Electro-physiology and electro-therapeutics : showing the best methods for the medical uses of electricity / By Alfred C. Garratt.
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ence, and that 'with muscle contractions; thus not only arrest- ing the progress of the disease, but even re-making or multiply- ing the individual muscle fibres. But this can only be hoped for when the cause of the disease ceases to act. He thinks that the electro-magnetic currents are, on the whole, best; that great battery power is required, and that with a very rapid vibration. The greatest obstacle to this method is, to persuade the patient to bear it; but as the sensibility increases, so must the intensity of the current be diminished. A sufficiently strong Galvanic (primary) current is very much more bearable than the Faradaic currents of the same strength — i. c., that can produce the same muscular contractions. For this and other important considerations, I prefer, for these cases, the former. The " essential paralysis of infancy" affecting more frequently the lower limbs, may as well be classed with those of wasting palsy, for they, too, are characterized by a gradual wasting and a progressive paralysis; but the former cases appear to proceed rather from an affection of the anterior nerve roots, as they leave the spinal cord, and require our particular attention. May not this, in fact, yet be found to be the true pathological condition of the general form of wasting palsy? But Dr. Duchenne has treated many such infantile cases, and concludes that localized Faradaic currents applied along the sides of the spine, and over the affected muscles, may abridge the duration of the paralysis, and diminish, if not prevent, the attending extreme atrophy of the muscles, and, moreover, prevent their fatty degeneration. Some of these run a rapid course to a hopeless state, and that, sometimes, in only a very few months. But more generally, within the year after the attack, there is hope; while, in any of the worst cases, we find that there is no evil from a reasonable use of electro-therapeutics. It is well therefore to try this treatment thoroughly, even where there is at first no electro-muscular response, as there may be a possible chance of success ; for I have certainly found an occasional case that gave marked improvement, after years' existence of the malady ; but of course the progressive character had then been arrested, and the case had long remained simply in statu quo.