FRANKLIN ON ELECTRICITY IN THE PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS.

FRANKLIN, BENJAMIN. 1706-1790.

Sammelband of 45 papers on electricity and medicine extracted from the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, including many by or relating to Benjamin Franklin, Peter Collinson, William Watson and Benjamin Wilson,

FRANKLIN, BENJAMIN. 1706-1790. Sammelband of 45 papers on electricity and medicine extracted from the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, including many by or relating to Benjamin Franklin, Peter Collinson, William Watson and Benjamin Wilson, approximately 400 pp, 10 engraved folding scientific plates, published 1734-1761, bound in modern cloth-backed marbled paper boards, titled in gilt "Electricity/ 1734-61" with device to spine.

COLLECTION OF WRITINGS ON ELECTRICITY FROM THE PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS, INCLUDING FRANKLIN'S LETTERS TO COLLINSON, as well as extensive material relating to the application of electricity to medicine. "The most dramatic result of Franklin's researches was the proof that lightning is really an electrical phenomenon. Others had made such a suggestion before him—even Newton himself—but it was he who provided the experimental proof. In 1752 he flew a kite in a thunderstorm and attached a key to its string. From this he collected electric charges in a Leiden jar and showed that atmospheric and frictional or machine-made electricity are the same ... His reputation as a scientist was immediately established by the publication of the results of his researches in a series of letters addressed to Peter Collinson, a London merchant and naturalist" (see PMM 299). Please contact department for a complete list of papers.

Highlights include:
* "An Account of Mr. Benjamin Franklin's Treatise, lately published, intituled [sic] Experiments and Observations on Electricity, made at Philadelphia in America; by Wm. Watson, FRS." Read June 6, 1751. A review of the 1st Ed. of Franklin's Treatise ... Pp 202-211.
* "A Letter from Mr. Franklin to Mr. Peter Collinson, FRS, concerning the Effects of Lightning." [Letter dated] June 20, 1751. Read Nov. 14, 1751. Pp 289-291. Contains a discussion of what is now known as St. Elmo's Fire, called in this article "comazants."
* "A Letter of Benjamin Franklin, Esq., to Mr. Peter Collinson, FRS, concerning an electrical kite." [Letter dated] Oct. 1, 1752. Read Dec. 21, 1752. Pp 565-567.
* "A Letter of Mr. W. Watson FRS to the Royal Society, concerning the electrical Experiments in England upon Thunderclouds." Dec. 1732, Read Dec 1752. Pp 567-570.
* "An Account of a Treatise [by Nollet], presented to the Royal Society intituled [sic] 'Letters concerning Electricity...." May 1753. Pp 201-216. Contains much discussion of Franklin's experiments.
* "Electrical Experiments, made in pursuance of those by Mr. Canton, dated Decem. 3, 1753; with Explanations by Mr. Benjamin Franklin, communicated to Mr. Peter Collinson, FRS." 1755. Pp 300-305.
* "Extract of a letter from Mr. B. Franklin to Mons Delibard, inclosed in a letter to Mr. Peter Collinson. 1755." Pp 305-309.
* "An account of the effects of electricity in paralytic cases. In a Letter to John Pringle, M.D., F.R.S., from Benjamin Franklin, Esq; F.R.S.," Dec. 1757. Read Jan. 12, 1758." Pp 481-483.
In this letter Franklin recounted to the Royal Society (then engaged in heated controversy over the alleged benefits of electrical treatments) his several years of trials of electrotherapy for persons suffering with "palsy" (limb paresis from any cause). He famously stated that in his experience electrotherapy provided only weak and temporary benefits, and (well in advance of our modern concept of placebo effect) acknowledged the likelihood that "the spirits given by the hope of success" may be the active agent. The letter is a good reflection of Franklin's scientific clarity amid a strong current of false enthusiasm.
* "Experiments on the Tourmalin: by Mr Benjamin Wilson." 1759. Pp 308-339. Folding plate.
* "Experiments in Electricity: In a letter from Father Beccaria ... to Benjamin Franklin." 1760. Pp 514-526. Folding plate.
* "Further Experiments by Benjamin Wilson." 1760. Pp 896-906. Folding plate.
* "Observations upon the Effects of Electricity applied to Tetanus, or Muscular Rigidity ... by William Watson." 1761. Pp 10-26.