New-York tribune., 1874-07-18
ELECTRICAL TREATMENT OF HYDRoPHoBIA.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN REAL AND HfsiEkiOAh
HYDRoPuoBIA-sUGGEsTIo FOR APPLYING THE
CURRENT-CHANCEs OF CURE.
To the EditOr Of The TrtbuHe'
SIR: Some remarks that | made the other
evening on the electrical treatment Of hydrophobia
were 40 erroneousy reported in another Journa tha'
beg leave to present correct statement oil my views
on the subject The disease s so rare In It's occurrence
so rapid in it, course that electrical treatment even oy
s most imperfect methods has had almost no chance 10
be tested The suggestions that have 10 oer are here
fore OF necessity based theory and analogy ana eXpe
rence the treatment Of other and more or iess aieu
diseases To neutralze the virus suggested eecToy'"
(electro-chemical dccOmposton) in and around the
wound by means of a needle connected with the mega
tive pole Of Galyanic current The results OF expert
ments on malignant tumors give reason for the oehei
that electrolysis more efficient means OF neuirauz
Ing or destroying morbid animal substances than the
ordinary II might be used IN ADDITION 10 eAc
sion or cauterzation. The more quickly aud the more
thoroughly used the better aud by no possibility coud
it do any harm. A sharp needle would go IN deeper
than piece Of lunar caustic II might be applied all
around the border OF the wound in direction and
If brought in contact with the virus 1t would IN all prob
ability decompose it, for far as have experimented
all animal fluids decOmpose easily aud rapidly under the
galyanc current.
The best method of using electricity in case OF real
or simulated hydrophObia would be to place the mega
|
stomach apply positive successfully at the toD
of th head the nape OF the neck, the region OF the
pneumogastric. and down the spine. III the eaNanlc
rnrreut cannot be obtained the faradic (electronag
netic might be tried. although IL wOuld probably De
less et.caclOus Mid or moderate currents wOulu Oe
likely To do more good fnan very powerful currents. and
there should be ntermis,Ons III the Treatment during
these iDtcrmiSslons ceoags might ne applcd 10 tne
spine should not expect that this treatment would
cure real hydrOphObi, hut, II faithfully u,ej,n would
greatly relieve the horrible aSOnes or the dsolse anu
either alone or in connection with other treatment,
would be likely prolong life Electricity has never
yet had fair trlal in hydrophODia. ochlNardl. Hho
kept one OF his patients alive several DAYS, used only
and i'm peri ct method and no other treatment
50 FAR as IS known has been cen 50 successful which
HydrOphObia l. one O the very rev diseases III wl,Tn
it Is better to use electricity bindiy aud mpereeny
than it ct all There are two consldera,iohs'
| however that are somewhat disc0uraging:
l. The spasmodlc affections that most closely resemble
hydropnooia aud win WINCH u Is sometimes eUn
and permanently 10 electrical trcatm"n Great Oeheht
can be derived from proper uso o ed-''ro'' in ep
To get the best results OF electrical treatment time Is
necessary. save IN the resscltaIOn ot the drowned or
asphy yXated and the temporary reet OF pam electre
ity accOmplshes its great cures slowly. Hydr0phoDla
runs rapidly ami, IN It's lnclpeuce is not us
ally rccOSnlzcd Inc onF nope that real hyuIOphoula t
could be cured by electricity rests I'D the possibility that
il could relieve symptoms and delay death through
its powerful sedatve lh1den.c. 50 tn!tthere "outi "
time to act upon tue nutrition OF the nerve ceners
either by continuance or the electrical treatment or
by other methods Ihere Is reason loT .ne pfei 'ia,
least of the cases OF sOcaed hydrOphoDa are
OF an hysercal cnaracter-Ire brought on by frlght
aud dread The only safo course Is 10 treat suc eases
as though they were genuine cases OF hydrOphODl:.
obtained hysteria ana allied diseases, aud notably IN
hysterca conyusons and II Is quite probable tnat the
hysiercal symptoms Of hydrophOOa would yield 10 the
same remedy. rne result of the treatment would help
somewhat diagnosis II the patient entirely recOy
cred, probability that the case was OF an hyserca
nature would be strengthened almost into certainty
Innsmucn as one or two tue pro0a
bly, in part hyslerica ana the discussion OF the sub
iect caused sensitive and highly nervous people
10 dwell on this dreadful topic day aud night Is not lm
possible that other of like nature may occur
Is in of this possibility that make pubic these
| suggestions GEOkGE NJ DEAhD' NJ ~
Nelr- York, July IL, 1874