. K. An inflamed painful leg; Capt. T. H. Fixed pam in the breaft,of long 'tending; Capt. N.K. Pain.in the back ; NWs H. old rheumatic pain 5 Mr. W. D. Old drain in the fhoulder attended with ftiffnefs and pair1; Mr. J. S. Strained hand with pain ; Wife of Capt. A. b. Rheumatifm of long ftanding ; Mr. J. S. Violent head- ache ; Mr. D. The fame ; Mr. E. TSwfe" in0*meTd bruife ; Mr. S. Teeth ache , Mf. N. L. do. Mrs. M. J* Diftrefs at her breaft -, Mifs H. J. Inflamed eye; Mr. J. W. Pain in the fide ; Mrs. W. Violent head-ache; Mr. W. A. Foot bruifed and fwollen ; Mrs. A. filing in the neck j Mifs A.B.Pain in the moulders & breaft; Ma- jor C. S.'s Wife,Pains in her limbs,&c. Mr. B. Old rheu- matifm ; Capt. D. G. Rheumatifm, Mrs. T. do. Mr. NATHAN PElRCE, Mafiet of the Alms-Houfie, Newburyport, Newburyport, Ocl. 28, 1796. THIS certifies that Dr. Perkins vifited the Alms- Houfe in this town yefterday, and performed op- erations with his metallic inftruments on three perlons, Viz. one woman, and two men, who have been gncvioufly affhded with the Rheumatifm', and from the beft obser- vations I have been able to make, in fo fhovt a time, they all appear to be much relieved of their complaints. rt NATHAN PEIRCE, Mafter of faid Alms-Houfie. C 17 ) Rev. LEVI HART. ■.-.„.■ J- HIS may certify, That the fubfcribe.r has been wimefs to the fuccefs of the application, of Doc- tor Perkinss Patent Metallic inftruments, in various inftances for the removal of pains of the head and oth- er parts of the human body—of rheumatic diltrefs, and of pain occafioned by bruifes, where it was exquifite— and the cure has been effected in a fhort time without any other application. From perfonal experience, he is fully fatisfied of the Utility and importance of the difcovery. LEVI HART. Preflon, October 10, 1796. Rev. CALEB BRADLEY, and Dr. JAMES GOSS. VV E the fubferibers, of Gloucefter, in the county of Eflex, and State of Maffachufetts, certify that we this day faw Doctor Perkins' Patent Metallic Points appli- ed with fuccefs on a child of Mr. James Smith, of fif- teen months old, which had been about an hour before the application very feverely fcalded, by falling into boiling fat, with one hand and arm ; on which large blifters were raifed. After a few minutes' operation, the rednefs and fire almoft wholly difappeared, and the child appeared to be eafed of pain. JAMES GOSS, Phyhcian. CALEB BRADLEY, Preacher of the Gofpef Gloucefter, October 19, 1796. Mr. EDWARD HILL, 1 EDWARD HILL, of Dorchefter, in the county of Norfolk, and State of Maffachufetts, hereby certify, that I had been afflicted with the Rheumatifm and rovt C f ** ) at times, for nine years paft, and at length to fuch a de- gree as to be unable to walk. But upon application to Do&or Eliflia Perkins for the ufe of his Patenr Metallic Inftruments, I was in the courfe of two days fo recov- ered as to be able to walk without any pain. EDWARD HILL. We the fubfcribers were knowing to the facts as above flated. « NATHAN WEBB. RALPH POPE. Bofton, Sept. 23, 1796. Col. JONATHAN GLOVER. HIS certifies, That I vifited Dr. Eliflia Perkins about the 20th September lad, with a violent chronic pain in one of my feet, which the Doctor by applying his Tractors removed immediately. Upon my return to Marbleheadj I felt a pain as ufualj in my other foot, but which, on applying the Inftruments, which I pur- chafed of the Do&or, was removed directly, I alfo applied them to Capt. Fettyplece's knee and foot, which were forely affli&ed with pain, and relieved him immediately. Several others I relieved of,pains; particularly a pain in a lady's arm, and the pleurify in a lady's fide. JONATHAN GLOVER. Bofton, October 5, 1796. Mr. CONSTANT FREEMAN, Mafter of the Alms- houfe, Bofton. T J- HIS certifies, that Dr. Elifha Perkins, of Plain- field, Conne&icut, vifited the Poor Houfe of this Me- tropolis, about three weeks ago, and performed oper- ations on feveral patients, with his celebrated Metallic Points; among whom he performed his operation on ( *9 ) one John Patterfbn. He had been in this Poor-Houfe for fix months with the Rheumntifm—Two months o,f which he was confined to his bed—Four months he had hobbled about with crutches, when Dr. Perkins per- formed the operation; fince which he has thrown afide his crutches, and walks only with a ftaff, which he ufes, not for the Rheumatifm, for he has none, but merely for a fupport, as his thigh bone was then and ft ill re- mains diflocated. Nancy Blake was alfo cured, by the Do&or, of the Rheumatifm in the fmall of her back, which had con- ftantly affli&ed her for more than three years. It has not returned yet. Benjamin Rofs I.cured myfelf of the Rheumatifm in the fmall of his back and hip. This was ten days ago; it has not returned. Lewis Dumeth, a Frenchman, was operated upon by the Doctor, for the Rheumatifm in his lower extremi- ties, which had confined him to his bed and crutches for months : but no fooner was he operated upon than he threw afide his crutches—walked about the houfe-^- has walked about the town fince, and has had no return of the Rheumatifm in either leg. CONSTANT FREEMAN. Bofton, O&ober £, 1756. EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS. Mr. JOHN PUNCHARD. Salem, C&. 193 1796. Sir, I HAVE operated repeatedly with your Metallic Points, and have fucceeded in removing Rheu- matic pains, aguesj pains in the head, face, fide, and. ( 20 ) burns, to my aftonifhment, and to the aftonifhment of all prefent—I cured a man burnt with powder, in lefs than half an hour, with the Points, without any other application. JOHN PUNCHARD. JAMES GLOVER, Efq—Norwich, County of Tioga, State of New-York, Sept. 19, 1796. Sir, HAVING lately purchafed a fet of your Patent Inftruments to keep in my family, I have ufed them with great fuccefs on a perfon fcak with boiling lye—a man by the name of Welch, who was at work in my pot afh, when boiling down the lye, fome of it flew into one of his eyes—which foon became very much inflamed, and fweiled to fuch a degree, that he could not open it—and remained in that fituation, for the fpace of three days, when after a few minutes oper- ating with your patent inftruments, he was able to open it, and wiih two operations only, his eye was almoft entirely free from pain and inflammation, and in a fhort time was perfe&ly well, although fo badly fcalt he had almoft defpaired of its ever recovering, &c. JAMES GLOVER. Rev. WALTER KING, Sir,. *:jPHE frame and utility of your Patent Inftrument:; have become fubje&s of fo much notoriety and fpeculation, that almoft all pained people are defirous of making trial of them. Their efficacy, within my knowledge, appears to be increafing. I am more and more confirmed in the benefit of the, ( « ) difcovery, and cannot think but they will continue as long as the pains of the human body fhall need them. From your ?.-mch obliged and cor dial friend and fervant, WALTER KING. Dr. Elifiha Perkins. Rev. Dr. ROBBINS, of Plymouth. Sept. 24, 1796. dear sir, 6 QEVERAL perfons, fince you left us, have O experienced immediate relief, in various complaints, by the Metallic Points. I operated day befoie yefterday on a man's hand, which was prodigioufly fweiled, and painful, by a wound he received on the back of it, which he negle&ed and got cold in. It was much inflamed—But was relieved by that fingle operation : The fwelling fubfided, and the inflammation went away, fo that he went dire&ly to work on board his veffel—He told me the laii night it gave him no trouble.' CHANDLER ROBBINS. BEZALEEL WOODWARD, Efq. Prof\for of Phi- lofophy and Mathematics, Dartmouth College. Hanover^ New Hampfhire, Sept. 19, 1796. Dr. Eliflia Perkins, SIR, I HAVE made ufe of your Pointed Metallic Inftru- ments in various diforders; and befides univer- sally abating and generally.removing pains in the head, face, teeth, &c. by application of them, I have found them ufeful in ihefalt rheum. Only one onooruiniiy has preferred fjr an eftb&ual trial—that has cured the ( »* ) patient by three applications, which being noifed abroad* f undry perfons affe&ed with that diforder have been at my houfe this week to have the operation performed on them, and the diforder has abated on the firft ap- plication, fo that the prefent profped is that cures will be effe&ed, for them, by further ufe of the inftruments. A violent pain proceeding from a ftrain in the foot hag by a few minutes application of the inftruments been re- moved fo as not to return. I have the honor to be, Sir, your mofl obedient find humble fervant, BEZALEEL WOODWARD. Rlv. Doctor STILLMAN; of Bofton. Oclober 6, 1796. Dear Sir, 6 t FEEL myfelf much obliged to you, for the im- ■*■ portant fervice you have rendered to Mrs. Still- pians eyes, after a diftreffing inflammation of eight months. If, through too much exercife, or being ex> pofed to very cold air, a degree of inflammation re- turns, it is removed in a few minutes again by the ap- plication of your Points. I have, in my walks among the fick, made ufe of them repeatedly with fuccefs ; and cannot but think that they will be of important benefit to mankind.' SAMUEL STILLMAN. To Dr. Elifiha Perkins. PIER POINT EDWARDS, Esq. Diftrid Attorney for the State of Conne&icut. New-Haven, Oclober 7, 1796. DEAR SIR- J SHOULD have written you laft week, had I then been able to afcertain certain facts, the il::. oar of which I had heard. A Mrs. Beers, a near f *3 J neighbour to me, the wife of Eber Beers, and daughter' of Capt. Samuel Huggins, of this town, had been, for fourteen weeks,exceedingly diftreffed with theRheuma- tifm, to fuch a degree, that for the laft fourteen weeks, previous to the 29th of laft month, flie had not been able to walk acrols her room, even with crutches, lave only once, when fhe made out, with the affiftance of crutches, to hobble part of the way acrofs her room.— On the 29th of September laft fhe procured a fett of vour .Metallic Subliances,and in lefs than an hour after flie had begun to ufe them, in the manner dire&ed by you, flie rofe from her chair, and walked about her houfe, and on the next day fhe went abroad to her neighbours, having thrown afide her crutches. I have this day paid her a vifit, in company with her father* Timothy Jones, Efq, who lives in the ftreet where flie refides and dire&ly oppofite to her refidence,and with Capt. Abel Burrett, who is her next neighbour, and lives within eight yards of her door. I requefted her" to relate her cafe over in their prefence, which fhe did ; and thefe gentlemen all, with one voice, fupported, from their own knowledge, her ftory. It is a duty which you owe yourfelfand the world to promulge this event, / am, very refpecljully, your obedient fervent, PJERPOINT EDWARDS. ; N. B. She fays her fever has left her, her appetite hasreturned, and fhe is in a fair way to be icftored to perfe& health. MANY other certificates and letters might have been inferted relative to the difcuffion of biles and fellons, cures of gouts, &c. but it is prefumed that enough is here exhibited to convince an unpreju- diced mind, that the metallic inftruments promife im- portant benefit to mankind. Meafures have been purfued that they may he obtain- ed in various parts of the United States. The following s a lift of the names and places of abode of fome who (: h ) have the transfers and patent inftruments for fale. DOCTOR Thaddeus MCartey, Keene, New-Hampfhire$ Nathan Smith, M. D. Dartmouth College, do. Rev. John Smith, Dighton, Maffachufetts. Doclor Jofeph Trumbull, Peterjham, do. Doclor Seth Field, Brookfield, do. Mr. John Ruggles, Berry, do. Dddlor Thomas Babbit, Brookfield, do. Mr. Samuel Satterlee, Williamflown, do. Rev. Henry White, Briflol, Rhode-Ifland. George Burrill, Efq. Providence, do. Doclor John Aldrich, Hopkinton. do. Capt. Ladd, Newport, do. Doclor Daniel Coit, Norwich, Coiineclicut. DoBor Jonathan Hall, Pomfret, do. DoHor Thomas Hubbard, do. do. Doclor Jofeph Baker, Brooklyn, do. Doclor Pomel Hutchins, Killingly, do. Doclor Jofeph Coit, Thompfion, do. Doclor Afia Spaidding. Stonington, do. Dollar Samuel Willard, Stafford, do. Doclor Ripley, Norwich, do. Dollar Thomas Backus, Plainfield', do. Doclor Jareb Dyer, Canterbury, do. D/dor Rufus Johnfion, do. do. Doclor Lcc. jun. Windham, do. Doclor John Pierce, Lebanon, do. Hon. Nathaniel Niks, Efq. Fairlee-, Vermont. Doclor Aaron Kinfman, Newbury, do. Doclor Jofeph Lord, St. John/bury, do. Amafa Dmglcy, M. D. New-York. James Clark. M. D. and Son, do. Potior Samuel Neffit,jun. do. Doctors Wilfon & Prentice, do. '^ Elijah Perkins, M. D. Philadelphia. fa rue's Tilign. M. D. Wilmington^ Dclaivrre- .w > m w a i J \ ". ■ — L^ ^ v4k «\. ->4^J i i, ft ru* Ai y^A a . NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE NLn OOTLdDTDE =i NLM009607029