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| "Dr." James
Graham |
| Quack Doctor - 1745-1794 |
Born in Edinburgh, James Graham studied Medicine
at Edinburgh University but didn't graduate. Still, what's a wee
degree between pals ?
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| "Dr Graham" and one of
his electrical therapy devices |
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Graham emigrated to America in 1767,
settling in Philadelphia and practicing as an eye specialist.
He became fascinated by the electrical experiments of Benjamin
Franklin and was soon prescribing electrical therapies for just
about everything.
Convinced that he had found a way
to make a fortune, Graham returned to Britain, setting up clinics
in Bristol, Bath and finally, in London.
It was in London that he would make
his name. The novelty value of electrical treatment quickly attracted
attention and Graham established a reputation amongst the great
and good including Prince of Wales, Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire
and the British historian Catherine Macaulay.
In an attempt to cash in on his growing
repute, the good doctor opened "the Temple of Health and Hymen",
offering the very latest in electrical therapies.
The treatments included "magnetic thrones",
electrically charged baths and "celestial beds". This latter treatment
was housed in a room of its own with a private entrance from the
street. The "celestial bed", provided the sterile and impotent
with a guaranteed cure for their misfortune. For the tidy sum
of £50 a night, aristocratic couples could bonk away accompanied
by regular sharp belts of electricity up the arse.
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| Emma Lyon - later Lady Emma Hamilton |
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Scantily dressed "Goddesses" accompanied
much of this nonsense. One of these was a beautiful 16-year old
named Emma Lyon who "entertained" clients with a nude performance
in a warm mud bath. Emma Lyon later emerged in society as Lady
Hamilton, well known for performing on Nelson's column.
Unsurprisingly, Graham was regularly arrested
and imprisoned.
Ultimately, the clinic failed. In later
life Dr. Graham found religion and styled himself "The Servant
of the Lord OWL". OWL meaning "Oh Wonderful Love".
The man was centuries before his time.
Today he would be making an absolute fortune.
