Observations placeholder
Perkins, Dr Elisha – Curing Chronic Rheumatism using tractors
Identifier
026205
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
A description of the experience
As described in Illustrations Of The Influence Of The Mind Upon The Body In Health And Disease, Designed To Elucidate The Action Of The Imagination - Daniel Hack Tuke, M.D., M.R.C.P.,
CHAPTEE XVII. PSYCHO- THERAPEUTICS. PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF THE INFLUENCE OF THE MIND ON THE BODY TO MEDICAL PRACTICE.
SECTION V. — Combined Influence of Arousing" certain Mental States, and lightly touching the Affected Part.
Mr. Richard Smith, of the Bristol Infirmary, pursuing the experiments commenced by Dr. Haygarth [Of the Imagination as a Cause and as a Cure of Diseases of the Body, exemplified by fictitious Tractors and Epidemic Convulsions. By Dr. Haygarth], :
" Thomas Ellis, a negro, from a chronic rheumatism in his upper and lower extremities, had been incapable of walking without support, or feeding himself, for four months. He came under my care on the 19th of April. At first the tractors produced no effect upon his thighs, and but little upon his arms. In the course of a few applications, however/he began to move his limbs better, and his nights were not so restless. In the course of this case, the nails, lead, and wood were used alternately; but there did not appear to be the least difference in the result.
" My patients crowded in upon me so fast that I had not leisure to bestow more than four or five minutes upon each ; yet such effects were produced as were almost incredible. It usually happened that the skin was soon warmer, and occasionally darting pains were produced, which sometimes were troublesome long after the operation, and at others were of shorter duration. He complained also that the cicatrix of an old scald upon his arm smarted a great deal. He now began to mend so fast that he could comb his hair very readily, and on the 29th he put on his jacket and walked across the ward without a stick or the least assistance.