In 1784, a Royal Commission headed by Benjamin Franklin & Antoine Lavoisier designed a series of experiments to debunk France's greatest medical rogue, Anton Mesmer, and his bizarre healing of illnesses based on his bogus theory of animal magnetism. 
Let that sink in:
Lavoisier was the father of chemistry.
Franklin did experiments in physics, was an avid inventor.
They took on the fraud that gave us the word "mesmerize".
And the process they developed was the blueprint for every CLINICAL TRIAL of modern times.
Lavoisier was the father of chemistry.
Franklin did experiments in physics, was an avid inventor.
They took on the fraud that gave us the word "mesmerize".
And the process they developed was the blueprint for every CLINICAL TRIAL of modern times.
Also on the commission that invented the concept of blinded clinical trials, was a Joseph-Ignace Guillotin, whose invention was to become important in French politics.
There are some neat letters between Ben Franklin and Lavoisier, and I want to share a snippet:
"Here, then: a revolution [in science and chemistry] has taken place in an important part of human knowledge since your departure from Europe..."
"Here, then: a revolution [in science and chemistry] has taken place in an important part of human knowledge since your departure from Europe..."
"I will consider this revolution to be well advanced and even completely accomplished if you range yourself with us. ...After having brought you up to date on what is happening in chemistry, it would be well to speak to you about our political revolution."
"We regard it as done and without any possibility of return to the old order."
Lavoisier, letter to Benjamin Franklin, Feb 2, 1790.
Lavoisier, letter to Benjamin Franklin, Feb 2, 1790.
