TRACTORS.
every wind of doctrine, and who recommends every new medicine which is in vogue and becomes popular, without considering the evidence and fair probability of its efficacy, will frequently administer inert, and sometimes injurious, remedies to his patients. “The Tractors have obtained such high reputation at Bath, even among persons of rank and understanding, as to require the particular attention of physicians. Let their merit be impartially investigated, in order to support their fame, if it be well founded, or to correct the publick opinion, if merely formed upon delusion. Such a trial may be accomplished in the most satisfactory manner, and ought to be performed without any prejudice. Prepare a pair of false, exactly to resemble the true Tractors. Let the secret be kept inviolable, not only from the patient, but every other person. Let the efficacy of both be impartially tried, beginning always with the false Tractors. The cases should be accurately stated, and the reports of the effects produced by the true and false Tractors be fully given, in the words of the patients.”
This hint, and in these terms, I communicated to Dr. Falconer. He entirely approved the idea, and very readily consented to make the proposed trial upon the most proper cases, which could be selected from his patients in the General Hospital.
