Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-07-15
CITING RESULTS
Showing the Power Of Electricity for
the Curing of Disease
WHEN SkILLFULLY APPLIED
The Difference Between Scientific and
UnskiIIfuI Methods.
VARIOUS NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS
On the History and Uses of Electro-Thera-
peutics-The Difference Between
clubbing Doctors" and
Scientists.
C,NoniOhfed.

INFORMATION OF STRIKING INTEREST
Copyrighted.
1t is interesting to notice that the science
ofelectro-t -therapeutics,w 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 enough to fear to tread.
Then, as to-day, however, we are forced to
admit that marvellous results were obtained
by mountebanks, quacks and empirics, 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 incalcuab!e harm.
In the hands of such men, electricity is an
uncertain and even dangerous power. In
the hands of men who are trained physi-
clans and educated and experienced elec-
trical experts as well, 1t becomes the safest,
surestand most potent agent Tor 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 1t
is supplanting, it comes like gift of nature
protesting against the habitual arrangement
of the system by noxious posons 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
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 rs a remedial
agent the use OF many drugs. 1t Is not
specific. As quinine is not specific for any
disease-unless it be chills and fever-yet it
is used freely as tonic in an indefinite num-
Der of diseases. So electricity is effective of
wonderful results i'll 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 TOR 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 IL 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
consumption, which have been pronounced
incurabIe and given up to die.
Are the physicians of the Electropathic
Institute specialists? No. That wofully |
abused word, which has from time i'm
memorial served as cloak for unutterable |
and infinite humbug, can hardly be applied |
to them. They are not specialists. Scientific |
acknowledgements requires scientific |
diagnosis, a knowledge of disease, requires |
scientific application of electricity, l1nowl- |
edge of the forces, laws and best methods |
and appliances of electricity. These re- !
quirements lead into every department of |
medicine and surgery as well of mechanical |
electriZation. 1t will be seen that the word !
specialist is not broad enough term to !
apply.
There is rs much difference between n
skillful and an awkward applicat tion of cleo
tricity as there is between skillful and an
awkward operation in. surgery. By the
skillful operator and trained physician the
element of pain is entirely avoided. The |
scientist knows that the best results are OBJ |
tanned with q mild current, and in nervous |
dyspepsia, sleeplessness, mental depression, |
hypocondriasis, locomotor ataxia, muscular !
atrophy, and the vast varieties of neuralgia,
the treatment is the most mild and delicate |
a gratifying change from the |
severe and drastic treatment by drugs.
-
With those who having held two sponges !
to a patient, forthwith announce them !
selves us o-therapeutists, the |
physicians of the Electropathic Insti- !
tute, have nothing in common. These /
are the men that bring dfscredit |
upon the science both with Nthe pro |
fession and the public, by overriding the /
applications, not only in strength, but in
length and frequency, by treating all cases
alike by routine mechanical applications, |
regardless either of the disease or the pecu-
liarities of the patient. The usage of elec- |
tricity is n special study of the greatest /
practical Importance, the difference in re-
suit between n very gentle and short appli-
cation and n strong and protracted one be-
ing all the difference between agreeable sue
cess and very painful failure. To dfstin-
guish between the various gradations that |
lie between tolerance and susceptibility Is
the business OF q scientist not of a mounte-
l.. Ia