Manual of static electricity in x-ray and therapeutic uses / by S.H. Monell ; illustrated.
- Monell, S. H. (Samuel Howard), -1918
- Date:
- 1897
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Manual of static electricity in x-ray and therapeutic uses / by S.H. Monell ; illustrated. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.
520/662 page 494
![In this condition she would remain from ten to twenty-five minutes, after which a quick squinting of the eyes with frequent relaxation and contraction of the flexor muscles of the fingers and toes would occur. She would then sink into a deep sleep, and awake from it after many hours, perfectly unconscious of all that had happened. It was remarkable that the slightest touch when the violence of the paroxysm was subsiding would instantly reproduce it. In this state she remained many months, with perhaps some alleviation of the epileptic attacks, but with no improvement in her chorea. [A lengthy account of a great variety of medical treatment is here omitted.] As a last resource Dr. Addison ordered electricity. Her strength not allowing of the severer application, electro-mag- netism was commenced. It caused continued spasm of the flexor muscles of the arm, so that till the current was discon- tinued she could not relax her grasp of the brass handles. This was commenced April 20th, and on May iothshe was so far im- proved that she could use her needle with tolerable precision. Her general health improved and the fits became lighter, al- though still as frequent as before. Static electricity was now begun. Sparks were now drawn from the spine every other day, each treatment continuing until a vivid eruption was produced. Her improvement was most marked. At the end of a week she was able to walk across the room without assistance, her countenance gradually became less anxious, and the fits declined in frequency. June 1st: Twelve shocks through the pelvis every other day were now ordered. The first administration at the distance of three-eighths of an inch from the conductor was followed by severe abdominal ar.d pelvic pains, the immediate precursors of the catamenia. The secretion continued for four hours. Shocks to be discontinued. July 3d : Improvement uninterrupted ; occasional twitchings are the only indications of chorea. The catamenia has not ap- peared this month. A second treatment with the shocks again brought on the flow. In six hours it became arrested, after which she vomited a small quantity of blood. July 15th: She left the hospital, free from chorea but still subject to fits, although diminished in force and frequency. Chorea.—Emma Hillier, aged 14, stout, plethoric, with dark hair and eyes. Admitted June 14th, 1837. Her mother states that from an early age she has been subject to epileptic seizures, and four years ago was brought into the hospital with a severe attack of chorea. She was cured at the end of ten](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21067867_0520.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
