Electro-physiology and electro-therapeutics : showing the best methods for the medical uses of electricity / By Alfred C. Garratt.
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compilete, and the case remains well. In two other cases I em- ployed also the electro-puncture with the primary galvanic cur- rent. One of these was an old and ugly case — Mr. Kittredge, of Berkshire, aged forty-five, who presented in May last; a very large hydrocele of the left side, that had heen repeatedly tapped and injected for radical cure ; and although he suffered inflam- mation, yet the hydrocele was large and painful. It was fully the size of an infant's head, and appeared a formida- ble case. This patient took the operating chair, which was swung to a very reclining posture, so that, indeed, his hips wore higher than his feet or head; knees raised and widely separated. I then carefully plunged into either side of the scrotal sack two gold electro-puncture needles, taking care not to wound the testicle, — which, however, is usually well back out of the way, — and thus applied the constant current of galvanism from five to fifteen elements of Daniell's battery, reversing the current every minute, and continuing the seance for fifteen minutes. As does goitre, so did it visibly diminish in size during these fifteen or twenty minutes. This was repeated every other day, together with some induction currents to the surface of the scrotum to finish off with, for three seances more, at the end of which there was no water in the sac, but the left testicle hung lower than the right, and was still somewhat tender and painful. In a fortnight more, this soreness removed. It is now some eight months since he came to see me, and I learn that he remains perfectly well. The other case, although not so apparently unfavorable at the beginning, was similarly and as thoroughly treated, but it is as yet but partially cured. In this case, however, there is evidently but little nervous power in the parts, for the penis is without erection, and when the positive electrode is placed just back of the ischium and the other is pressed at the root of the penis, there is but the slightest sensation from the strongest electro- magnetic current, showing that the pudic nerve is all but paralyzed. (See Appendix E, F, G.) For glandular enlargements, as well as for lymphatic tumors, M. Boulu has, since 1853, been especially using electricity, and