Elisha Perkins: The True Crime Story and Key Facts
Elisha Perkins: American physician (1741–1799). The documented story, timeline and key facts of the case.
Elisha Perkins was an American physician who created a fraudulent medical device, the Perkins Patent Tractors. Although they were made of steel and brass, Perkins claimed that they were made of unusual metal alloys. Perkins claimed his rods cured inflammation, rheumatism and pain in the head and the face; he applied the points on the aching body part and passed them over the part for about 20 minutes. The device was later the subject of the first placebo research.
Why the case is remembered
The Elisha Perkins story remains one of the most discussed entries in true-crime history, covered in documentaries, podcasts and books. The summary above follows the publicly documented record.
Text adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Facts reflect the documented public record.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Elisha Perkins?
Elisha Perkins was an American physician who created a fraudulent medical device, the Perkins Patent Tractors. Although they were made of steel and brass, Perkins claimed that they were made of unusual metal alloys.
Why is the Elisha Perkins case famous?
It is one of the most documented fraudster cases, widely covered by true-crime media.
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