News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1888-08-23
CURED BY THE DYNAMOS.
Electric Light Workers Who Are
Never Troubled by rheumatism.
ETrom the PHILADELPHIA Reeord.l

[From the Philadelphia Record.l
Electricians are never troubled with
rheumatism. The stiff f-jointed portion
| of humanity hover around the big
| dynamos in the Brush Light Company's
works just as the consumptiyes seek
slaughter house for the blood of fresh
ly killed bullock. '"Why, people would
be around our dynamos all day, if we
permitted it, said Superintendent Law
"nnd some of them would get killed.
The discussion upon the subject of cleo
tricity as a curative agent in certain
chronic cases, notably rheumatism, has
excited much interest among electricians
and all classes of workmen engaged in
handling heavily charged wires. Nu-
merous cases are cited in different parts
of the country to prove that men engaged
in these employments are free from all
rheumatic and neuralgia troubles. This
appears to be the case in Philadelphia
also.
Superintendent Law is ready to de-
bate the question with the best-informed
doctor in the land. Eight years ago,
when he first began to work around dy-
namos in San Francisco, he was atfiict-
ed with acute rheumatism. His fingers
were twisted out of all natural shape
and proportion by the insidious disease,
and the joints we're swollen to many
times their natural size. His shoulders,
hips, and knees were similarly affected,
and he was, as he expresses 1T himself,
so stiff he could scarcely move. He soon
began to improve, however, when he
came into close contact with the dynamo
and, although he was not cured i'm
mediately, his recovery was sure and
rapid, and in less than eighteen months
he was apparently we'll man. He has
had no recurrence of the trouble, and is
convinced that the cure can be credited
to nothing but the wonderful influence
of the strong currents of electricity with
which he has been constantly surround
ed for years.
Mr.. Law speaks of portion of his ex-
perience as rather in the nature of
heroic treatment. He has been knocked
down time out of mind by coming in
contact, either through his own careless
ness or by accident, with two wires, and
upon one occasion remained uncon-
scious for ten minutes. The shock upon
that occasion, he says, felt as though
he had been hit in the neck by sand
bag. He was rather surprised to find
himself still alive when he came to his
StuScSs IL lie Gull DC ldh6u III blldb WdJy
Mr.. Law thinks it would be the most
humane way of executing criminals. He
suffered no pain at all from the shock
except when he was burned, but he
thinks it has effectually banished the
rheumatism.
Several of the employees of the works,
who have suffered more or less with
neuralgia and nervous troubles, have
been cured by their constant contact
with the currents in the dynamo room.
They do not claim to understand by
what scientific process they have been
benefited, but the stubborn fact remains
that all these ills have left them, appar-
emily never to return. There is decided
difference in the effect of electricity upon
different workmen. Some men who at
tend to what is known as trimming"
are so susceptible to it's influence that
they arc compelled to ground a wire
while working on the line, although the
same current would have no perceptiblo
effect upon another person. This is con-
sidered an indication that electricity
should be administered in the most eau
tious manner if any good effects are ex-
pected. A current which would be bene-
fetal in one case would be decidedly
dangerous in others.
A short time ago man was at work
upon some wires in the business part of
the city and by accident caught hold of
two wires, one in each hand, thinking
one of them was "dead." He says he
never got hold of wire so full of life.
1t was charged with what the electric
ians call 2,2O0 "volts," which was en-
ough current to kill two ordinary men.
In this case the workman was rescued,
by his companion, and the latter was
injured These two men, in
relating their experience, said that they
had been entirely cured, one of neuralgia
and the other of rheumatism since they
have been shocked" A prominent
electrician adds to this testimony that
he knew of case where workman was
burned by an electric current
oy taking hold of two wires that were
LOADED" The man was terribly scorch-
ID down both arms and across his chest
n the region of the heart. When he re-
covered from the shock he found that he
lad been relieved from heart trouble
hat had affected him for many years.