Frankenstein

The medical pocket companion, or, Domestic adviser: designed for both married and single: containing a brief description of the causes, symptoms, and treatment of the most common and obstinate diseases which affect humanity: together with many valuable hints upon the preservation of health, and the proper management of infancy and childhood, 1858

This book provides descriptions of common diseases and instructions on how to treat them, for the everyday person. A chapter titled "Galvanism" focuses on the application of electric current to alleviate suffering. In the mid-19th century, many in the scientific community, and in the general public, believed electricity to have therapeutic and invigorative properties. Mary Shelley's knowledge of galvanism and the hopes for its potential in her time are evident as Victor Frankenstein makes several references to electricity in Frankenstein; or, the Modern Prometheus (1818).

Courtesy National Library of Medicine