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Elisha Perkins

May 04, 2023

Elisha Perkins (January 16, 1741 – September 6, 1799) was a United States physician who created a fraudulent medical device, the Perkins Patent Tractors.[1] Although they were made of steel and brass, Perkins claimed that they were made of unusual metal alloys. Perkins claimed his rods cured inflammation, rheumatism and pain in the head and the face; he applied the points on the aching body part and passed them over the part for about 20 minutes. The device was later the subject of the first placebo research.

Metallic Tractors. Caricature of a quack treating a patient with Perkins Patent Tractors by James Gillray, 1801
Modern facsimiles of Perkins tractors

Biography

Elisha Perkins was born 1741 in Norwich, Connecticut. He was educated by his father Joseph Perkins in Plainfield, Connecticut, where he later practiced medicine with success.[2] When the American Revolutionary War broke out, Elisha Perkins served as a surgeon for the Continental Army during the Battle of Bunker Hill in the Siege of Boston.[3][4][5][6][7] During the late 18th century, the progression of medicine due to the Enlightenment increased the consumer demand for new therapies, such as therapeutic devices and inventions.[8] Consequently, around 1795–96, Perkins invented his "Tractors", for which he took out a 14-year patent on February 19, 1796.[9] The tractors consisted of two 3-inch metal rods with a pointed end; the term is from the old meaning of tractor, "that which pulls", as in the term 'tractor beams'. Although they were made of steel and brass, Perkins claimed that they were made of unusual metal alloys. Perkins claimed his rods cured inflammation, rheumatism and pain in the head and the face. He applied the points on the aching body part and passed them over the part for about 20 minutes. Perkins claimed they could "draw off the noxious electrical fluid that lay at the root of suffering".

The Connecticut Medical Society condemned the tractors as "delusive quackery", and expelled Perkins from membership on the grounds that he was "a patentee and user of nostrums".[9] Perkins nevertheless managed to convince three US medical faculties that his method worked. In Copenhagen, Denmark, twelve surgeons at the royal Frederiks Hospital also began to support the method. Even George Washington bought a set.[citation needed][10] Other physicians' criticisms were met with charges of elitism and professional arrogance. Perkins boasted of 5,000 cured cases. The cures were certified to by eight professors, forty physicians, and thirty clergymen.[11] Of the purchase made by Washington, Perkins' son, Benjamin Perkins, said that the "President of the United States, convinced of the importance of the discovery from experiments in his own family, availed himself of its advantages by purchasing a set of the Tractors for their use."[12]

Benjamin Perkins was a bookseller and introduced the tractors to London. There a Perkinsian Institution for the benefit of the poor was founded under the presidency of Lord Rivers. In 1798, Benjamin published The Influence of Metallic Tractors on the Human Body.[11] In October 1799, an advertisement in The Times said that "The tractors, with every necessary direction for using them in Families, may be had for 5 guineas the set, of Mr. Perkins, of Leicester Square; or of Mr. Frederic Smith, Chemist & Druggist, in the Haymarket".[13]

Aylmer Bourke Lambert, a British botanist, is on record as having written in January 1800 to Richard Pulteney of Blandford (now Blandford Forum), in the English county of Dorset, as follows:

"I breakfasted with Sir Joseph [Banks] on Monday morning who is recovered from the Gout and in high Spirits. We had a good deal of laughing about the Tractors. Perkins has published several Cases communicated by my Father, and presented me with a copy of his Book."[14]

Shortly before his death Elisha Perkins also invented purported antiseptic medicine and used it for dysentery and sore throat. Perkins also claimed to have discovered a cure for yellow fever. This consisted of vinegar with muriate of soda which he tested in New York City during an outbreak in 1799. The cure had no effect and Perkins contracted the fever and died.[15]

After Perkins' death, British physicians began to have doubts about his tractors. In 1799, Dr. John Haygarth conducted a test in which he treated five rheumatic patients with wooden tractors that were made to resemble the metallic ones. Four of them reported that the pain was relieved. The next day the patients were treated with metallic tractors with the same results. Dr. Haygarth reported on his findings in a publication entitled On the Imagination as a Cause & as a Cure of Disorders of the Body. Attempts to use the tractors to cure animals proved futile.

By this time, Perkins had numerous influential supporters and the sale of the tractors continued. In 1803, Thomas Green Fessenden published his poem "Terrible Tractoration" in favor of Perkins and as a satire on other physicians. Perkins' son died in 1810. After that the popularity of the tractors began to wane.

In 1932, Morris Fishbein commented that "[u]nfortunately no one has yet been able to determine whether Elisha Perkins was merely a somewhat deluded physician or actually a great impostor."[16]

Perkins was the father of Sarah Bushnell Perkins, who is remembered for her pastels.[17]

Further reading

  • Eric Jameson. (1961). The Natural History of Quackery. Charles C. Thomas Publisher.
  • Robert Medill McBride, Neil Pritchie. (1956). Great Hoaxes of All Time. R. M. McBride Company.
  • William Snow Miller. (1935). Elisha Perkins and His Metallic Tractors. Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine 8: 41–57.
  • Benjamin Douglas Perkins. (1798). The Influence of Metallic Tractors on the Human Body. London: Printed for J. Johnson.

References

  1. ^ Quen, Jacques M. (1963). Elisha Perkins, Physician, Nostrum-Vendor, or Charlatan? Bulletin of the History of Medicine 37: 159-166.
  2. ^ Kelly, Howard A.; Burrage, Walter L. (eds.). "Perkins, Elisha" . American Medical Biographies . Baltimore: The Norman, Remington Company.
  3. ^ "Snake Oil and the Placebo Effect - Elisha Perkins' Metallic Tractor". Founder of the Day. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
  4. ^ Gillespie, Charles Bancroft (1906). An Historic Record and Pictorial Description of the Town of Meriden, Connecticut and Men who Have Made it. Journal Publishing Company.
  5. ^ "Perkins Metallic Tractors – Connecticut's Cure for Everything That Ails You". New England Historical Society. 2017-05-09. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
  6. ^ "Elisha Perkins › Page 1 - Fold3.com". Fold3. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
  7. ^ "DAR Genealogical Research Databases". services.dar.org. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
  8. ^ Lindemann, Mary (2010). Medicine and Society in Early Modern Europe (2nd ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521732567.
  9. ^ a b "Perkins, Elisha". Dictionary of American Biography. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons. 1928–1990.
  10. ^ William Snow Miller. (1935). Elisha Perkins and His Metallic Tractors. Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine 8: 41-57.
  11. ^ a b Wilson, J. G.; Fiske, J., eds. (1900). "Perkins, Elisha" . Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography. New York: D. Appleton.
  12. ^ Perkins, Benjamin Douglas. (1798). The Influence of Metallic Tractors on the Human Body. London: Printed for J. Johnson.
  13. ^ The Times, October 10, 1799.
  14. ^ Clarke, Tom, in La Posta: A Journal of American Postal History, Vol 28, number 2 (whole number 164), May 1997, pp 16-17. West Linn, Oregon: La Posta Publications. ISSN 0885-7385.
  15. ^ Holbrook, Stewart. (1959). The Golden Age of Quackery. Collier Books. p. 41
  16. ^ Fishbein, Morris. (1932). Fads and Quackery in Healing: An Analysis of the Foibles of the Healing Cults. New York: Covici Friede. p. 10
  17. ^ Profile of Sarah Bushnell Perkins in the Dictionary of Pastellists Before 1800.

External links

  • Image of Perkin's metal "tractors"
  • James Lind Library

May 04, 2023
elisha, perkins, january, 1741, september, 1799, united, states, physician, created, fraudulent, medical, device, perkins, patent, tractors, although, they, were, made, steel, brass, perkins, claimed, that, they, were, made, unusual, metal, alloys, perkins, cl. Elisha Perkins January 16 1741 September 6 1799 was a United States physician who created a fraudulent medical device the Perkins Patent Tractors 1 Although they were made of steel and brass Perkins claimed that they were made of unusual metal alloys Perkins claimed his rods cured inflammation rheumatism and pain in the head and the face he applied the points on the aching body part and passed them over the part for about 20 minutes The device was later the subject of the first placebo research Metallic Tractors Caricature of a quack treating a patient with Perkins Patent Tractors by James Gillray 1801 Modern facsimiles of Perkins tractors Contents 1 Biography 2 Further reading 3 References 4 External linksBiography EditElisha Perkins was born 1741 in Norwich Connecticut He was educated by his father Joseph Perkins in Plainfield Connecticut where he later practiced medicine with success 2 When the American Revolutionary War broke out Elisha Perkins served as a surgeon for the Continental Army during the Battle of Bunker Hill in the Siege of Boston 3 4 5 6 7 During the late 18th century the progression of medicine due to the Enlightenment increased the consumer demand for new therapies such as therapeutic devices and inventions 8 Consequently around 1795 96 Perkins invented his Tractors for which he took out a 14 year patent on February 19 1796 9 The tractors consisted of two 3 inch metal rods with a pointed end the term is from the old meaning of tractor that which pulls as in the term tractor beams Although they were made of steel and brass Perkins claimed that they were made of unusual metal alloys Perkins claimed his rods cured inflammation rheumatism and pain in the head and the face He applied the points on the aching body part and passed them over the part for about 20 minutes Perkins claimed they could draw off the noxious electrical fluid that lay at the root of suffering The Connecticut Medical Society condemned the tractors as delusive quackery and expelled Perkins from membership on the grounds that he was a patentee and user of nostrums 9 Perkins nevertheless managed to convince three US medical faculties that his method worked In Copenhagen Denmark twelve surgeons at the royal Frederiks Hospital also began to support the method Even George Washington bought a set citation needed 10 Other physicians criticisms were met with charges of elitism and professional arrogance Perkins boasted of 5 000 cured cases The cures were certified to by eight professors forty physicians and thirty clergymen 11 Of the purchase made by Washington Perkins son Benjamin Perkins said that the President of the United States convinced of the importance of the discovery from experiments in his own family availed himself of its advantages by purchasing a set of the Tractors for their use 12 Benjamin Perkins was a bookseller and introduced the tractors to London There a Perkinsian Institution for the benefit of the poor was founded under the presidency of Lord Rivers In 1798 Benjamin published The Influence of Metallic Tractors on the Human Body 11 In October 1799 an advertisement in The Times said that The tractors with every necessary direction for using them in Families may be had for 5 guineas the set of Mr Perkins of Leicester Square or of Mr Frederic Smith Chemist amp Druggist in the Haymarket 13 Aylmer Bourke Lambert a British botanist is on record as having written in January 1800 to Richard Pulteney of Blandford now Blandford Forum in the English county of Dorset as follows I breakfasted with Sir Joseph Banks on Monday morning who is recovered from the Gout and in high Spirits We had a good deal of laughing about the Tractors Perkins has published several Cases communicated by my Father and presented me with a copy of his Book 14 Shortly before his death Elisha Perkins also invented purported antiseptic medicine and used it for dysentery and sore throat Perkins also claimed to have discovered a cure for yellow fever This consisted of vinegar with muriate of soda which he tested in New York City during an outbreak in 1799 The cure had no effect and Perkins contracted the fever and died 15 After Perkins death British physicians began to have doubts about his tractors In 1799 Dr John Haygarth conducted a test in which he treated five rheumatic patients with wooden tractors that were made to resemble the metallic ones Four of them reported that the pain was relieved The next day the patients were treated with metallic tractors with the same results Dr Haygarth reported on his findings in a publication entitled On the Imagination as a Cause amp as a Cure of Disorders of the Body Attempts to use the tractors to cure animals proved futile By this time Perkins had numerous influential supporters and the sale of the tractors continued In 1803 Thomas Green Fessenden published his poem Terrible Tractoration in favor of Perkins and as a satire on other physicians Perkins son died in 1810 After that the popularity of the tractors began to wane In 1932 Morris Fishbein commented that u nfortunately no one has yet been able to determine whether Elisha Perkins was merely a somewhat deluded physician or actually a great impostor 16 Perkins was the father of Sarah Bushnell Perkins who is remembered for her pastels 17 Further reading EditEric Jameson 1961 The Natural History of Quackery Charles C Thomas Publisher Robert Medill McBride Neil Pritchie 1956 Great Hoaxes of All Time R M McBride Company William Snow Miller 1935 Elisha Perkins and His Metallic Tractors Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine 8 41 57 Benjamin Douglas Perkins 1798 The Influence of Metallic Tractors on the Human Body London Printed for J Johnson References Edit Quen Jacques M 1963 Elisha Perkins Physician Nostrum Vendor or Charlatan Bulletin of the History of Medicine 37 159 166 Kelly Howard A Burrage Walter L eds Perkins Elisha American Medical Biographies Baltimore The Norman Remington Company Snake Oil and the Placebo Effect Elisha Perkins Metallic Tractor Founder of the Day Retrieved 2020 07 13 Gillespie Charles Bancroft 1906 An Historic Record and Pictorial Description of the Town of Meriden Connecticut and Men who Have Made it Journal Publishing Company Perkins Metallic Tractors Connecticut s Cure for Everything That Ails You New England Historical Society 2017 05 09 Retrieved 2020 07 13 Elisha Perkins Page 1 Fold3 com Fold3 Retrieved 2020 07 13 DAR Genealogical Research Databases services dar org Retrieved 2020 07 13 Lindemann Mary 2010 Medicine and Society in Early Modern Europe 2nd ed Cambridge Cambridge University Press ISBN 9780521732567 a b Perkins Elisha Dictionary of American Biography New York Charles Scribner s Sons 1928 1990 William Snow Miller 1935 Elisha Perkins and His Metallic Tractors Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine 8 41 57 a b Wilson J G Fiske J eds 1900 Perkins Elisha Appletons Cyclopaedia of American Biography New York D Appleton Perkins Benjamin Douglas 1798 The Influence of Metallic Tractors on the Human Body London Printed for J Johnson The Times October 10 1799 Clarke Tom in La Posta A Journal of American Postal History Vol 28 number 2 whole number 164 May 1997 pp 16 17 West Linn Oregon La Posta Publications ISSN 0885 7385 Holbrook Stewart 1959 The Golden Age of Quackery Collier Books p 41 Fishbein Morris 1932 Fads and Quackery in Healing An Analysis of the Foibles of the Healing Cults New York Covici Friede p 10 Profile of Sarah Bushnell Perkins in the Dictionary of Pastellists Before 1800 External links EditImage of Perkin s metal tractors James Lind Library Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Elisha Perkins amp oldid 1121298473, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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