Electro-physiology and electro-therapeutics : showing the best methods for the medical uses of electricity / By Alfred C. Garratt.
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pressure of the electrodes, at a single seance. In the subse- quent sittings the current was often run from the brachial plexus to the tender and contracted muscles of the arm and forearm, and then up the. extensors of the hands and arms, which were wasted and greatly enfeebled. In eight weeks from the commencement of these treatments the hitherto helpless, dis- torted, and painful fingers and hands could be opened and shut, and the arms could be well extended, but not much rotated; how- ever, she was enabled to undertake light hand work. It is now ten months since she was dismissed, and her still further im- provement in general health, in the appearance of her neck and throat, and in the use of her hands, is quite as astonishing as her early and speedy improvement while under this treatment, after having resisted all other means for a lifetime. Case of Mr. William Wood, repairer of wet cellars, builder of drains, was often and long exposed to wet; has been subject to rheumatism whenever he is in the water and mud for any length of time; was formerly inclined to perspire very freely upon exercise, but now whole body and limbs are dry and show " goose-flesh ;" is very chilly upon first removing his clothing; both feet swell greatly, with more or less swelling as far up as to the knee; this swelling goes and comes pretty regularly every three or four days, with more or less pain and stiffness, twitch- ings in the muscles of the lower limbs at night, particularly soon after lying down to sleep; occasionally extremely severe pains in hips, one or both, but no pain there just now. On the whole, is weaker on the right side than on the left, in the arm as well as leg; protrudes the tongue with great trembling; tongue deeply indented on its edges with the teeth; eyes twitch, and there is a general stiffness and insecurity of movement of the whole body, which has increased greatly in the last few months ; momentary twitchings of the muscles in the different parts of the body and limbs: the evidence of peculiar debility was every where very marked. With this view of the case he was treated by primary cur- rents, using at first from twenty to thirty Daniell's elements, and placing the positive electrode over the second lumbar space