Electro-physiology and electro-therapeutics : showing the best methods for the medical uses of electricity / By Alfred C. Garratt.

In cases of this kind the multiple " points of departure " of the attack in the given case only play a secondary part, and only furnish local palliative indications, the importance of which is in an inverse ratio to the number of the centres of peripheric (secondary) excitements. The fundamental indication, there- fore, consists in profoundly modifying the morbid nervous and organic condition, which primarily revive the functional disturb- ance incessantly; reducing the hyperesthesia on the one hand, and a ganglia-reflex extra excitability on the other. This is the cure. Besides other means used to this end, certain it is that the exer- tion of the will may, to a certain point or degree, triumph over this spinal extra excitability. Voluntary motions methodically practised, and statedly aided by electro-magnetism, form our best means of overcoming this dreadful state, and restoring to health. (See p. 570, and F, in Appendix-) M. Briquet, of La Charite-, has lately published a paper showing, also, that there are very prevalent errors, both in and out of the profession, as regards the predisposition and cause, of hysteria. Ho says, " It has been attributed mostly to unsatisfied sexual desires, or to excessive excitement of the uterus or its ap- pendages." The object of the paper is to show, from prodigious research, that these axioms and other old preconceived ideas have no solid foundation in fact, and that the " hysterical constitution " has, in truth, only rare existence ; the affection occurring, as every one knows, in females of the most opposite external appearance. He gives an analysis of four hundred and twenty five cases, and then concludes, that, at all events, there is no temperament that can properly be called hysterical. But that there is a character- istic moral disposition—a certain marked impressionability — that is even foreshadowed in childhood, as by great timidity, exces- sive susceptibility to blame, and a disposition to shed tears easily. The seat of hysteria is not, therefore, necessarily in the uterus ; nor is it the prerogative of wealth and luxury, (when tvithout abuses ;) nor yet is poverty a security against its occurrence. All this has been a complete error; for the common people are found to be subjects of hysteria in almost double the number of those of the other class. Nor are the charms and simplicity of 32*