Electro-physiology and electro-therapeutics : showing the best methods for the medical uses of electricity / By Alfred C. Garratt.
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treated, as a dernier resort, by electricity. After the stomach pump, flagellation, and a multitude of other inhuman and yet ineffectual means, he was aroused finally by means of electro- magnetism and static electricity. " The pulse soon became more steady, firm, and frequent; the respiration more indicative of resuscitation. The powerful ' electrical machine' was also got into full play before a large fire, and the jar was filled and dis- charged, when some brilliant sparks and strong shocks were occasionally also passed through his head, spine, thorax, and abdomen. The result of this was, that the man soon opened his eyes, and his mouth, too, for he abused the operators for a pack of rascals who were ' trying specimens' on him. But incom- parably the most satisfactory effect was produced by giving him a shock (from the Lcydcn jar) on the tip of his nose. To use a phrase of the ring, he rallied wonderfully under this " — a hint worth taking and retaining, for the nose is exquisitely susceptible to all electrical influence. It is probably the most vulnerable point in the whole human body, in all forms of suspended ani- mation, for applying strong induction currents. A very interesting case is related by Dr. M. Barry, of an in- fant aged nine months, which had been poisoned by thirty drops of laudanum, and was not seen till seven hours afterwards, when in a state of profound coma. Prom this state it was aroused by the employment of electro-magnetism. At first, when the cur- rent ceased for a moment, the child sank into a profound sleep, and there was no marked amendment until the means had been continued for three hours ; four hours and three quarters passed before it was thought proper to discontinue its use. The child, however, then recovered without any further head symptoms. Dr. T. P. James gives a case of resuscitation by the primary current of electricity, after poisoning from an ounce of tr. opii., which is thus related in the Lancet of June 19th : — When the sponge electrodes were applied for a few minutes, no sensible effect was produced; but soon afterwards the mus- cles of the neck began to quiver, when sensibility appeared gradually to return, and after twenty or thirty minutes the stim-