The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-01-15
THERAPEUTIC ELECTRICITY

Those whose idea or the medical appli-
alton OF electricity H. limited 10 the belts
and such other absurdities would be- as
! tonished 10 see the complete outht FOR
electrical therapeutics now installed a
the London hospital First comes the
great frictional machine, itself turned by
a small dynamo for the development of
what is called static" electricity. which
most schoolboys have at one time or
other educed by means OF bottle mount
ed on a stick. This, Dr Hedlev. the
surgeon IN charge OF the department. has
found very useful in cases of amaemia
as IL increases the action OF the skin
improves the digestive functions. and has
a calming effect upon the general system.
~ ~ may be used for the producing of
morton waves, which cause powerful
bat entirely painless muscular contrac-
lions proved TO be OF great service for
the relief Of rheumatism. lumbago aud
certain cases of neura gia. Then there
ale 1he nEdlnaI1- batteries
Tor admitting steady current OF tow
bower which Is much used in cases or
psftai paralysis and for certain disease
or the spine while both this method of
application and the static machines have
peen found eificacious IN the removal OF
zema
But the glory of the department f.,
perhaps the recent installation for pass
but high frequency through the human
frame, which increases the secretions OF
the kidneys, restores the tone OF the body
ahd Is said 90 restore appetite sleep
and digestion, and To induce an increas-
ing energy and capacity for work !" This
which is In prinpicle similar 10 one that
Mr.. kikola Telsa exhibited some years
ago at the royal society and elsewhere,
owes its safety TO the fact. first discov-
cred by him, that II the current be made
10 alternate, or, In other words. TO flow
To and fro with sufficient rspidity the
nerves are not susceptible 10 its vibra-
IONS. or. in fact, To It's existence. These
high-reouency currents are held TO be of
the greatest value i'm chronic rheumatism.
goutlness obesity, asthma, snaemia
and diabetes; Coupling this with what
sion for work, IL would seem a patriotic
act Tor something of the kind TO be ap-
piled 10 the next cabinet meeting,
one marvel remains 10 be told Dr.
fiedley-who is. IL may be said in passing,
one OF our greatest authorities on elec-
trical treatment. his book. Therapeutic
ELECTRICITY at present holding the field
on the subiect-assures ms that IL il pos-
sibls by process there described 10 in
noduce drugs into the system through |
shown that one can take iodine. salicylic |
acid arsenic. strNchnine. lthum and |
other powerful drugs by simply placing
an apparatus containing them i'm solution
on the part tc be affected. and then con- |
necuns this with the poles OF a battery |
Al present there are technical difficulties I
~ NV NHN W lil' ''NFf bh' 4
when these are overcome there seems to |
he no reason why We should ever again /
take drugs, either nsuseous or calculated /
to disturb the stomach. through the !
mouth. 81 present the chief use that has /
been made OF this invention is in the \
local application OF cocaine for small \
operations. such as dentistry. hut IN time 4
coming We may look forward 10 taking All \
our medicines from some convenient
source OF electricity such As the electric !
light wires which DIR HcdleN has shown /
Ai-e pAare-GaIl-he- made 10 produce -nosI-4
af the effects before described.
Ierhpps. however. one Of the most use
rul applications OF electricity as used at
he London hospital is diagnosis As
every doctor knows. II H. difficult m many |
,ases OF whole or partial paraysi TO dis
,over whether IL Is the brain or merely
he muscles which are affected. In such
case electricity. properly applied, leaves
hardly any doubt possible. BY most in
yenious apparatus, somewhat resembling |
sphvmoRraph. it traces on black I
med cylinder r curve, showing tho con- /
fractions of any muscle when exposed 20 4
he electric current. and by Ccmraring !
his with the curve of a healthy subject I
inder tho same conditions the injury can
,e ascertained and localized. A patient
vas brought who had fallnn or HIS horse
IN 10 his head with symptoms which
eemed to indicate only extensive paralN-
is Bv muscle testing he was able TO
prove that the injury was due 90 the
strain upon certain nerves OF the neck
md that the brain itself was unniured
{ need not he said that this caused a
complete alteration OF the treatment
BOSTON Ttanepript