Chapter 6

In cases of simple inflammation, (not infectious), and that chiefly or entirely in the lids, it is often quite as well or better to treat over the closed lids with the finger, holding the sponge-roll P. P. in the same hand.

AMAUROSIS. (_Paralysis of the optic nerve._)

Use B D current, moderate force, three or four times, and then change to C D. Apply the eye-bath, N. P., to the eye, and sponge-cup P. P. upon one of the upper dorsal vertebrae. Treat three to five minutes on each eye, three times a week.

STRABISMUS. (_Discordance of the eyes._)

If neither of the _rectus_ muscles have been cut and cicatrized, and if the deformity be not congenital, it may ordinarily be cured.

Take B D current, with small pointed electrodes. If the eye be turned _inward_, insert P. P. in the outer angle of the eye, so as to bear upon the _rectus externus_, and N. P. in the inner angle, so as to bear on the _rectus internus_. Let the current be of what force the patient can bear. Withdraw the electrodes frequently, to rest the eye, and then reapply them. Apply the current in this manner six to ten or twelve times at a sitting. The eye will soon become inflamed, but the inflammation will quickly go down. Treat daily, or on alternate days, as the eye can bear. After treating some ten or twelve times, if the organ does not come into place let it rest a week, and then resume the treatment as before.

If the eye be turned _outward_, treat in the same manner as directed above, except that in this case, the P. P. must be inserted in the _inner_ and the N. P. in the _outer_ angle.

CATARRH. (_Acute._)

If in the head, treat as prescribed for common colds in the head. If in the throat, place N. P. somewhere on the dorsal vertebrae, and treat with P. P.--tongue instrument--in the mouth about five minutes, and then with end-sponge cup externally upon the affected parts as much longer. Use the B D current, in good medium strength, twice a day.

CATARRH. (_Chronic._)

If in the head, first give _face-bath_, as in common colds, except with _reversed poles_ and changing to the A D current, _very mild_ force. If in the throat or bronchial tubes, place the P. P. of the A D current, with _long cord_, on the back of the neck or in the mouth, and treat with N. P., _soft_ current, upon the affected parts, eight or ten minutes.

Repeat treatment about three times a week.

DIPHTHERIA.

Use the A D current, strong force. Place the N. P., _long cord_, upon the lower cervical vertebrae, and then treat, _first_, with the _tongue_ instrument, P. P., in the mouth, as far back on the tongue as can be borne, three to five minutes. _Next_, manipulate with sponge-cup, P. P., or the tin electrode filled with sponge, over all the front parts of the neck and throat, down to the chest, five to eight minutes.

Treat as often as once in two or three hours.

APHONIA. (_Loss of voice._)

This affection requires treatment variously, as it depends on one or another procuring cause.

If it be the result of recent "cold," inducing acute catarrhal irritation in the larynx, treat _first_ as for _common cold_, and _close_ the sitting as follows: Place N. P., _long cord_, of A D current, in good medium force, upon back of neck or in the mouth, and treat three to five minutes, twice a day, with P. P., over the front parts of the air pipe in the neck; mostly over the _larynx_--Adam's apple.

If it be from paralysis of the larynx, treat with B D current, rather strong force; placing P. P., _long cord_, on back of neck or in the mouth, and work with N. P. over the _larynx_, and somewhat over the air tube of the neck generally. Treat three to five minutes, daily.

If, as is sometimes the case, the difficulty proceeds from a relaxation of the diaphragm, with general sagging down of the thoracic and abdominal viscera, so as to draw upon the trachea, then treat the whole trunk tonically, using the B D current. Place the N. P. low on back of neck, and treat with P. P. over the abdomen and thorax, and especially all around the edge of the diaphragm--along the lower line of the false ribs. Treat with medium strength of current, ten minutes, three times a week. The aim is to contract all the relaxed parts, so to relieve the larynx from the strain upon it.

CROUP.

Treat croup, whether membranous or spasmodic, much the same as is prescribed for diphtheria, only, in the latter part of the form, treat less.

ASTHMA.

Use the A D current, medium force. Treat with P. P. over the shoulders and between the scapulae, and with N. P. in front upon the lungs, heart and diaphragm. Treat five to ten minutes, daily, for three or four days; after that, three times a week.

HEPATIZATION OF LUNGS.

Take A D current, pretty strong force. Treat in front, over the lungs, with P. P., moving N. P., _long cord_, on spine from neck to near the kidneys; that is, over all the dorsal vertebrae. If the current be severely painful, moderate it to endurance. Treat six to ten minutes twice a day.

PNEUMONIA.

Take B D current, forceful as the patient can bear, and treat briefly--say five to seven minutes, several times a day, until relief is experienced.

Place N. P., _long cord_, low on back of neck, and move P. P. over all the upper part of the lungs. Then remove N. P. to the lower dorsal vertebrae, just above the kidneys, and treat with P. P. over the lower part of the lungs. If typhoid symptoms attend, follow the above with placing P. P., medium force, on back of neck, close below the cranium, and N. P. at coccyx, two or three minutes.

PULMONARY PHTHISIS. (_Consumption._)

After tubercles have been formed _extensively_ in the lungs, and have _softened down_ over considerable area, carrying down the pulmonary tissue with them into a state of pus, there is commonly but little hope of successful treatment. But where they are restricted to comparatively small extent, and no ulceration exists, they may be decomposed and absorbed away, or be thrown off in expectoration, and the affected parts be healed.

If the case be a _recent_ one, and acute fever, combined, perhaps, with more or less inflammation, appear in the lungs, use the A C current, in moderate force, yet all the patient can bear without special distress. Place N. P., _long cord_, upon the upper dorsal vertebrae for treating the upper part of the lungs, or upon the lower dorsal vertebrae for treating their lower part. Then pass P. P. over all the affected parts. Treat in this manner five to eight minutes, daily, until the _inflammation_ is suppressed, which will be indicated by an abatement of the extreme sensitiveness and lancinating pain under the electrode. Then, if _feverish_ action continue high, remove the N. P. to the coccyx, or to the lower part of the sacrum, taking the B D current, _mild_ force, with cords of _equal length_, and treat, as before, with P. P. over the affected parts, and also over the thorax generally, and along down the spine to the lower dorsal vertebrae. Continue this treatment ten to fifteen minutes, daily, until the fever is removed, or nearly so. For this part of the treatment, it is best to use the hand as the P. electrode, and to diffuse the current over the whole palm of the hand wherever special soreness appears. It is better, also, that the patient receive the treatment in bed, secure from any chilliness or current of air, so as to facilitate perspiration.

If the case be one of long standing, and more or less of _pus_, or _pus_ and _tubercles_, be raised in coughing, take the A D current, with equal cords and _very_ mild force. Reduce the quantity of battery fluid if necessary. Now place P. P. at the coccyx and treat with N. P., (the hand is here much the best), over all the diseased parts. Change occasionally by removing P. P. to back of neck with _long cord_. The object is to bring the diseased parts under a very light force of the A D current, such as is especially healing in old ulcers and chronic irritation. But if this action should at any time _increase_ fever or inflammation in the lungs, the poles must be reversed for one or two treatments. In this stage of the disease, treat ten to twelve or fifteen minutes, daily, for three or four days, and after that, three times a week.

NEURALGIA AND RHEUMATISM OF THE HEART.

If _neuralgia_, use B D current; if _rheumatism_, use A D. In either case, treat the heart with P. P., moderate force, placing N. P. at lower dorsal or upper lumbar vertebrae. Treat five to eight minutes, daily, until relief is gained.

_Rheumatism_ of the heart may be distinguished from _neuralgia_ by its occasioning irregularity in the cardiac contractions, commonly a sense of soreness and pain under pressure by the hand, and often perceptible enlargement of the organ, which neuralgia does not, and also by its pains being more constant--less fitful--than those of neuralgia.

ENLARGEMENT, OR OSSIFICATION OF THE HEART.

Treat these two affections in the same way. Take the A D current, moderate force. Place N. P. at the coccyx, or alternately there and, with _long cord_, on the spine opposite to the heart. Manipulate with P. P. over the heart. Treat five to eight minutes, three times a week.

PALPITATION OF THE HEART.

This is commonly a symptomatic or sympathetic affection--_rarely_ idiopathic--and disappears on cure of the disease from which it proceeds. It usually denotes nervous weakness, and often general debility. _General tonic treatment_ is indicated, as far as can be given without interfering with the proper treatment of any local affections on which the palpitation depends.

TORPID LIVER.

Take A D or B D current, full medium force. Treat with N. P. over the liver, at the right side, immediately below the short ribs, and thence backward and a little upward, as far as to the spine, holding P. P. on the left side, close under the ribs, for about four to six minutes. Then remove P. P. to the spine, on back of neck, two or three minutes. Next, go with the P. P. to coccyx two or three minutes; continuing, as at first, to manipulate with N. P. over the liver. Let the whole treatment occupy some eight to twelve minutes. Repeat the sittings about three times a week.

HEPATITIS. (_Inflammation of Liver._)

Use the B D current, with what force the patient can bear. Place N. P. at the coccyx, and also somewhat on the trunk, opposite to the inflammation. Then manipulate with P. P. over the inflamed and sore part. Treat five to eight minutes, once or twice a day.

ENLARGEMENT OF LIVER.

Take A D current, with medium force. Place N. P., some three to five minutes, on left side, over the spleen; and then as much longer at the coccyx. Manipulate with P. P. over the liver. Treat about three times a week. If the enlargement be recent, it will subside; if of long standing, its restoration will be slow, and somewhat uncertain.

BILIARY CALCULI. (_Gravel in Liver._)

Take A C current, strong as can be borne; and treat the inflamed and painful part with P. P., while N. P. is upon the right end of the duodenum. Treat eight to ten minutes, daily.

INTERMITTENT FEVER. (_Ague and Fever._)

Use the A D current. First, give _general tonic treatment_. (See page 95.) Then close the sitting with a _strong_ current, running from spleen to liver--P. P. upon spleen, in the left side, just below the ribs, and N. P. upon liver--best reached in the right side, close under the ribs, and around backward and a little upward as far as to the spine. The spleen is morbidly positive, and probably enlarged, while the liver is too negative. Treat spleen and liver in this transverse manner about five minutes.

If the chills occur on alternate days, treat on the intervening days; if every day, treat about two hours before the chill is expected.

NEPHRITIS. (_Inflammation of Kidneys._)

1. _Acute._ If the urinary secretion be _reddish_ and _scant_, with or without sedimentary deposit, let the inflammation be regarded as _acute_; and use upon it the B D current of good medium strength, or a little more, if the patient can bear it. The pain from the current will probably subside somewhat, and perhaps altogether, under treatment. Place N. P. at the coccyx, and manipulate over the inflamed and sore parts with P. P. Treat five to eight minutes, twice a day, if the case be recent, or once a day, if it be of some weeks standing.

2. _Chronic._ If it be an old case, and attended with a brownish or a brickdust-like sediment in the urine, it may be considered _chronic_, and should be treated with a moderate A D current, once in two days. Place P. P. at the coccyx, and treat with N. P. over the affected kidneys. There may be no sense of soreness or swelling, but _dull_ pain. Treat six to ten minutes. But if the inflammation should rise to an active or acute state, _reverse the poles_.

RENAL CALCULI. (_Gravel in the Kidneys._)

Take the A C current, of considerable force. Place N. P. low upon the bladder, and treat with P. P. upon the inflamed and painful point five to eight minutes, once or twice a day. If treating twice a day, continue not more than five minutes at a time.

DIABETES. (_A Kidney Disease._)

This disease occurs in two forms--_diabetes insipidus_ and _diabetes mellitus_. In the first named form, the disease is readily cured. In the latter, it is very formidable, and is rarely, if ever, cured by medicines; especially when of long standing. In this latter variety of the disease, the urea is absent from the urine, and in its place is found more or less of sugar--often large quantities: Dunglison says 2-1/2 oz. in a pint.

The electrical state of the disease, in both of these forms, is negative in excess.

1. _D. insipidus._ Use the B D current, of moderate force. Place P. P. at the coccyx or on the upper dorsal vertebra, or on both in alternation, which is better, and treat over the kidneys with N. P. five to eight minutes, once a day for three or four days. If this should fail to cure, (as it seldom will), go on with the same treatment three times a week.

2. _D. mellitus._ Take the A D current, of _mild_ force. Place P. P. as in _d. insipidus_, and treat the kidneys with N. P. about five to eight minutes, three times a week; supplementing this with _general tonic treatment_, once or twice a week.

_Be patient and persevering._ In bad cases, months will be required to effect a cure; but persistent effort, as above prescribed, will rarely if ever fail, unless the vital force is nearly expended.

DYSPEPSIA.

This is one of the most difficult of diseases to control by any of the ordinary modes of medical practice; and yet, under judicious electrical treatment, it is one of the surest to yield. The disease assumes various phases in different persons, and at different times in the same person, requiring varied treatment.

The pain, after eating, is severe; exhalations of air, apparently from the inner surfaces of the stomach and bowels, or of gas from their decomposing contents, are large--often enormous. The stomach is much of the time acid, and, in some cases, sensibly cold, ejecting often a cold mucus. The bowels are habitually constipated. The patient is nervous, irritable, and subject to great depression of spirits. In this stage or phase of the disease, there is a negative condition of the digestive apparatus generally. Treat with the A D current, in mild force, and expect the case to require considerable time. But, since there is no approach to uniformity among patients, no approximation to definite time can be stated. Give _general tonic treatment_, (page 95), three times a week, and close each sitting with local treatment, having P. P. at the coccyx, and manipulating some five minutes with N. P. over the entire front parts of the abdomen and thorax, and over the liver.

It is sometimes found, in old cases, that there is no sensible acidity of stomach; but a _pyrosis_--a burning sensation in the stomach, or a little above, in what is usually termed "the pit of the stomach." Treat this about three minutes with the P. P., strong force; moving N. P., _long cord_, over the lower dorsal vertebrae.

ACUTE DIARRH[OE]A.

Take B D current. Place N. P., _long cord_, upon the lumbar vertebrae and sacrum, moving it often along the spine, from a position opposite to the umbilicus down to the coccyx; and treat with P. P. over the abdomen, and more especially wherever pain or sensations of uneasiness appear. In severe cases, treat several times in a day--once in two to three hours, if need require, three to five minutes at a time. Use current of full medium strength, if the patient can bear it.

CHRONIC DIARRH[OE]A.

Take A D current, of _very mild_ force. Place P. P. at the feet, and treat with N. P. over the lower limbs _briefly_; then over the bowels and stomach, both front and rear, some three to five minutes; then pass up with N. P. over the anterior parts of the chest, two or three minutes; and, next, place N. P. low on the back of neck, with P. P. still at feet, two or three minutes. Treat in this manner once daily.

If at any time the bowels should become unusually flatulent, and evacuations should increase in frequency, change the treatment. Place N. P. at back of neck, as before, and treat about five minutes with P. P. (force increased to _moderate_ current) over the abdomen, daily, from one to three days, as may be necessary. After this, resume treatment as first above prescribed.

COLIC--_of whatever kind_.

Use A D current, pretty strong force. In severe cases, introduce the rectum instrument N. P., _long cord_, or in mild cases, place sponge-roll N. P., _long cord_, at coccyx, and treat with P. P. over all the abdomen, three to five minutes. It may be repeated, if necessary, in thirty minutes.

CHOLERA MORBUS.

Keep the patient still as possible on his back. Use A D current, strong force. Place N. P., _long cord_, at coccyx, and treat with P. P. over abdomen, five to ten minutes, and repeat, if necessary, in thirty to sixty minutes. If there be cramps, touch the contracted muscles with the P. P., for a few moments, without disturbing N. P.

CHOLERA.--(_Malignant._)

As in cholera morbus, keep the patient on his back, still as can be. Use A D current, _full medium strength_.

In the early stage, or during the "_rice-water_" discharges, and down to the time of collapse, treat the abdomen and thorax with P. P., having N. P., _long cord_, on back of neck--not too near the head. After treating so a few moments--say four to six minutes--remove P. P. to the back, and pass it along close upon each side of the spinous processes from the lower lumbar up to about the middle of the dorsal vertebrae. Continue this about three or four minutes.

If _cramping_ accompany the vomiting and purging, carry the P. P. a part of the time to the muscles in spasm, leaving N. P. still at the back of neck, with _long cord_.

Repeat the above processes as often as once an hour until symptoms improve. Then reduce their frequency as the case will admit of.

_In the state of collapse_, place P. P., _long cord_, at the coccyx, and manipulate with N. P. over the entire trunk and arms; bestowing a larger share of treatment along up the spine than elsewhere. Then remove P. P., _long cord_, to feet, and work with N. P. all over the lower limbs and hips. Treat in this stage of the disease some six or eight minutes at a time, and repeat it as the case seems to demand--once in thirty minutes to once in two, four or six hours, until improvement or death shall ensue. (See page 81.)

DYSENTERY.

Treat exactly as in _acute diarrh[oe]a_, except that P. P. should be moved more over the _colon_ and _rectum_ than in diarrh[oe]a.

CONSTIPATION OF BOWELS.

This disease may proceed from either a _negative_ condition--a state of _atony_ from lack of nutrition, or a _partial paralysis_ of the bowels--or from a _positive_ condition--a state of _relaxation_ and consequent weakness of the muscular tissues of the bowels. In either of these cases, the peristaltic action of the intestines becomes enfeebled, and constipation ensues.

In either case, use the A D current, of medium force. In the first-mentioned case, place P. P. at back of neck, or in the mouth with tongue instrument, and treat with N. P. over liver, stomach and bowels; or place N. P. at the anus. Treat so five to eight minutes.

In the second-specified case, place N. P. at back of neck or on the dorsal vertebrae, and treat with P. P. over the bowels five to eight minutes.

In both cases, repeat the treatment daily until relief is afforded. Or, if the case be _chronic_, treat daily for three or four days, and, after that, three times a week. It is well also to give _general tonic treatment_ as often as once a week. The patient should be urged to retire and _invite_ an evacuation regularly, about the same hour daily, whether success attend it or not.

HAEMORRHOIDS. (_Piles._)

If the case be recent, take the B D current; if old, take A D. Place the patient in a recumbent position, and let the rectum instrument, P. P., be introduced, _wet_. Manipulate with N. P. along the spine upon the dorsal vertebrae. Where there is _prolapsus ani_, the sponge-roll, placed at the anus, may be used instead of the rectum instrument, particularly for the first few treatments.

RHEUMATISM. (_Acute Inflammatory._)

First ascertain if the kidneys be morbidly positive--urine scant and too highly colored. If so, as is commonly the case, begin with the B D current, good medium force. Place N. P. at the pelvis, and treat over the kidneys with P. P. some three or four minutes. Let this be the commencement of every treatment until _this_ difficulty is corrected.

Next, change to A D current. If the disease be located in the hips or lower limbs, put the feet in warm water with the tin electrode N. P., or place the sponge-roll N. P. at the soles of the feet, and treat with P. P. upon and a little above the affected parts; using such force of current as the patient can bear. The pain will commonly subside under treatment. If the disease be as low as the ankles or feet, use the _long cord_ with N. P.

If the shoulders, arms or hands be affected, treat them on the same principles as are prescribed for the _lower_ limbs; using the _long cord_ with N. P. when the disease is below the elbows.

When the disease is in the hands or feet, or near to them, if the shoulders or hips be not involved, it is often necessary, after three or four treatments as above described, to _reverse the poles_ for a few moments, giving an ascending current; but still using the _long cord_ with N. P.

If the disease be located anywhere in the trunk, neck or head, treat the affected part with P. P., placing N. P. on some adjacent part of the spine, and usually at a point somewhat _lower down_ than the disease.

For acute inflammatory rheumatism, treat once a day. The length of time for each treatment must depend on the location and extent of the affected part or parts. In this matter, the practitioner must decide for himself, or infer from the time prescribed in the treatment of other inflammatory affections.

RHEUMATISM. (_Chronic._)

Use the A D current _always_ in rheumatic affections. If there be no visible inflammation or swelling in the diseased parts, approach such parts in the same manner as in acute inflammatory rheumatism, except with _reversed poles_. The parts affected require to come under the N. P. rather than the P. P., and to be treated with considerable force. There are _apparently_ exceptional cases, referred to on page 83, which see.

Where joints are being dislocated, treat the parts with N. P., quite mild force, so long as it can be done without exciting acute inflammation. If this should arise, it must be repressed with P. P.

Treat chronic rheumatism about three times a week.

DROPSY.