Electro-physiology and electro-therapeutics : showing the best methods for the medical uses of electricity / By Alfred C. Garratt.
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lower umbilical region, then with the positive sponge commence under the clavicles, bathing over the pectoral muscles, for a minute, and then over the whole thorax; mainly, or only, I should have said, on the anterior portion of it, — employing only medium strength current, and working at first round about the sore or painful places, then on to them, as well as about them, for 5 or 6 minutes more, or until all pain and soreness is chased away, so as not to be reproduced by full inspiration. Repeat the same daily a few times. G. Note 2. (See page 383.) For Epigastralgia, and pains simulating dyspepsia, adopt the double circle movements, by placing the positive moist sponge near the tender spot over the stomach, while the other, negative, is placed somewhere below, on the abdomen or thighs, — i. e., far away, and that in a downward direction, — and thus commence moving both electrodes in cir- cles, the one close about, and afterwards over, the tender stomach, while the other is performing a large part of a larger circle, and that mostly in a down- ward direction, which is to be continued for 5 or 10 minutes. The positive sponge must be moved as gently but as firmly as possible, without producing pain. Repeat this seance daily, or every other day. G. Note 3. (See page 380.) The foregoing (Note 2) is the correct pro- cess for many cases of irritable spine, local hyperesthesia, rheumatism, and injury of spine or ribs, (after leeches, cups, or blisters, where is inflammation) by operating close about and over the seat of pain or soreness, with the positive electrode, in like manner as described for epigastralgia, — say for 5 to 15 min- utes, — always observing in such cases to work the negative electrode mainly in lateral and downward directions, — i. e., to the parts anterior and below the seat of difficulty. Such is the principle. G. Note 4. (See page 384.) For Ccelialgia, or pains in the skin, fascia, and muscular tunics of the abdomen, first place the negative electrode at the inner sides of the thighs, or as low as the inner condyles of the knee joints, first on one, and then on the other, while with the positive perform circle movements about and over the affected part of the abdomen. But here be careful to distinguish such pains, from those that arise so severely, and not unfrequently, from atony and relaxation of the underlying viscera, as when the intestines give way to flatus or excrements, or as where, under a morbid nervous action, there is a secreted flatus in the bowels, uterus, or vagina, or there may be only a want of tone adequate to the free physiology. In these cases, therefore, we must, on the contrary, institute the methods laid down at F., Note 2, and at E., Note I. G. Note 5. For Local Palsy of Sensation. — First employ double circle treatments with the negative electrode in the centre, (see F.;) also the method laid down for paralysis in any of the limbs, which directs the current through the supplying nerve trunk, (see C.,) and next employ Duchenne's localized Faradaization. (See pages 238, 331.) For Dermatalgia, which is a neuralgia of the skin, as well as for all hyper- esthesia of the sentient nerves, use the radiating circle treatments, as at G.,