A Treatise on Electricity
9781465632739
118 pages
Library of Alexandria
Overview
The many surprising effects of electricity, and the great cures performed by it, one would imagine, should awaken the attention of all philosophers and physicians; but as these cures have been effected by random experiments, every body has admired, but no body seems to have considered how, or by what means, they were performed. Whence Notwithstanding all these surprising phænomena, from which many have entertained hopes of a great addition to the healing art; yet not one tolerable account has been given, how, or from what cause, these phænomena proceeded; except what has been done by Mr. Freke, surgeon to Bartholomew hospital; whose admirable piece shews the great penetration of its worthy author, with whom I shall join in thinking “it may possibly be the beginning of much good.” One would think, this silence, on so interesting a subject, in this enlightened age, can proceed from nothing but a prejudice in favour of wrong principles of philosophy: That this is certainly the taste of the present age, M. Freke seems very well convinced; for, at the end of his pamphlet, he takes notice of a show-man, who, “having published some experiments in electricity, and hearing that Mr. Freke’s piece was publishing, own’d, he was much affrightened, because of the hard fate, as he said, of his booksellers; but, before he had read two pages, he likewise owned he had recovered his spirits, when he found Mr. Freke pretended to think for himself, and did not let Sr. Isaac Newton think for him.” Now, if all persons would take the same freedom of thinking for themselves, as Mr. Freke has done, I doubt not but we should soon be as much ashamed of mentioning the attraction of gravitation, and the attraction of cohesion &c. as we now are of theoccult qualities of the ancient philosophers; and should perhaps, then agree with him, when, speaking of electricity, he says, that “it is a subject which can, with more nobleness and dignity, employ the mind of man, than any he can think of, relating to the sublunary part of the world. For by it you may be acquainted with the immediate officer of God Almighty, which he seems to send to all things living: Nay, this power, (according to his conception,) seems to be the cause, under Him, both of life and death.
