Electro-physiology and electro-therapeutics : showing the best methods for the medical uses of electricity / By Alfred C. Garratt.
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cord, testicle, scrotum, bladder, &c, in the male ; or of the fundament, labia of the vulva, urethra, vagina, uterus, or ovary, in the female; as also for neu- ralgic lumbago, and for dismenorrhoea, (see page 398,) we are to commence the treatment by placing the negative electrode low down on the inner side of the thigh or knee, while with the positive, directed to the Cauda equina, (second lumbar,) we perform circle movements on and about that part of the back for a minute or so; then removing the negative to the outer side of the thigh, and increasing the current, glide the positive up and down the whole back, about the loins and abdomen, until all pain, tenderness, and lameness are entirely wiped away. Next, return the negative to the inner side of the thigh again ; and now pass the positive over and below the crest of the ilium and lower flanks of the abdomen, — lingering or working most, near, about, and over the most painful or tender spots, with a lively current, but not so as to cause much pain. Next, work it on the groin, inner and upper part of the thigh, and so on downwards, cautiously watching for any expression of new- caused pain ; for this must be avoided. If, after several such treatments, there is obtained no substantial relief, then, perhaps, we are justified in also entering the private organs with suitable electrodes. This should certainly be done in the more obstinate cases. But I maintain that we may very much more fre- quently succeed without this last resort. This is peculiarly true as regards amenorrlicea, under Rule 1 ; and of dismenorrhoea, under Rule 2. F. Note 1. (See page 383.) Circle Treatments. — Some of my most valued and frequently resorted to methods of manipulating the electrodes are termed the circle movements. These are performed, for specific ends, in several different ways: first, by the single circle movement, — i. e., usually done by one electrode, while the other remains stationary, — the positive being planted in the centre of the circle-making negative, or else situated more or less dis- tant, according to the anatomy and the affection; or by double circle move- ments,— i. e., both electrodes are moved in circles, — the positive in a small circle within the larger circle of the negative, as if about a common centre ; or by alternate circle movements on separate parts; or by simultaneous circle movements, — as for instance, where one, positive, electrode is on the back, while the other, negative, is on the stomach or bowels, performing smaller or larger circles there, and alternately, or at the same time, the former is moving elliptically up and down the back, or over a portion of it. Thus it is seen they accomplish specific purposes, and for the given case one cannot be substituted for the other; besides, we are thus enabled to very surely bring under the searching influence of such gliding and gently varying — although pretty smart electric current — all the muscle-fibres, through and together with the nerve trunks and their depending branches, as each becomes successively embraced between the two relatively changing electrodes, or as they receive the influence — within or beyond — of the sweeping electric radius. There is another double circle and seesaw method with team-electrodes, that we often employ, as in Faradaization; as for dermatalgia, or neuralgia of the