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Description: | Many Centuries later, the magical powers of magnetism were exploited by medicine makers of the nineteenth century. Dr. Edward B. Foote M.D. in his book Plain Home Talk And Medical Common Sense says, 'Happily for suffering humanity ... the therapeutic value of the electrical discoveries of Galvani, Faraday, Cross and others have been tested in the universities and hospitals in England, France and Germany. Galvanism, electro-magnetism and other forms of electricity, are now extensively employed in the best institutions of the old world...with the most flattering results.' He sites another author as saying ' Water is valuable as a medical agent, but its efficiency consists, not in the element itself, but in its subservience as a handmaid of electricity. Electricity is the queen of medicine: water merely a pool in which she bathes her feet.' 1844 newspaper ad, were to be used in conjunction with the Magnetic Fluid to effect a positive cure for rheumatism, gout, toothache, bronchitis, palsy, epliepsy, cramps, fits, palpitations of the heart, apoplexy, spinal complaints and general debility.The medicinal powers of magnetism were explored and promoted by medicine producers throughout the nineteenth and well into the twentieth century. The therapeutic value of the electrical discoveries of Galvani, Faraday and others were tested across Europe and adverts appeared in newspapers reporting the healing properties of items like the galvanic ring (similar to the copper bracelets of today). Claims that these rings could combat toothache, fits, apoplexy, bronchitis and many more ailments naturally made these metal bracelets extremely popular.This song forms part of a selection of songs from 'The songs of the bards of the Tyne' currently held by the Border History Museum. The content was selected and edited by local composer J.P. Robson at the request of publishers P. France and Co. in 1849. The volume contains over 300 songs, with some eighty contributions from the editor himself. With material from local favourites such as William Mitford, Robert Emery and William Stephenson, the book contains some of the region's most popular and enduring songs, and is as valuable to the history of traditional song as collections such as 'Allan's Tyneside songs'.The editor, Joseph Philip Robson, was born in Newcastle on 24th September, 1808. Losing his parents at an early age, Robson was sent to learn the trade of a plane maker. However, after an industrial accident, Robson eventually took up the occupation of a schoolmaster, issuing a number of poetical volumes. A regular contributor to Chater's Comic Almanack, Joseph Robson died on 26th August, 1870 aged sixty-seven years. ; Local songs selected by Tyneside composer J.P. Robson | Publisher: | P. France & Co. The Side ; Newcastle upon Tyne | Rights holder: | rights holder : Border History Museum | Subjects: | invention and progress inventions & medicine & health | Temporal: | start=1841;end=1860; | Source: | Folk Archive Resource North East | Identifier: | farne:H1417602 | Go to resource |
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