Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-07-18
CITING RESULTS
Showing the Power Of Electricity for
the Curing Of Disease
WHEN SKILLFULLY APPLIED
The Difference Between Scientific and
UnskillfuI Methods.
VARIOUS NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS
On the History and Uses of Electro-Thera-
peutics-The Difference Between
"Rubbing Doctors and
Scientists.
VARIOUS NOTES AND OBSERVATION
INFORMATION OF STRIKING INTEREST
COpN.iqhted.

Copyrighted.
1t is interesting to notice that the science
ofelectro- o-therapeuticsw which now commands
some of the best skill and brains of the pro-
fession and is represented in Pittsburg by
such thoroughly scientific physicians as
those of the Electropathic Institute, had
like all of the great sciences and some of the
great religions very humble origin. 1t is
said that centuries ago the Inhabitants of
West Africa were accustomed to dip their
sick children in water where lay the electric
fish called the torpedo. As late as the
eighteenth century priests and paupers,
monks and mountebanks were the leading
authorities on this subject, the priests hon.
estly seeking to cure mankind with their
accidental discoveries, the mountebanks
striving, as they still do. to bewilder and
deceive the public with their dangerous
mixture of imperfect knowledge and low
cunning. PHILOSOPHER AND FOOL were
then pretty nearly on the same level, with
the advantage on the side of the fool, be-
cause through the very excess of his ignor-
ance he dared and ventured where the phil
osopher knew just enoughSo fear to tread.
Then, as to-day, however, we are forced to
admit that marvellous results were obtained
by mountebanks, quacks and empires, re-
suits that only intensity the vast value and
power of electricity in curing disease. But
the trouble with the work of such men is
that through their ignorance of the laws of
electricity itself, no less than through their
ignorance of the human body, they make
serious and dangerous mistakes Where in
one case they achieve a success, in a vast
number of cases they do incalcuable harm.
In the hands of such men, electricity is an
uncertain and even dangerous power. In
&In hon d5 Nfv rrrlnO tr-oi r1ah rHI1x
clans and educated and experienced cleo
trical experts as well, it becomes the safest,
surest and most potent agent for relieving
suffering and healing disease that modern
science has developed and brought into per-
feet use.
Its simple naturalness and harmlessness
when properly applied is well shown by the
fact that children and weak women are the
most tolerant to its use. Compared with the
violent action of many of the drugs which it
is supplanting, it comes like gift of nature
protesting against the habitual arrangement
of the system by noxious poisOns taken
through the stomach.
-.
To obtain desired results from medicines
drugs must be carried through the body.
To conf1ne their action to any one point is
impossible. Electricity can be localized to
a muscle or nerve or any one organ.
nv
We obtain from electricity permanent
tonic and sedative effects that are far more
wonderful even than its primary stimulat-
ing effects. 1t must be borne in mind that
it supplants by its superiority as remedial
agent the use of many drugs. 1t is not
specific As quinine is not specific for any
it be chills and fever-yet it
is used freely as a tonic in an indefinite num-
Der of diseases. So electricity is effective of
wonderful results in any disease where local
or general nutrition is impaired.
~
Is there any uncertainty about the use of
electricity by skillful physicians? No. Its
effects are simple, less complicated and
more natural than those of drugs. We know
more of the rationale of electricity to-day
than of that of any agency used for the cure
of disease. We are not speaking now of
those who apply electricity after the manner
of nurses and rubbing doctors.'' They do
not use, but abuse it. We are speaking of its
use by the skillfully trained physicians and
electrical experts of the Electropathic Insti-
tute.
In nervous diseases some authorities MAIN |
tain that electricity accomplishes its most |
brilliant results. We believe, however, that |
this is because the results in nervous dis
eases are often the most immediate and ap- |
parent, and because u good result is assured |
in almost every case of this class of troubles |
The results in our experience which have |
seemed the most remarkable have been in |
cases of paralysis, chronic rheumatism and |
which have been pronounced |
and given up to die
Are the physicians of the Electropathic
Institute specialists? No. That wofully |
abused word, which has from time i'm
served as cloak for unutterable
md infinite humbug, can hardly be applied |
20 them They are not specialists. Scientific
requires scientific |
diagnosis a knowledge of disease, requires
scientific application of electricity, a knowl-
edge of the forces, laws and best methods |
IND appliances of electricity. These re-
Iuirements lead into every department. of
Medicine and surgery as well of mechanical |
1t will be seen that the word
specialist is not a broad enough term to
lpply.
There is as much difference between q
killful and an awkward application of cleo
ricity as there is between q skillful and an
operation in surgery. By the
'killful operator and trained physician the
element of pain is entirely avoided. The
scientist knows that the best results are OBJ
AIMED with mild current, and in nervous
dyspepsia, sleeplessnesS, mental depression,
locomotor ataxia, muscular
trophy, and the vast varieties of neuralgia,
he treatment is the most mild and delicate
gratifying change from the
evere and drastic treatment by drugs.
~
With those who having held two sponges
o a patient, forthwith announce them
elves as ectro-therapeutists, the
physicians of the Electropathic Insti-
ute, have nothing in common. These
re the men. that bring diseredit
Ipon the science both with the pro
ession and the public, by OVERRIDING the
pplications, not only in strength, but in
ength and frequency, by treating all cases
like by routine mechanical applications
egardless either of the disease or the pecu-
iarities OF the patient. The usage of elec-
ricity is special study of the greatest
Importance, the difference in re-
ult between very gentle and short appli-
alton and strong and protracted one be-
ng all the difference between agreeable sue
ess and very painful failure. To distin-
uish between the various gradations that
ie between tolerance and susceptibility is
he business of scientist, not OF u mounte-
,ank or trifer,