A Newly Discovered System of Electrical Medication Part 5

DIPHTHERIA.

Use the A D current, strong force. Place the N. P., _long cord_, upon the lower cervical vertebrae, and then treat, _first_, with the _tongue_ instrument, P. P., in the mouth, as far back on the tongue as can be borne, three to five minutes. _Next_, manipulate with sponge-cup, P. P., or the tin electrode filled with sponge, over all the front parts of the neck and throat, down to the chest, five to eight minutes.

Treat as often as once in two or three hours.

APHONIA. (_Loss of voice._)

This affection requires treatment variously, as it depends on one or another procuring cause.

If it be the result of recent "cold," inducing acute catarrhal irritation in the larynx, treat _first_ as for _common cold_, and _close_ the sitting as follows: Place N. P., _long cord_, of A D current, in good medium force, upon back of neck or in the mouth, and treat three to five minutes, twice a day, with P. P., over the front parts of the air pipe in the neck; mostly over the _larynx_--Adam's apple.

If it be from paralysis of the larynx, treat with B D current, rather strong force; placing P. P., _long cord_, on back of neck or in the mouth, and work with N. P. over the _larynx_, and somewhat over the air tube of the neck generally. Treat three to five minutes, daily.

If, as is sometimes the case, the difficulty proceeds from a relaxation of the diaphragm, with general sagging down of the thoracic and abdominal viscera, so as to draw upon the trachea, then treat the whole trunk tonically, using the B D current. Place the N. P. low on back of neck, and treat with P. P. over the abdomen and thorax, and especially all around the edge of the diaphragm--along the lower line of the false ribs. Treat with medium strength of current, ten minutes, three times a week. The aim is to contract all the relaxed parts, so to relieve the larynx from the strain upon it.

CROUP.

Treat croup, whether membranous or spasmodic, much the same as is prescribed for diphtheria, only, in the latter part of the form, treat less.

ASTHMA.

Use the A D current, medium force. Treat with P. P. over the shoulders and between the scapulae, and with N. P. in front upon the lungs, heart and diaphragm. Treat five to ten minutes, daily, for three or four days; after that, three times a week.

HEPATIZATION OF LUNGS.

Take A D current, pretty strong force. Treat in front, over the lungs, with P. P., moving N. P., _long cord_, on spine from neck to near the kidneys; that is, over all the dorsal vertebrae. If the current be severely painful, moderate it to endurance. Treat six to ten minutes twice a day.

PNEUMONIA.

Take B D current, forceful as the patient can bear, and treat briefly--say five to seven minutes, several times a day, until relief is experienced.

Place N. P., _long cord_, low on back of neck, and move P. P. over all the upper part of the lungs. Then remove N. P. to the lower dorsal vertebrae, just above the kidneys, and treat with P. P. over the lower part of the lungs. If typhoid symptoms attend, follow the above with placing P. P., medium force, on back of neck, close below the cranium, and N. P. at coccyx, two or three minutes.

PULMONARY PHTHISIS. (_Consumption._)

After tubercles have been formed _extensively_ in the lungs, and have _softened down_ over considerable area, carrying down the pulmonary tissue with them into a state of pus, there is commonly but little hope of successful treatment. But where they are restricted to comparatively small extent, and no ulceration exists, they may be decomposed and absorbed away, or be thrown off in expectoration, and the affected parts be healed.

If the case be a _recent_ one, and acute fever, combined, perhaps, with more or less inflammation, appear in the lungs, use the A C current, in moderate force, yet all the patient can bear without special distress.

Place N. P., _long cord_, upon the upper dorsal vertebrae for treating the upper part of the lungs, or upon the lower dorsal vertebrae for treating their lower part. Then pa.s.s P. P. over all the affected parts.

Treat in this manner five to eight minutes, daily, until the _inflammation_ is suppressed, which will be indicated by an abatement of the extreme sensitiveness and lancinating pain under the electrode.

Then, if _feverish_ action continue high, remove the N. P. to the coccyx, or to the lower part of the sacrum, taking the B D current, _mild_ force, with cords of _equal length_, and treat, as before, with P. P. over the affected parts, and also over the thorax generally, and along down the spine to the lower dorsal vertebrae. Continue this treatment ten to fifteen minutes, daily, until the fever is removed, or nearly so. For this part of the treatment, it is best to use the hand as the P. electrode, and to diffuse the current over the whole palm of the hand wherever special soreness appears. It is better, also, that the patient receive the treatment in bed, secure from any chilliness or current of air, so as to facilitate perspiration.

If the case be one of long standing, and more or less of _pus_, or _pus_ and _tubercles_, be raised in coughing, take the A D current, with equal cords and _very_ mild force. Reduce the quant.i.ty of battery fluid if necessary. Now place P. P. at the coccyx and treat with N. P., (the hand is here much the best), over all the diseased parts. Change occasionally by removing P. P. to back of neck with _long cord_. The object is to bring the diseased parts under a very light force of the A D current, such as is especially healing in old ulcers and chronic irritation. But if this action should at any time _increase_ fever or inflammation in the lungs, the poles must be reversed for one or two treatments. In this stage of the disease, treat ten to twelve or fifteen minutes, daily, for three or four days, and after that, three times a week.

NEURALGIA AND RHEUMATISM OF THE HEART.

If _neuralgia_, use B D current; if _rheumatism_, use A D. In either case, treat the heart with P. P., moderate force, placing N. P. at lower dorsal or upper lumbar vertebrae. Treat five to eight minutes, daily, until relief is gained.

_Rheumatism_ of the heart may be distinguished from _neuralgia_ by its occasioning irregularity in the cardiac contractions, commonly a sense of soreness and pain under pressure by the hand, and often perceptible enlargement of the organ, which neuralgia does not, and also by its pains being more constant--less fitful--than those of neuralgia.

ENLARGEMENT, OR OSSIFICATION OF THE HEART.

Treat these two affections in the same way. Take the A D current, moderate force. Place N. P. at the coccyx, or alternately there and, with _long cord_, on the spine opposite to the heart. Manipulate with P.

P. over the heart. Treat five to eight minutes, three times a week.

PALPITATION OF THE HEART.

This is commonly a symptomatic or sympathetic affection--_rarely_ idiopathic--and disappears on cure of the disease from which it proceeds. It usually denotes nervous weakness, and often general debility. _General tonic treatment_ is indicated, as far as can be given without interfering with the proper treatment of any local affections on which the palpitation depends.

TORPID LIVER.

Take A D or B D current, full medium force. Treat with N. P. over the liver, at the right side, immediately below the short ribs, and thence backward and a little upward, as far as to the spine, holding P. P. on the left side, close under the ribs, for about four to six minutes. Then remove P. P. to the spine, on back of neck, two or three minutes. Next, go with the P. P. to coccyx two or three minutes; continuing, as at first, to manipulate with N. P. over the liver. Let the whole treatment occupy some eight to twelve minutes. Repeat the sittings about three times a week.

HEPAt.i.tIS. (_Inflammation of Liver._)

Use the B D current, with what force the patient can bear. Place N. P.

at the coccyx, and also somewhat on the trunk, opposite to the inflammation. Then manipulate with P. P. over the inflamed and sore part. Treat five to eight minutes, once or twice a day.

ENLARGEMENT OF LIVER.

Take A D current, with medium force. Place N. P., some three to five minutes, on left side, over the spleen; and then as much longer at the coccyx. Manipulate with P. P. over the liver. Treat about three times a week. If the enlargement be recent, it will subside; if of long standing, its restoration will be slow, and somewhat uncertain.

BILIARY CALCULI. (_Gravel in Liver._)

Take A C current, strong as can be borne; and treat the inflamed and painful part with P. P., while N. P. is upon the right end of the duodenum. Treat eight to ten minutes, daily.

INTERMITTENT FEVER. (_Ague and Fever._)

Use the A D current. First, give _general tonic treatment_. (See page 95.) Then close the sitting with a _strong_ current, running from spleen to liver--P. P. upon spleen, in the left side, just below the ribs, and N. P. upon liver--best reached in the right side, close under the ribs, and around backward and a little upward as far as to the spine. The spleen is morbidly positive, and probably enlarged, while the liver is too negative. Treat spleen and liver in this transverse manner about five minutes.

If the chills occur on alternate days, treat on the intervening days; if every day, treat about two hours before the chill is expected.

NEPHRITIS. (_Inflammation of Kidneys._)