Electro-physiology and electro-therapeutics : showing the best methods for the medical uses of electricity / By Alfred C. Garratt.
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first, as they related to my own future career and reputation; second, as they related to the advancement of the healing art, and the immediate relief of a no small class of otherwise unreached, afflicted, and suffering persons. I was fully aware that my position, my views, and aims might excite misappre- hension, because the hitherto very general association of the empirical uses of electricity, with quackery, throughout the length and breadth of our country, would naturally lead to some erroneous verdict, at least until my true position might be directly and definitely defined. For these reasons, I am all the more happy to speak for myself this day, as regards the legitimate practice of elec- tro-tlierapeutics. So that, on the one hand, in regular practice, no surgeon, no oculist, no spinal, or uterine, or urinary doctor, no orthopedist, or general practitioner shall imagine that I wish to interfere with their respective posi- tions, for A hich they have especially studied, and in which they are devoting their lives. On the other hand, let no wandering Arab of a boasting and quackish " Electro-pathist," Electro-physiologist, or travelling " galvanizer," attempt to screen himself, by using my name and address, under any conniv- ance or sympathy, in any of the states, as has been done heretofore. But, on the contrary, the author feels assured that he is bringing to those same honorable men, who are engaged in special practice, through this department of medical literature, and hence to the medical profession at large, in an availa- ble form, a tangible class of remedies; which are also of great importance in very many respects, (besides the general principles and definite rules here laid down for specific purposes,) that every logical mind will not fail to de- duce therefrom. But one word further. Our art is one art. Each branch is but a part of the whole, and simply, " t plui ibus innini." It is too late to be sticklers for creeds or isms, for pathies or systems ; only let each be honest and in earnest in his pro- fessional sphere. The author is desirous that this should no longer be termed a " System of practice, but merely the electric remedies, &c., and that we take special pains to eradicate those false notions from the minds of the people. I wish here to call particular attention to the fact, that almost no allusion is made in this work to the simultaneous employment of medicines with electric treatments. This is purposely omitted ; but it must not necessarily follow that it is to be omitted in practice, if we wish to gain the greatest possible amount of improvement for the patient in the least possible time. Indeed, it will often be noticed that a skilful use of electric currents will quicken the action, and heighten the effects of internal medicines. Often, cases will be presented that promise success only in this way. Again : like many other potent remedies now, as heretofore, employed in the treatmeut of diseases, electricity is greatly valued for its given effects, in cer- tain cases, by a small portion of the profession who have thoroughly investi- gated it, among whom are some of the most distinguished names; while another portion of the profession, equally respectable, think but little of it; and others there are who discard it altogether. But when it is shown that the