San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-05-15
FOR THE HEALTHS SAKE.
VALUE OF ELECTRICITY IN THE
TREATMENT OF DISEASE.
Importance of Knowing How to Use 1t.
Health by the Tricycie-What Eminent
Physicians Have to Say of It-Usuallv
Masters Rheumatism.

Masters Rheumatism.
Although electricity is now recognized as
an efficient remedy III the treatment of dis
ease, beyond doubt its true value as such is
yet to be estimated Until within a few
years its use was practically limited to pa
ralysis, joints stiffened by sprains and chronic
rheumatism, and few like morbid condi-
tiOns. Now the list of affections in which it
has proved itself efliCacious is quite long, and
is growing longer every year. 1t is, of
course, peculiarly adapted to nervous dis
orders, and, naturally, in them is most often
employed, but there are number of other
diseases and arrangements OF entirely differ
cut classes in which it has been found of cura-
tive value. As for instance, in the treat
ment of jaurdice and torpidity of the liver it
has appeared to act well by stimulating the
functions of that important organ and in
creasing the secretion of bile. Certain cases
of jaundice which resisted all other treat
ment have yielded very readily to this.
NOT A DOMESTIC REMEDY.
Electricity has also been used with marked
benefit in dyspepsia, habitual constipation,
diabetes, vertigo, asthma, bronchitis, and
variety of other complaints Some physi-
clans have found it of value in badness, and
several observers have had happy results
from it in chronic ulcers, one reporting the
cure of badly liberated tongue which had
resisted treatment for nine years. Elec-
tricity, while an admirable agent, capable of
doing much good in certain diseases is yet
capable of much harm. 1t is a notorious fact
that while only few successful cases are
necessary to make any remedy popular with
non-professionals, they are exceedingly slow
to recognize that it is also possible for the
same under certain conditions to do more or
less injury.
Electricity as usually taken in disease is
now held by people at large to be harmless.
and not few of them have batteries and APP
ply it to themselves and friends for every
conceivable ailment. AS naturally expected,
in its indiscriminate use, it is often abused,
and not only rarely ever does the good it is
capable of, but in many instances it does ma
terial harm. Electricity can never be num-
bered among the domestic remedies. 1t is al
together too powerful, and for its correct APP
pcation is demanded not only an intimate
knowledge of the agent himself, but the
thorough knowledge of the human system
and its changes in health and disease. One
may know Just the class of diseases it issuitcd
to, and yet more often do harm than goo.
with it. In certain cases of neuralgia, for in
stance, it would prove a cure; in Others, how
ever, the disease would be made much worse
by it.
Now, to discriminate between them would
tax the skill of the most accomplished physi-
clan. Again, it cannot be known that there
are several kinds of electricity and each
have their special action. One kind might
be used in a case and prove benefit, where
Us were another employed the disease would
be much aggravated. Beyond all that, it
must be understood that in suitable case
with a proper battery, yet an uniformed
operator may do harm simply by wrongly
arClying the currents
As every one knows, there are two, what
are called poles, to every battery Hold the
handles on these in the hands, and the cur.
rent of electricity passes from one to the
other, through the arms and upper part
of the body. Now, supposing person has
neuralgia pain in some part of his body. He
puts one handle to the affected spot and
holds the other in his hand, or has it placed
elsewhere in contact with his skin He finds
that few applications made several times
precisely in the same way bring him relief
But now were he to reverse matters and
apply the other pole to the affected spot,
very likely instead of being benefited he
would be made worse.
DR.. Oscar Jennings, prominent English
physician who practices in Paris, has recent
ly written an interesting little work, en-
titled Health by the Tricycle." The doctor
himself has had much personal experience in
the use of the machine and beside his own
conclusions, he has embodied in his work
those of other writers on the subject 1t APP
pears that he is the first to call attention to
the medical uses of the tricycle., previously
held to be means of sport, or, at the most,
of exercise. He recommends it in cases of
varicose veins, hernia, hemorrhoidS, chronic
govt and rheumatic govt, obesity, and, in
general way, to all who are growing more
than middle aged Men who follow seden-
tary occupations begin to feel increasing stiff
ness about the joints, or have chronic consti-
patton, derive much good from cycling.
The machine, all know who have visited
London within few years. is now a familiar
sight in its streets. Messengers, newspaper
carriers, bundle boys, even the plumber.
tinker and men of numberless other trades,
now journey about the city on tricycles i'll
geniously made convenient for holding their
wares. tools, etc. As an instrument of sport
and exercise, it is doubtful if it is anywhere
else as popular; one reason, of course, being
that the streets of London are so well paved
and well cared fSr, riding over them is easy
and pleasure. 1t is said that there are over
100000 English VelociPedists. The Prince of
Wales and his three daughters are among tine
number, and clergymen, lawyers and doctors
are well represented in it.
1t arrears that a large number of persons.
including many doctors among fham the
late ". MabonaAd of london. who had va.