Chapter 4

I have said that every disease is preternaturally either positive or negative. I have further said, that the application of either pole to a given part produces an effect the opposite of what would be produced in the same part by a reversal of the poles. The way is now prepared for me to announce THE CENTRAL PRINCIPLE of our system of practice. The reader will bear in mind that all acutely inflammatory or hypersthenic affections are electrically _positive_ in excess--having too much vital action--being _overcharged_ with the electro-vital fluid; and that all paralytic diseases, or those of a sluggish, azooedynamic character, are electrically _negative_--having too little electro-vital fluid--too little vital action. It is a universal law of electricity that positives repel each other, and that negatives repel each other; but that positives and negatives attract each other. This is a principle of electric action everywhere known, where any thing is known on the subject. _We appropriate it practically to therapeutic purposes._ Therefore, when I wish to repress or repel inflammation, which is electrically positive in excess, I put the positive pole to it; or, at least, I bring it under that half of the circuit with which the positive pole is connected, and as near to the pole or electrode as possible. And because two positives repel each other, and also because the direction of the current is always from the positive to the negative pole, carrying the electro-vital fluid with it, either I must withdraw my positive electrode, or that excess of electro-vitality in the diseased part which makes it morbidly positive, and thus produces inflammation, must give way. I _will not_ withdraw my positive pole, and therefore the positive inflammation _must_ retreat and be dispersed. In treating this case, I will place my _negative_ electrode either on some healthy part, or, if there be perceptible anywhere in the system a morbidly negative part, as is often the case, I will place my negative pole there. For example: if I am treating for _nephritis_--inflammation of the kidneys--when I do not perceive any part to be abnormally negative, I manipulate with my positive electrode over the inflamed kidney, having the negative electrode placed at the coccyx--lowest part of the spine. My positive pole repels the positive inflammation from the kidney; or, rather, repels from it that excess of electro-vital fluid which makes it morbidly positive and induces the inflammation, while the negative pole attracts the same towards the coccyx. On its way, it becomes more or less diverted to adjacent nerves; or, if gathered in the healthy part, under the negative pole, it is immediately dispersed by the normal circulation as soon as the electrode is removed. But if I find _a spinal irritation_, say in one or more of the cervical or dorsal vertebrae, and, at the same time, a stomach affected with _chronic dyspepsia_, accompanied with _constipation of bowels_, I will work over the inflamed or irritated spine with my positive pole, because I know from its irritation that there is an excess of electro-vital fluid in the part, making it improperly positive; and, with my negative electrode, I will, at the same time, treat over the stomach, bowels and liver; because I know, from the _inaction_ of these organs, that there is a lack of the vital force--a deficiency of the electro-vital fluid--there, and that, consequently, they are too negative. Adopting this method, I accomplish two objects in the same treatment. _First_, my positive pole, applied to the spinal disease, repels from it the excess of electro-vital fluid which was there doing mischief; and, _second_, my negative pole attracts the same, along with the artificial or inorganic electricity, to the stomach and bowels where it is wanted, since negatives attract positives. Or I wish to rouse to action a _torpid liver_. Now, if I find _inflammation, or enlargement_ of the spleen, as is commonly the case in _chills and fever_, I place the positive pole upon the spleen, at the left side, just below the false ribs, and the negative pole on the liver, which is best reached immediately below the ribs on the right side, and around backward and upward as far as to the spine. The positive pole repels the excess of electro-vitality away from the positive spleen, and so reduces the improper excitement there, while at the same time it rushes, by attraction, to the negative liver, under the negative pole, and makes that more positive, and so more active. In this way, I change the polarization of the parts, and, in so doing, remove the sustaining cause of the disease. You here perceive that I treat a positive part with the positive pole, so as to repel the excess of electro-vitality from it, and thus repress its excessive action; and that I treat a negative part with the negative pole, so as to attract the electro-vital fluid, along with the current from the machine, to it from under the positive pole, and thus increase the action by making it more positive.

But suppose I do what nearly all of the doctors do, who use electricity with any regard to polarity; that is, if treating acutely inflamed eyes, for example, apply the negative pole to the eyes, thinking thereby to make them more negative; or, if treating amaurosis, apply the positive electrode to the affected parts, thinking thereby to make them more positive! I say, suppose I do this same thing, do you not see that, by the fixed laws of electricity, I necessarily increase the evils that I would remedy? Do you not see that, by placing my negative pole on the already overcharged and inflamed eyes, I attract to them yet more of the electro-vital fluid, and so increase their positive condition and aggravate the inflammation? and that, by presenting my positive electrode to the eyes already more or less paralyzed, I repel what little electro-vitality there was there, and so make the nerves all the more negative and dead? And yet, I repeat it, this is precisely the plan of almost all the men who use electricity in therapeutic practice with any regard to its polarization. They treat a positive disease--rather, a _hypersthenic_ disease, (for they seldom know anything of the _electrical_ states of diseased parts), with the negative pole, and an azooedynamic disease, which is negative, with the positive pole!--all directly antagonistic to science and success.

But the great mass of physicians, who attempt to treat electrically, have no knowledge either of the electrical condition of the various forms of disease, nor of the distinctive and peculiar effects produced by either pole of the artificial current; and consequently all their use of this powerful agent is entirely empirical--merely haphazard experiment.

I may have raised an inquiry a few moments since which ought to be answered. I said, in effect, that in treating a positive disease, such, for instance, as acute, inflammatory rheumatism or acute pleurisy, I would use the positive pole on the inflamed parts, and the negative pole on either some healthy part or on a morbidly negative part, if I could find such. So, too, I said I would treat a negative disease, such as amaurosis or torpidity of liver, with the negative pole, placing the positive pole on either some healthy or morbidly positive part. The query may have arisen, "By placing the one pole or the other on a healthy part, do you not derange the normal electro-vital action there, disturbing its healthy polarization?" I answer, yes, for the time being, I do; and if this disturbing force were to be steadily continued for any considerable time, the disturbance would produce manifest and serious disease. But then, a pole or electrode, placed on a healthy part, we generally move, or ought to move, more or less, every few moments, which prevents the establishment of any perverted action in the part; and the moment the electrode is withdrawn, the normal polarization and healthy action are resumed.

USE OF THE LONG CORD.

It is often desirable to bring the entire parts of the patient, through which the current is made to pass, under one and the same kind of influence--such as shall make them all more positive or more negative. Especially is this true in many cases where we wish to run through but a _short_ space. For this purpose, there is frequent advantage in using conducting cords of unequal length. As my views on this point have been disputed in certain quarters, I will endeavor here to place them in such a light that they shall not be rejected for want of being _rightly understood_.

I have previously remarked[C] that, for practical purposes, it is sufficiently exact to consider the _magnetic circuit_ as extending only from the _positive post_, around through the conducting cords, the electrodes, and the person of the patient, to the _negative post_. We will so regard it at present. This circuit may be viewed as one continuous magnet, made up of several sections or shorter magnets placed end to end--the positive end of the first to the negative end of the second, and the positive end of the second to the negative end of the third. In this arrangement, the negative end of the first section is the negative pole of the one whole magnet, and the positive end of the third section is the positive pole of the whole magnet. The minimum quantity of the magnetism is supposed to be at the negative pole, and the maximum quantity at the positive pole; and the quantity is supposed to increase, by _regular graduation_, from the negative to the positive pole. This being so, the quantity is _the same_ in the positive end of either section and the negative end of the adjoining section, at their point of contact.

Now, in practice, the body of the patient, or so much of it as is embraced between the two electrodes, may be regarded as the _second_ section in this magnet; and the cord connected with the positive post, together with its electrode attached, may be counted the _first_ and _most negative_ section; and the cord connected with the negative post, along with its electrode, may be the _third_ and _most positive_ section. And if this whole magnet be more and more positive, by regular degrees through all the sections, from its negative to its positive end or pole, then the nearer any given part of it, say the _second section_--the patient's person, may be to its positive pole in the negative post, so much the more _positive_ that section or part will be. And the nearer such part or section may be to the negative pole in the positive post, so much the more _negative_ it will be. If the cords be of equal length, the central point in the circuit or magnet will be in the second section--the person of the patient, midway between the electrodes; and that section will be charged with the _mean_ quantity of the magnetic fluid. The _central point_ will hold _exactly_ the mean quantity. But if the cord in the _first_ section be _two_ yards long, and that in the _third_ section be _four_ yards, then section second--the patient's parts under treatment--will be nearest to the _negative_ pole in the positive post, and consequently will be charged with much _less_ than the mean quantity of the fluid, and will therefore be made so much the more _negative_. If, on the other hand, the cord in section _first_ be _four_ yards in length, and that in section _third_ be only _two_ yards, then the patient's body--section second--will be brought nearest to the _positive_ pole in the negative post, and of course be charged with much _more_ than the mean quantity of the magnetic fluid, and hence will be made so much the more _positive_.

It is true that the positive and negative poles of section second--the parts of the patient between the electrodes--will not be _reversed_ by any such changes in the length or relative positions of the conducting cords; nor is such reversal required in those cases where the use of the _long cord_ is indicated. The only change of polarization called for in such cases, is that _all_ the parts through which the current is to pass should, in greater or less degree, be affected alike, as being made more positive or more negative. Of course these parts will be so affected in different degrees--those nearest to the _short_ cord the _most_; those nearest to the _long_ cord the _least_.

The class of cases where the use of the _long cord_ is more especially advantageous, comprises those in which it is desirable to run the current _out_ of the patient at the shortest admissible distance from the positive electrode. For example, in treating _cynanche tonsillaris_, (quinsy), if treating with the positive pole in the mouth, we would not wish to run the current further than to the back of the neck; or, if treating externally, we would not wish to carry the negative electrode further from the positive than from side to side. Here the _long cord_, with the negative electrode, would be a special advantage in subduing the inflammation. We would not care to _increase_ the inflammatory action, as we should necessarily do on the positive side of the central point, by using cords of _equal_ length.

Again, if treating a case of acute _enteritis_--inflammation of the intestines--we would not wish, while treating the abdomen with the positive pole, to increase the inflammation in the lower parts, by using equal cords and placing the negative pole at the sacrum or the coccyx. Neither would we wish to reduce the strength of the lower limbs by carrying the negative pole to the feet. Nor, yet again, would we care to endanger the thoracic viscera by running the current from the abdomen up to the dorsal or cervical vertebrae. The true way, in such a case, would be to connect the negative electrode with a _long cord_, and then to run the current through the inflamed parts, and _out_ somewhere from the lumbar vertebrae to the coccyx, by treating over the abdomen with the positive pole, and placing the negative pole on the lower parts of the spine.

As the cords that accompany the machine from the manufacturer are usually cut about two yards in length, every practitioner should supply himself with an extra cord, of at least three yards, to be used as the _long cord_.

THE INWARD AND THE OUTWARD CURRENT.

I have already said that when the conducting-cords are of equal length, as for the most part they should be, the central point of the circuit will be in the person of the patient, about midway between the two electrodes. Now, since the current always runs from the positive to the negative pole, and makes its whole circuit in that direction, it will be readily seen that, from the place on the patient where the positive pole is applied, inward as far as to the central point, the direction of the current may properly be said to be _inward_; and that, from the central point to the place of the negative electrode, where the current comes out, its direction may be said to be _outward_. When, therefore, a part is treated with the positive pole, or when the part under treatment appears anywhere between the positive pole and the central point, it is not unusual to say, It is treated with the _inward current_. And when a part is treated with the negative pole, or when it appears between the central point and the negative pole, it is often spoken of as being treated with the _outward current_.

MECHANICAL EFFECT OF EACH POLE.

The _mechanical_ effect of the forward end of the current, or that part of it which is under the negative electrode, is to relax, expand and weaken; while that of the rear end, under the positive electrode, is to contract and strengthen. A moving ship disperses the waters at its bow, but draws them in at its stern. The bullet shot from a gun, in passing through a plank, leaves the perforation closed where it enters in, but wide open where it comes out. Thus, in physics, the advance end of a moving body tends to disperse the element through which it is passing, while the rear end tends to its contraction. Analogous to this are the _mechanical_ effects of the different ends of an electrical current in the living tissue. When, therefore, we wish to relax a muscle that is unnaturally contracted, as by rheumatism or otherwise, we must bring it under the forward end--the outward current--the negative pole. If we desire to contract ligaments or muscles that are abnormally relaxed, (not _atrophied_), as in prolapsus uteri, we must subject them to the rear end of the current--the positive pole. Parts that are unnaturally contracted are electrically negative in excess, and need to be made more positive. And parts that are unhealthily relaxed are too positive, and should be made more negative. We make a part more positive by applying to it the negative pole, and more negative by applying to it the positive pole. Parts _spasmodically_ contracted are acute and positive; those _permanently_ contracted are chronic and negative.

RELAXED AND ATROPHIED CONDITIONS.

I alluded, above, to a distinction between a _relaxed_ and an _atrophied_ condition of an organ. There is such a distinction, which should be carefully observed while treating parts so affected. An atrophied muscle or organ becomes soft and flabby from lack of nourishment. But this condition is not properly one of _relaxation_. It is rather a diminution--a _thinning out_ of atoms, by wasting without replenishment. Such a condition is always negative, and requires treatment under the negative pole. On the contrary, relaxed parts, such as appear in prolapsus uteri, and in the sagging down of the diaphragm, with the thoracic and abdominal viscera, exhibit no lack of nutrition or of vital action. Relaxation is a _loosening_ of atoms from each other, more or less, without loss of aggregate weight; and implies a condition electrically positive in excess, and calls for treatment with the positive pole.

GENERAL DIRECTIONS OF THE CURRENT.

_Negative_ affections, as a general rule, are best treated with the _upward-running_ current--the positive pole being placed at a lower point than the negative. _Inflammatory_ affections, and other _plus_ conditions, for the most part, should be treated with the down-running current, keeping the negative pole at a lower point than the positive. But these rules admit of frequent exceptions, which every practitioner's experience will soon reveal.

The _downward_ current, running _with_ the downward and outward course of the nerves, tends to _depletion_ and _weakness_, for the reason that it _runs off_ from the system the electro-vital fluid. The _upward_ current, on the other hand, running _against_ the nerves, inward towards their source, feeds the system with fresh electricity, and gives a _tonic_ effect. Yet for this purpose, it must not be too long continued, nor of too severe strength, lest it overtask and irritate the nerve-sheaths.

In treating a _paralyzed_ organ, the current should commonly be run from a _healthy_ part, whether that require it to be directed downwards or upwards. For example: In treating a paralyzed foot or leg, the positive pole should be upon the lower part of the spine--at the coccyx--or even under the sole of the opposite foot. It is best to alternate between these positions. So in treating a paralyzed hand or arm, let the current be run from the upper part of the spine, and frequently also from the opposite hand. With the _negative_ electrode, treat all over the paralyzed parts. Yet it is well, in these cases, often to _reverse_ the direction of the current for a brief period at the close of the sittings, say one to two minutes, for the purpose of rousing the nervous susceptibility, and to prevent exhaustion from too continuously running off the electro-vital fluid.

TREATING WITH ELECTROLYTIC CURRENTS.

For decomposing and carrying off unnatural growths, as fistula, ficus, glandular enlargements and other tumors, it is often best to dilute the _electrolytic_ quality of the galvanic current A B with one or both of the Faradaic currents, as by taking A C or A D instead of A B. But _malignant_ and _poisonous_ affections, as scirrhus and other varieties of cancer, and also cases of infectious virus, demand continually, or with but occasional exceptions, the primary galvanic current A B. [->]In treating these malignant affections, the current should be run through as short a distance of _healthy_ tissue as possible, yet so as fairly to reach the diseased part. And whether this part be brought, for a given time, under the one pole or the other, the opposite pole should be attached to the _long cord_, so as to throw the central point of the circuit, not in the person of the patient, but out on the long cord, thus bringing the entire organic parts though which the current is passed on one and the same side of the center, and so, under the ruling influence of the same pole.

Those diseases which require the chemical or electrolytic currents should, for the most part, be treated under the negative pole, particularly those which need the galvanic current A B, and also old ulcers and _chronic irritation of mucus surfaces_. Glandular enlargements not of scirrhous character, and excrescent growths not poisonous, may often be reduced, and perhaps sometimes cured, under the positive pole. But my own experience, even with these affections, is that it is better to treat them under the negative pole until they come to assume, as sometimes they will, an _acute_ state, when the positive pole may be used with success. If, however, it appears desirable to produce a _cauterizing_ effect, this must be done by persistent treatment under the negative pole of a strong A B or A C current, and, if the disease be external, with a small pointed electrode.

POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE MANIFESTATIONS.

_Acute_ diseases are to be regarded as electrically positive, and _chronic_ affections as negative. The exceptions are rare, if any at all. _Malignant cholera_, which is eminently acute, might by some be considered as an exception. In negative diseases, there is a low degree of electro-vitality. And it has been remarked by careful observers, particularly in the Orient, that cholera rages with greatest destructiveness when no special electric phenomena have for long time appeared in the atmosphere, and when the artificial electrical apparatus could be made to yield its sparks only with difficulty, or not at all. And again, after a thunderstorm, when the electric machine works again freely, the cholera is also found to abate quickly, and sometimes very greatly. The inference drawn from these facts has been that the prevalence of cholera is largely owing to a lack of electricity in the atmosphere, and consequently to a want of the animal electricity or electro-vitality in the system of the patient; and thence it might be concluded that cholera implies a negative condition of the system. I think there is a fallacy in this reasoning. There appears to me to be an unwarrantable assumption in confidently attributing the long absence from the heavens of marked electrical phenomena, and the failure of the electric machine to give its spark, to an unquestioned deficiency of atmospheric electricity. Electrical manifestations take place only when the _plus_ and _minus_ conditions are existing, in relation to each other, somewhat near, or not very remote; and the visible phenomena appear when the positive and negative rush together, so as to produce a polar equilibrium. But suppose a _plus_ condition to exist over a wide region, then, everything being _overcharged_, the visible phenomena would be as rare and as difficult of attainment as if all around were negative. How, then, can it be inferred, with any certainty, from such data, that there is a _deficiency_ of electricity, rather than an _excess_ of it?