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

strychnine and quinine; or opium, conium, stramonium, nico- tine, or belladona, — in some way, by some of these means, always aiming to bear as directly as possible on the identical spots or parts of exalted excitability, both at the peripheric nerves and nerve centres, to strengthen and calm them. The rule is, then, first, to find out if there is any external cause acting persistently or periodically upon the nerve centres; next, to intercept or prevent this irritation from reaching the centres, or rather to destroy this cause, whatever it may be, for according to the more recent researches, this is found very fre- quently to exist. When the spot of aura epilcptica is discov- ered in the sentient nerves of the skin, treat it just as if a severe neuralgic point, i. e., by a direct, continuous current. But the source of the aura may be from the ovaries, the stomach, or bowels, or come through the eye, or the mind. If not discov- erable, and the patient is robust, then apply the continuous cur- rent down the spine, and repeat it every other day. Asthma and Angina Pectoris.— Of both there are cases that are purely nervous, and are radically cured by the skilful em- ployment of electric currents. M. Duchenne remarks that it is t\\QJit in angina that kills; therefore the work to be done is first to prevent its return, or to break its force when on. His practice, it seems, is to apply, during the fit, a small sized elec- trode to each of the nipples of the breasts in man or woman, with a full current of electro-magnetism, which of course was painful; but this he finds will break up the agonizing attack, and cause it, together with the other varied phenomena that attend it, to disappear at once. Then, in after days, some cautious Far- adaization practised from time to time over the still existing painful spots on the thorax chases away the remaining angina. Such are the directions of Dr. Duchenne. According to my own most successful experience, angina is simply to be treated as if a neuralgic spot; and if uncomplicated with organic disease, and the habits of the patient are all cor- rect, the cure is almost certain. But for asthma there must be a modifying impression made on the nervous centres, as well as on the peripheric nerve twigs. I therefore direct, first, an up-