An index of diseases and their treatment / by Thomas Hawkes Tanner.

  • Thomas Hawkes Tanner
Date:
1883
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An index of diseases and their treatment / by Thomas Hawkes Tanner. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    474/540 (page 436)
    venieut for applj'iug currents to the abdomen. Moisten tlie sponge with hot water. In case of accidental hfemorrliage in a flabby multipara, tlie Faradic current has produced immediate expulsion of the child and placenta, shortly followed by a very large clot. Faradism of the breasts wiU often increase or restore the secretion. Eelief of Pain.—Neuralgia often yields at once, sometimes per- manently, to the Faradic cun-ent. Meyer applies it curatively as the Electric Moxa, or a wire-brush electrode held in one spot, and a very strong current. Voltaism is most successful in this disease, however, and is applied with the negative pole, a moist sponge on the point of origin of the nerve affected, and another sponge electrode for the positive, placed on the painful spot, the time bding determined by the amount of action on the skin, as it is undesirable to cause any soreness. Five to ten cells of a battery in good order will usually be enough for the face ; ten to thirty, or a larger number, if necessary, for other parts of the body. A little moral influence may be useful in the treatment, as neuralgic patients are given to variety, and often abandon a remedial measure if not at once successful, before it has had a fair trial. Sciatica requires the application of a Voltaic current from 10—30 cells ; the negative on the lower dorsal spinous processes ; the positive on the lower part of the thigh or leg. Sick /leadache.—A continuous cuiTent, beginning with 5 cells, is used, the electrodes being placed on the mastoid processes. lUieiimatic pains in the muscles are relieved by Faradizing the di-y skin with a brush or dry plate. ^ Hysterical ANy-ESTnESU.—The best application is daily Faradiza- tion of the affected parts with a wire-brush, the strength of the ciiiTent to be increased to the utmost bearable limit. And wliile increasing the power of a Faradic apparatus, it is well to keep the electrodes applied, always supposing that the operator is acquainted with the energies of liis iustrumeut. Deafness.—Electricity, in the fonn of a slowly intemipied Faradic current, has done much good to old cases of nervous deafness. The meatus is lilU'd with water, an electrode, iusulated except at tlie lip, is passed in, and the otlier electrode is placed on the neck. The cuiTent must be weakened or discontinued if it cause giddiness. 'J'iiuiitiis yturium.-—Tliis distressing affi'ction has frequently been cured by both Voltaic and Faradic currents which should not bo strong, one electrode being placed in contact with the membraua tynipaui. AsnivxiA.—Use electrodes with button-like metal tips, covered with wasli-leatlier or sponge, and a Faradic current sufliciunt lo C'Uise con- Iraclion of tlu^ mtist^les of the ball of tlie thumb. I'lace one conductor on the side of tli(^ neclc, outside tlie sl('nio-niastoi<i in its lower half, as in tliis jilace it will affect the phrenic nerve, the steiiio-mastoid ,and the scaleni muscles, the other on the epigastrium ; let the ])ressure last the li'iij^lli of an iiis]iii-ntion, then assist exjnration by jiressuro on (ho alidoiiieu. TIk^ Strength of the current at first failing to excite con- tracliou, increase it to the fnll )iower of the ajijiaratus, and thai failing, nse Vollaism in the same- manner. A dotible electrode would be ail- v;int:igeous, conveying the current to the two sides of the neck from