Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-10-07
HOPE IN ELECTRICITY.
Progress Made in Use Of Current for
Treatment of Disease.

After an enthusiastic reception and
PRONUNCIATION the treatment of disease
by electrical means SUFFERED a long
period of relapse, due no less to a want
of understanding than to the too high
claims made for the method or the
unwarranted exploitation of the idea.
1t is extremely important then
that the chief English authority on
electro therapeutics, writing under the
initials II. L. j. should be able to
assert that the true meaning of the
action should have been growing much
clearer. This is owing to two reasons
The first is to recognize that when
an electric current passes through
living tissue there is an actual flow of
electric ions--or, let us more simply
call them, minute carriers of electric
ity Thus, though the old idea of an
electric fluid has been definitely
abandoned, it has been replaced by
that of flaw of something which is
tangible and, we might almost say
material.
The second of H. L. U.s. reasons
for believing that we are growing bet
ter acquainted with the ways In
which electric currents can exert heal
ing effects is that it is now recognized
thanks to Nagelschmidt, that high fire.
quency electric currents heat the us
sues. Let us, however, first briehy
summarize the advances maintained
by the recognition of the Ionic char-
acter of direct electric currents.
Through this knowledge it has been
possible to introduce Inducements ui-
rectly into tissues especially at the
surface of the body, apart from Whicn
is brought about by the movement OF
electric ions in them when a current
of any kind is set to traverse them,
But ionic medication. though Ii mas
attained quite a respectable age by
now. was for long time attended py
considerable difficulties, because OF the
pain involved when it was sought TO
drive ionic messengers OF ammonium
or sodium or zinc or other metals into
the body. Ways have now been Iouno
by which the pain can be lesseheo,
and by which, at the same time the
strength of current can be Vey "ucn
increa sed-a matter of great impor-
lance for the effectiveness OF the trea'1
ment Tins both by setting up chem
;c.1 interchanges in the tissues them
selves. and by introducing metaihc
ions from without, this form OF eiec-
reconciliation is progressing, ana we
may especially note the increasingly
successful treatment of true neural
CLASH. neutritis and even chronic govt
When-to leave this method--we coi-
slider those where currents of large
magnitude are more useful, we arrive
at the high-frequency treatment. III
this the ions in the cells OF the pouy
undergo displacement as BEFORE pu'
the displacement is so slight anu 50
quickly. reversed that the elastici,y ..
the protoplasm is not strained, anu
the chief effect produced is that Oh
heating. 1t is supposed that as tne
result of this internal heating various
states of spasm and congestion, anu
some forms of neuritis and inhaihina
tlon. are relieved. With this pet.er
COMPREHENSION of what takes place.
added TO the fact that electrical tes.s
are now defferentiating much moro
delicately than heretofore the nervous
state of muscles, one may JOIN n. -
T." in the hopefulness he expresses
about this branch of electrical sclehee'
London Morning Post.