M. A. and Fellow of Queen's College, Cambridge; com- municated by the Rev. Dr. Shepherd, F. R. S. p. 505 F. R. S. and Mr. Stanesby Alchorne. XXXIV. On some new Methods of fufpending Magnetical Needles. By John Ingen Houfz, Body Physician to their Imperial Majeflies, and F. R. S. XXXV. Abstract of a Register of the Barometer, Thermo- meter, and Rain, at Lyndon, in Rutland, 1778. By Thomas Barker, Efquire. Communicated by Thomas XXXVI. Extract of a Meteorological Journal for the Year 1778, kept at Bristol, by Samuel Farr, M. D. p. 551 XXXVII. A Treatife on Rivers and Canals. By Theod. Aug. Mann, Member of the Imperial and Royal Aca- demy of Sciences at Bruffels; communicated by Joseph XXXVIII. Extract of Two Meteorological Journals of the Journals of the Weather, obferved at Nain, in- 57° North latitude, and at Okak, in 57° 30' North latitude, both on the Coast of Labradore. Communicated by Mr. De la Trobe to the Prefident, and by him to the Society. XXXIX. Improvements in Electricity. By John Ingen Houfz, Body Physician to their Imperial Majeflies, and F. R. S.; who was nominated by the Prefident and Council to profecute Discoveries in Natural History, I. An Account of a Cure of the St. Vitus's Dance by Electricity. In a Letter from Anthony Fothergill, M. D. F. R. S. at Northampton, to William Henly, F. R. S. Communicated by Mr. Henly. SIR, Read Nov. 5, 1778. A Northampton, GREEABLE to my promife, I now pro ceed to give you fome account of a recent cure performed by electricity, which will, I think, afford you much pleasure. VOL. LXIX. *B ANN ANN AGUTTER, a girl of ten years of age, of a pale, emaciated habit, was admitted an out-patient at the Northampton Hospital on the 6th of June last. From her father's account it appeared (for fhe was fpeechless and with difficulty fupported from falling by two affiftants) that she had for fix weeks laboured under violent convulfive motions, which affected the whole frame, from which she had very short intermiffions, except during fleep; that the disease had not only impaired her memory and intellectual faculties, but of late had deprived her of the use of speech. Volatile and fetid medicines were now recommended, and the warm bath every other night; but with no better fuccefs, except that the nights which had been restless became fomewhat more compofed. Blifters and anti-spafmodics were directed, and particularly the flowers of zinc, which were continued till the beginning of July, but without the least abatement of the symptoms; when her father growing impatient of fruitless attendance at the hospital, I recommended, as a dernier refort, a trial of electricity, under the management of the Rev. Mr. UNDERWOOD, an ingenious electrician. After this I heard no more of her till the first of August, when her father came to inform me that his daughter was well, and desired she might have her discharge. To which, I which, after expreffing my doubts of the cure, I confented; but should not have been perfectly convinced of it, had I not received afterwards a full confirmation of it from Mr. UNDERWOOD, dated Sept. 16, an extract from whose letter I will now give you in his own words. "I have long expected the pleasure of feeing you, "that I might inform you how I proceeded in the cure "of the poor girl. As the cafe was particular, I have "been very minute, and wish you may find something " in it that may be useful to others. If you think it proper, I beg you will state the cafe medically, and make "it as public as you please. "July 5. On the glass-footed stool for thirty minutes: "fparks were drawn from the arms, neck, and head, "which caused a confiderable perfpiration, and a rash "appeared in her forehead. She then received fhocks "through her hands, arms, breasts, and back; and from "this time the symptoms abated, her arms beginning to "recover their uses (a). "July 13. On the glass-footed stool forty-five minutes: received strong shocks through her legs and "feet, which from that time began to recover their "wonted uses; also four strong shocks through the jaws, "foon after which her speech returned. (a) The coated bottle held near a quart. " July |