Perkinism Med.
(ˈpɜːkɪnɪz(ə)m)
Also † Perkinsism.
[See -ism.]
A method of treatment introduced by Elisha Perkins, an American physician (died 1799), for the cure of rheumatic diseases; it consisted in drawing two small pointed rods, one of steel and one of brass, called ‘metallic tractors’, over the affected region; tractoration. So Perkiˈnean, Perkiˈnistic adjs., of or pertaining to this method; ˈPerkinist, a follower of the method of Perkins; ˈPerkinize v., to practise Perkinism; Perˈkinsian a., pertaining to Elisha Perkins.
| 1798 C. C. Langworthy (title) A View of the Perkinean Electricity; or, an Inquiry into the Influence of Metallic Tractors. Ibid. App. 41 His father's discovery, which may with propriety be termed Perkinism, or..Perkinean Electricity. 1803 Fessenden (title) Terrible Tractoration; a Poetical Petition against Galvanizing Trumpery and the Perkinistic Institution. Ibid. 34 To crush the Perkinising faction. 1824 M{supc}Culloch Scotland IV. 63 He who believes in Perkinism or Bletonism or Mesmerism. 1853 Dunglison Med. Lex., Perkinist,..Perkinistic. 1880 Libr. Univ. Knowl. (N.Y.) XI. 515 The practice was called ‘Perkinsism’. Ibid., A Perkinsian institution..was established [in London] for the benefit of the poor. |