Physical Description:

metal, steel (overall material)

Measurements:

overall: 7/8 in; 2.2225 cm

Object Name:

tractors

therapeutic device, fraudulent

Date made:

ca 1800

Description:

Elisha Perkins (1741-1799) was an American physician who, in 1796, obtained a patent for metal “tractors” that promised to cure such ailments as inflammation and rheumatism.

Ref: Jacques M. Quen, “Elisha Perkins, Physician, Nostrum-Vendor, or Charlatan?” <i>Bulletin of the History of Medicine</i> 37 (1963): 159-166.

Location:

Currently not on view

ID Number:

MG.302606.124

Accession number:

302606

Catalog number:

302606.124

See more items in:

Medicine and Science: Medicine

Data Source:

National Museum of American History

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ad-f9c8-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:nmah_1455361