Terrible Tractoration, and Other Poems

A cheeky, 19th‑century verse satire, this work takes its name from the fever‑ish craze over “metallic tractors” – strange devices that claimed to draw away harmful electric fluid from the body. In lively Hudibrastic couplets the narrator, a self‑styled Dr. Caustic, lampoons the gullible physicians, inventors, and society members who embrace the fashionable cure, while still hinting at the genuine curiosity that drove early electro‑medical experiments.

Beyond the title piece, the collection offers a potpourri of occasional poems that drift from witty social commentary to more earnest reflections on travel, science, and everyday life. The poet’s voice swings between sharp irony and playful affection, inviting listeners to laugh with the characters rather than simply at them. The result is a spirited glimpse into a bygone era’s obsession with miraculous remedies, delivered with a wink and a rhythmic bounce that keeps the satire bright and accessible.