Omaha daily bee., 1921-12-19
EFFECTS OF DIATHERMY.
Copyright. 1871. by Dr.. ". A. Evans

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through a tumor and burn Il 10 a
crisp without causing any pain. II
Is possible TO send electricity
through the tissues and treat them
several degrees above the normal
In fact, 10 heat the blood enough
TO coasulate IL In the vessels, and
that. too, without pain.
without pain or any other dis
agreeable sensation, except ssnsa-
ton OF warmth, IL is possible To heat
the tissues and the blood contained
In them so much that the heat Is
carried all over the body by the
blood and other fluids OF the part.
causing fair degree OF generalized
fever.
II the body is exposed to radiant
heat, as, for instance, an open fire.
the temperature may be raised as
much rs 2 degrees. II one leg is
held exposed to a warm, open fire
the temperature OF the entire body
may be raised as much us q degree
Is there any way 10 duplicate
these effects OF an open fire by the
use Of electricity?
An ordinary electrical current
could do II, but the amount of pain
contraction and electrolytIc action
from a current strong enough to
heat up the body is uncomfortable.
Experimenters found that by re-
versing the current of electricity
5000 times In second considerable
heating could be accomplished.
II the current was reversed 10000
times In D. second they could heat
further without causing pain or con-
fractions
Now they have II up to 500, 900
breaks and reversals In the current
in a second, and, using apparatus
designed accordingly, they are able
TO heat the body. to cause fever. to
cauterize cancer and warts, and to
treat certain diseases with satisfac-
ton and without causing more than
local redness.
This kind of treatment Is called
diathermy, because 1t is heating
through process In that, differing
from the local application of heat.
1t is the deep tissues which heat up,
and not the electrodes or any other
part of the electrical apparatus.
And now what are some of the
physiological effects Of diathermy?
1t lowers the pulse rate and the
blood pressure, and warns up the
body. 1t causes the lungs to take
in less oxygen and to give off less
carbonic acid gas.
And in the treatment of what
conditions Is it used?
Persons who feel cold on slight
proyocation, who develop cold feet
and cold hands, and who say they
hayo npnr circ,,lo tiOn ora co;d IN
be made more comfortable by dia-
thermy treatments.
1t will slow the pulse in some con-
ditions of which rapid pulse is
symptom. 1t will lower the blood
pressure by some 10 to 20 points.
It is used in the treatment of pain
due to neuritis and neuralgia. 1t is
employed in the treatment OF
sprains and bruises.
These are about all the known
medical uses.
In surgery it is used In the treat
ment of gonoccocal infections, in
burning out cancers and other tu-
/mors. The diathermy spark will
remove warts, small skin tumors
and certain pigments from the skin.
Who Flung Dat Onion!
G. s. writes: with the aid of
good books q man may learn to
recognize ringworm by mail; but
broad knowledge of life comes only
from ability to observe life. II you
are armed with slender, second
hand information of the arts, then
you cannot generalize on life from
the basis of small pathology assisted
by library. A good motor for you
might be: Warts and bunions and
safety How many painters have
you known?"
REPLY.
To quote General Longstreet's
gentle reply to Jenkin Lloyd Jones:
II was not shooting at you, sir. I
do not know you and I am sorry il
l have hurt you" Many men whose
work always will live were inter-
mediates. If you care to inform
yourself, read the works of Have
lock Ellis, Forel, Moll, Weininger,
Block, Carpenter and Kraft Ebing.