The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-11-12
VIBRATIONS CURE NEURALGIA.
The Vibratory Principle Applied to tn
Head by a Migratory Helmet

The vibratory Principle Applied to the
Head by a Migratory Helmet
Scientific American.
Among all the methods more or less odd
in appearance applied to the treatment of
nervous diseases there are few more orig
for some time at the Salpetriere by Prof.
Charcor. 1t is the treatment by mechan-
ical vibrations.
There is a serious disease of the nervous
system, characterized by an incessant
trem bling of the hands, q stopping attitude
and an odd gait that makes it seem as il
the invalid was going to prec!pitate him.
self headforemost 1t is the trembling
palsy, also called Parkinsons disease, q
sort OF painful nervous disorder that de-
prives the unfortunate who is afflicted
with it of rest and sleep.
Mr.. Charc0t long time ago learned from
some invalIds who were troubled with this
infirmity that they derived decided relief
from long rides on railroad or in q car
riage. The more the vibrations caused in
the compartments by the train running at
full speed. and the more the carriage was
Jolted over an uneven pavement, the more
the rclief experienced, At the end
of q days journey they felt bet
ter and experienced an inexpressible
comfort. One of them conceived the idea
of having himself wheeled about for ours
in one of those heavy carts used for carry
ing paving stones. Contrary to the expert
trembling palsy felt fresher and more act.
i've on allghting from the cars. The longer
the trip lasted. and the worse she line. the
more durable was their Improvement.
such testimony coming from various
sources was not lost It was for Mr. Char
cot the starting point of q most curious
therapeuticsl application. Mr.. Charcot
bad an arm-cheir constructed to which q
to-and-fro motion was given by means OF
an electrical windlass. Long before the
invention of the vibrating armchair DIR.
Vicouroux conceived the idea of sub
uniting hysterical patients to the vibra-
tiOns of huge tuning.fork. In this way be
cured anasthesias and muscular stiff
joints. Other ply sicians. B0udet, of Paris
and Mortimer, of Granville, applied vi.
hrating rods to the treatment of neuralgiai
lfaclsl Deuraigla In particularly and head.
aches. Granville devised a small electric
hammer analogous to the hammer of cleo
trio bells, and that was applied to the
painful point. Under the influence OF
the shock, repeated hundreds of times
within short period. the pain ceased
The method was some time ago singular-
iy improved by DR.. Glllis de la Tourette. a
pupil of Mr.. Charcot He had an sppa.
ratus constructed for the treatment of mo-
Crime and nervous headaches IL was the
vibrating helmet. Imagine helmet of the
model of that of old times. and very analo
hatters- 1t is, in fact, formed of steel
plates that permit of Its fitting the head
perfectly. Upon this helmet In lieu of the
crest. there is o small alternating current
motor of peculiar construction that makes
about six hundred revolutions Der minute.
At every revolution a uniform vibration
10 propagated TO the metallic plates and il
transmitted to the Uranium that they en-
brace. The cranisl walls thus vibrare In
their ensemble, and the vibrations are
naturally transmitted to the entire cerebral
apparatus. The sensation is not disagree
able. The number and intensity of the VIZ
brations. moreover. may be varied accord.
ing to the tolerance Of the subject. In q
few minutes sort of general Iassitude IL
experienced. with q tendency to sic ep.
The vibrating helmet has already beer
applied to n large number Of neurastheniS
lnvalids the majority of whom have ex
perleDced good results from it. The PROOFS
succeeds also against hemicyania, and 81
this 10 quite q common affection for which
no surely efficacious remedy 10 known, til,
helmit will, in . short time, be seen to com,
into vogue.