John Wesley (1703-91)
The English preacher John Wesley was one of the founders of Methodism, but also an important early user of electricity for medical treatment.
Originally a reform movement within the Church of England, Methodism was named for the methodical way in which Wesley and his followers attempted to follow the teaching of the Bible. Wesley was an inspiring preacher whose sermons in open fields were attended by large crowds.
Wesley also had a strong interest in science, and became convinced that the new science of electricity could benefit humanity. He began to practice electrotherapy, and published books describing his techniques and the many cases he had treated. He employed friction machines and Leyden jars to create and store static electricity (the battery had not been invented yet). Wesley advocated electrotherapy as a treatment for diseases as diverse as tuberculosis, toothache and epilepsy.
Related links
Techniques and Technologies:
Bibliography
P Bertucci, ‘Revealing sparks: John Wesley and the religious utility of electrical healing’, The British Journal for the History of Science, 39 (2006), pp 341-362
J Wesley, Primitive Physick: Or an Easy and Natural Method of Curing Most Diseases (London: J Palmar, 1751)
J Wesley, The Desideratum: Or, Electricity made Plain and Useful by a Lover of Mankind and of Common Sense (London : Bailliere, Tindall and Cox, 1760)
Glossary:
Leyden Jar
Earliest and simplest device for storing static electricity, developed c.1745 in Leyden, Holland. The original electrical capacitor, it consists of a foil-lined glass jar partly filled with water and closed with a cork through which protrudes a brass rod wired to the foil. To charge the jar, friction is applied to the tip of the rod
Tuberculosis
An infectious disease that is caused by a bacterium first identified by Robert Koch in 1882. The disease usually affects the lungs first, and is accompanied by a chronic cough.
Epilepsy
A disorder of brain function characterized by seizures that occur suddenly. The seizures can be triggered by fast flashing lights, especially strobe lighting.