Electro-physiology and electro-therapeutics : showing the best methods for the medical uses of electricity / By Alfred C. Garratt.
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presented that peculiar glistening aspect so characteristic of hysteria. She complained of headache, and cramps over the whole body ; these were rendered very distressing by cold, and pressure of every kind; even a very powerful liniment served but to renew the cramps, and destroy all sense of feeling on being applied to any part of the body. I very soon had an opportunity of seeing her in one of the paroxysms, which now generally occurred about once in twenty-four hours ; these, as in similar cases of this mysterious disease, were truly frightful to witness; the limbs were extended and rigid as marble ; hands clinched and immovable ; the head and neck thrown back ; whilst the whole body appeared to be convulsed and writhing under the most violent tetanic spasms. Sometimes the symptoms for a time assumed a different character, and she would lie motionless in one position for hours together, in a state more resembling cata- lepsy than any thing else. " I commenced the treatment with the usual routine of anti- spasmodic and tonic medicines, such as ammonia, iron, fetid gums, &c, without much apparent benefit; opium was admin- istered at night, to soothe the irritability of the nervous system and induce sleep, but without success; three grains of solid opium, given at bed time, served only to make her still more restless, without any narcotic effect being produced whatever. "September 6.—After one month's trial of these, and a variety of other remedies, finding matters but little improved, the pain in the lower part of the back being constant, and the severity of which I was inclined to think contributed in a great measure to renew the fits, whilst the paralysis, if it may be so called, remained stationary, I began to think that there must be some irritation of the spinal cord or its membranes. I now, there- fore, applied seven or eight cupping glasses along the whole of the spine, every alternate day; prescribed small doses of the hyd. c. creta and carb. of soda every night, and a turpentine enema every third morning. On one occasion I ventured to apply the scarificator, and took about three ounces of blood, with evident relief. Under this mode of treatment she began steadily to improve ; headache much relieved, and the pain and tenderness