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W E ■ G THE 
ELECTRIC BATH 
ITS MEDICAL USES, EFFECTS 
AND APPLIANCE 
BY 
GEORGE M. M.D. 
MEMBER OF THE NEW YORK COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY AND OF THE MEDICAL 
JOURNAL ASSOCIATION OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK J ONE OF THE 
PHYSICIANS TO THE NEW YORK LYING-IN ASYLUM, ETJ, 
NEW YORK 
G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS 
182 FIFTH AVENUE 
1877 Copyright, 
G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS. 
1876. PREFACE. 
IN No 216 of "The Medical Record" (Dec. 15th, 
1874) was published an article written by me, 
entitled " On some of the Uses of Galvanic and Fa- 
radic Baths." 
The interest manifested in the subject, as evi- 
denced by numerous letters of inquiry since received 
from physicians in almost all parts of the United 
States, and some in Europe, has induced me to 
write the present treatise, in which I have endeav- 
ored to present to the profession, as far as lies in my 
power, all that is necessary to a full comprehension 
of the electro-balneological treatment. 
When it is considered that in the employment 
of electric baths I have been to a great extent grop- 
ing in the dark, that I have been deprived of the 
advantage of having the experience of others to 
guide me, it will not appear surprising that I should 
have met with many disappointments. My failures 
have been illustrative of the fact that the electric 
bath is no more a panacea for all ills than any PREFACE. 
4 
other remedial agent. Applicable as it is to a great 
variety of pathological conditions, it meets with 
many where it is destined to have negative or at 
best imperfect results. Far from discouraging me, 
however, failures have served to inspire me with 
fresh ardor to seek for light, and to persevere in my 
efforts to establish on the basis of statistical truth, the 
therapeutic merits of the agent which I employed. 
In view of the imperfectness of the results thus 
far obtained, I should consider the present work 
premature, did I not find a justification for it in my 
desire to induce other and abler observers to inves- 
tigate the subject, and place it on whatever footing 
it may merit. 
To say that I am fully conscious of the shortcom- 
ings of my work, would be but feebly to express 
my convictions in this respect. I beg the reader 
however to consider that the subject is not a hack- 
neyed one, that mine has not been the work of the 
compiler who remodels the brain-work of others. 
It may be crude and rough, it may lack the gloss 
and polish that is the result of much handling, but 
I have at least the consciousness that it has the 
merits of originality and candor. 
New York. 
160 Second Avenue. November, 1876. CONTENTS. 
CHAPTER I. 
The Apparatus. 
PAGE 
a)-The tub. d)-The electrodes and connections, c)-The 
water, d)-Chemicals. <?)-The batteries 7 
CHAPTER II. 
Mode of Administration 19 
CHAPTER III. 
Physiological Effects. 
Characteristic differences between the electric bath and 
other methods of electrization-Effects on sleep; on 
general sensation ; on the change of matter; on the 
pulse and'temperature; as a stimulant and tonic ; on 
general nutrition; on the digestive apparatus; on the 
sexual apparatus-Sedative influence-Affects cranial 
nerves-Cutaneous sensation-Its freedom from pain- 
Muscular contractions-Effects on the mind . . . . 31 6 
CONTENTS. 
CHAPTER IV. 
General Therapeutic Effects and Uses. 
PAGE 
The electric bath as a diagnostic; as ah equalizer of the 
circulation ; as a general counter-irritant; as a general 
invigorant and tonic-Its hypnotic and sedative influ- 
ence-Its improvement of nutrition-As a prophy- 
lactic 52 
CHAPTER V. 
Special Therapeutics and Clinical Record. 
General directions-Special diseases-Acute rheumatism 
-Subacute rheumatism-Chronic rheumatism-Cases 
of rheumatism-Chorea, with cases-Hysterical af- 
fections, with cases-Neurasthenia, with cases-Agry- 
pnia, with cases-Anaemia, with case-Paralyses and 
Pareses, with cases-Neuralgiae, with cases-Articular 
effusions,-with case-Impotency, with cases-Constipa- 
tion, with cases-Hydrargyrosis, with case-Locomotor 
ataxia, with case-Cachexia, with case-Dyspepsia-■ 
Melancholia, with case-Inequalities of the circulation 
-Affections of the Sympathetic, with case-Miscella- 
neous conditions-Concluding remarks 61 THE ELECTRIC BATH. 
CHAPTER I. 
THE APPARATUS. 
T 
O a proper comprehension of the succeeding 
chapters, it is necessary first of all to be famil- 
iar with the apparatus employed in carrying out 
electro-balneological treatment, and I therefore pro- 
ceed to give a description of this.* It may conveni- 
ently be divided as follows, viz. 
a. The tub ; 
b. The electrodes and connections ; 
c. The water; 
d. Chemicals ; 
e. The batteries. 
* A written description can never convey so true an idea of 
anything, as an ocular inspection. I will therefore say that it 
will afford me much pleasure to show any member of the pro- 
fession the apparatus I am about to describe, at my residence. 8 
THE ELECTRIC BATH. 
(a) The Tub. This must be made of a non-con- 
ducting material. Of substances that will answer, I 
will mention: wood, porcelain, soapstone, vulcanized 
rubber, or glass. In choosing one of these materials, 
regard should be had to the facility of attaching 
the electrodes. In this respect wood deserves the 
preference over all the others mentioned. Where 
economy is to be studied, it has a further item in its 
favor. 
The tubs, which I have now in use for nearly three 
years are made of wood, and I find them to answer 
very well. It must not be forgotten, however, that a 
wooderj tub requires to be well painted on the inside, 
in order to prevent its becoming water-soaked, be- 
cause in that event it would become a conductor of 
electricity, and interfere to some extent, with the ad- 
ministration of the electric current in the bath. 
The shape and size of the tub may be the same 
as those of an ordinary bath tub. To suit individual 
cases however, its length may be made to vary. The 
only peculiarity in its construction is at the head. 
Here, instead of slanting, it is made square, and the 
slightly concave (from side to side) board against 
which the back of the bather is to rest, is fitted in 
afterwards. This is necessary, because it is very 
difficult to make a wooden tub with a slanting back THE APPARATUS. 
9 
water-tight. If the length of the tub from outside 
to outside is made to measure about five feet ten 
inches, the back-rest fitted in at a proper slant will 
bring the inside of the tub to about the right length 
for an average male adult. All around the upper 
edge of the tub runs a wooden coping, which must 
not be fastened down however until all the attach- 
ments for conducting the current are in situ. Along 
that portion of the top of the tub where required-- 
and this will depend on the situation of the binding 
posts presently to be mentioned-and underneath 
the coping, runs a groove for the reception of the 
wires that are to connect the carbon electrodes on 
the inside of the tub with the binding posts on the 
outside. This groove is continued vertically along 
the inside of the back-rest and foot of the tub respect- 
ively, to communicate at either end with the bed 
for the reception of the carbon plates. These verti- 
cal grooves should at their lower end be a little over 
| inch deep, in order to admit of the wires being in- 
troduced beneath the carbons. 
The face of the foot of the tub and that of the 
back-rest, should have in their centres (from side to 
side) and commencing at about five inches from the 
bottom of the tub, a bed for the reception of the 
carbons. The dimensions of these receptacles must THE ELECTRIC BATH. 
10 
of course correspond to those of the carbon plates 
to be employed as electrodes. Those which I use 
measure 12x8" at the head, 8x6" at the foot of the 
tub. They are thick. They are placed so as to 
have their long diameter correspond to the height 
of the tub. The bed which is to receive the carbon 
at the head of the tub must be deeper than on ac- 
count of the concavity of the back-rest. 
In order to adapt a tub to individuals of differ- 
ent lengths, it will be found advantageous to have 
two small vertical cleats on each side of the tub, 
near the foot and bottom, for the reception of a foot- 
board, which will practically shorten the tub and 
adapt it to persons of different lengths. This board 
may conveniently be six inches wide, and should 
have a number of perforations about an inch in di- 
ameter, for the transmission of the current to the 
feet. l|" pine plank is the most suitable wood to 
use in the construction of the tub. This is prefer- 
able to any of the hard woods, because of the 
greater facility of fitting in the electrodes etc. It 
is also the most economical. 
($) The electrodes and connections. These consist 
of two carbon plates, two brass binding posts, and 
insulated wires to connect the carbons with the 
binding posts, and these with the battery. The THE APPARATUS. 
11 
carbons are such as are ordinarily employed in 
the construction of galvanic batteries, and can, as 
well as the wire and binding posts, be procured 
from any house that deals in telegraph material. 
Their size is to some extent optional; the dimen- 
sions I have given above however answer very well. 
The inside of the tub having received one or 
preferably two coats of paint, the carbons are now 
fitted in the receptacles provided for them; The 
next step is the attaching of the binding posts. 
These should be of the kind known as " single '' 
binding posts with " wood screws." The most 
convenient location for them will be found on the 
coping covering the horizontal portion at the head 
of the tub. Here the coping, as it has to cover 
not only the upper edge of the head of the tub, but 
that of the back-rest also, is of necessity much wider 
than at any other portion, and thus affords most 
room for the binding posts. 
Having marked out then a site for the binding 
posts, say in the centre of the coping at the head 
of the tub-which should now be placed in position 
-and about two inches apart, the posts are laid 
aside to be put in place when the wires are all in 
situ, and the coping fastened down. 
In order to facilitate the description of the plac- 12 
THE ELECTRIC BATH. 
ing of the wires by means of which communication 
is to be established between the electrodes and the 
binding posts, I shall term the end of the wire that 
is to be attached, to the electrodes the distal, that 
which is attached to the binding posts the proximal 
end. A gimlet hole sufficiently large to admit of 
the passage of one wire should be made half an inch 
outwards from the centre of the site of each binding 
post. -The best wire to use is about No. 16 copper 
wire, coated with gutta percha or rubber. The site 
of the posts being as above suggested, it will be 
found that the wire which is to connect the head 
electrode with one post requires to be about 18 
inches long, that which runs from the other post to 
the foot-electrode, between eight and nine feet. 
The distal ends of the wires should be stripped of 
their coating for a length of about three inches, the 
proximal ends for about two inches. The denuded 
portion of the distal ends should be rolled up in the 
form of a spiral coil; this will insure their constant 
impinging on the carbons more certainly than 
could be expected from a simple straight end of 
wire. 
The carbons having now been fitted in their beds, 
the distal end (coil) of the head wire is placed beneath 
the carbon, and the wire itself continued up .along THE APPARATUS. 
13 
the vertical groove to either one of the gimlet holes. 
Through this, from within outward, the proximal 
end of the wire is now drawn and left for the pres- 
ent. The distal end of the second wire having now 
been placed beneath the carbon at the foot of the 
tub, this wire is continued up through the vertical 
groove, along the upper edge of the foot of the tub 
to the side nearest the binding post to which the 
wire is to be attached, along the groove on the upper 
edge of this side to the head of the tub, and thence 
to the respective gimlet hole, and through this, from 
within outward. The wires being now all in posi- 
tion, all the coping is next screwed or nailed down 
firmly, care being taken that the screws or nails used 
for this purpose do not injure any of the wires. The 
coping fastened down, the binding posts are now 
screwed down in the sites previously marked out for 
them. Before they are screwed entirely down, the 
denuded portion of the proximal end of each wire is 
securely wound around the screw of the respective 
binding post, and the posts are then firmly screwed 
down, holding the proximal ends of the wires in 
place. Connection is now established between the 
binding posts and the head and foot electrodes re- 
spectively. The vertical grooves are now to be filled 
in with putty and painted over, care being taken to THE ELECTRIC BATH. 
14 
keep the carbon free from paint. The last step to- 
wards completing the apparatus is to fasten the car- 
bons in their beds. The simplest way of doing this 
is by stretching over each carbon a piece of muslin, 
folded double, and tacking this down around the 
edges. Zinc or galvanized iron tacks are best. Cop- 
per tacks should be avoided on account of their supe- 
rior conductivity. 
In order to be able when required to localize the 
current in special portions of the body, it is well to be 
provided with what I have termed a " surface board." 
This is a piece of black walnut, say 14 in. long by 5 
in. wide, f thick, having in the centre a bed to ac- 
commodate a carbon plate, say 5 in. long by 2 in. 
wide, f thick. From the centre of this bed a gimlet 
hole pierces the board. The denuded end of an in- 
sulated wire is drawn through this gimlet hole from 
without inward (toward the bed) and twisted in the 
form of a spiral to prevent its slipping back, as well 
as to insure its more certain connection with the car- 
bon. The carbon is now placed in the bed, and kept 
there by a piece of muslin drawn over it and tacked 
down. The wire should be of sufficient length to 
reach the battery. I shall speak further on of the 
use to be made of the surface board. 
r) The Water. The quantity of water may be THE APPARATUS. 
15 
the same as that in an ordinary bath. In those 
cases alone where it is intended to localize the cur- 
rent by means of the surface board, and to concen- 
trate it very strongly in one spot, the water in the 
tub should be left low enough to leave the particu- 
lar spot to be treated uncovered by this ; the sur- 
face board can then be applied to this spot without 
the loss to the current of strength, through derived 
currents, inevitable in its application under water. 
The temperature of the water may range from 
850 to 105° Fahrenheit. As a rule the comfort of 
the patient may be consulted in this respect. There 
are certain cases, however, where an especially high or 
low temperature is indicated, and where the extremes 
mentioned have to be touched. 
d} Chemicals. Where these are added to the 
water of the bath, it is for one of three purposes : 
viz. 1)-To exercise a direct therapeutic influence on 
the patient, either internally by being absorbed, or 
externally by their action on the skin ; 2)-Through 
chemical affinity to aid in eliminating certain metal- 
lic substances from the body; or 3)-To further 
the absorption of morbid deposits. The various in- 
dications in these respects will be treated of in their 
proper places. 
£•) The Batteries. In the choice of this, the 16 
THE ELECTRIC BATH. 
most important part of the electro-balneological ap- 
paratus, the greatest circumspection is necessary. 
Inferior instruments and such as are liable to get 
out of order frequently, have time and again been 
the means of discouraging the beginner in electro- 
therapeutics, and causing him to abandon the study 
of an art, the pursuit of which would have well re- 
paid him for all his labor. Fortunately our manu- 
facturers here in New York turn out very good in- 
struments, and if a physician purchases an inferior 
one, the fault is his own. 
Two different currents are required for the 
baths, viz. i)-The galvanic, which maybe employed 
either in the constant or interrupted (by means 
of a rheotome) form ; and 2)-the faradic or in- 
duced current. Several manufacturers of this city 
turn out good and serviceable faradic instruments. 
Those which I have been in the habit of using for 
some years past are manufactured by the Galvano- 
Faradic Manufacturing Company, and they have 
given me unvarying satisfaction. By means of a 
recently introduced attachment to their batteries, 
termed the " fine adjustment," a current of exquis- 
ite "fineness" (rapidity of interruption) is obtained, 
thus removing the only inferiority that has hereto- 
fore distinguished American from the best imported THE APPARATUS. 
17 
instruments. The instrument is very easy of man- 
agement, and its liability to get out of order very 
small. 
As however the galvanic current is of vastly 
greater importance in a therapeutic respect, than 
the faradic, so also much greater care is required in 
the choice of a galvanic than a faradic battery. In 
making choice of a galvanic battery, we have to con- 
sider its relative quantity, intensity, constancy, per- 
manency, economy of running expenses, and facility 
of management. We cannot be guided here by the 
same considerations that guide us in the choice of 
a battery for office use, where the seances are usual- 
ly brief and the elements taxed not nearly so much 
as in the administration of baths. It is not within 
the scope of this work to enter into a description 
of the various galvanic batteries that are in use. 
Neither do I believe that, in a therapeutic sense, 
there is much difference between the various batte- 
ries ordinarily found described in text-books on elec- 
tro-therapeutics. 
Where the battery is to be stationary, a zinc-cop- 
per battery, such as the Hill battery for example, is 
preferable both on account of its constancy and the 
economy of running it. Of this there should be fully 
sixty cells, communicating with the bath through a 18 
THE ELECTRIC BATH. 
current selector, by means of which the current from 
any desired number of cells can be obtained. The 
electro-susceptibility of different individuals varies 
to such an extent that this is absolutely necessary. 
Where a portable battery is desired, the Stbhrer zinc- 
carbon battery will be found the most useful. 
I have mentioned these two batteries simply be- 
cause I have them in use, and they give me satisfac- 
tion. There are many others, however, that will 
answer equally well. On the whole, any battery pos- 
sessing quantity and intensity in a medium degree 
will answer. CHAPTER II. 
MODE OF ADMINISTRATION. 
I SHALL describe under this head the modus 
operandi of administering a routine galvanic or 
faradic bath. As it will become necessary to describe 
special modes of administration when speaking of 
the electro-balneological treatment of special dis- 
eases, the describing them now would only lead to 
tautologies that I am desirous of avoiding. 
Taking our cue from the indications to be met in 
each case, it becomes necessary, according to circum- 
stances, to use either the galvanic current, the fara- 
dic, or both successively. As modifications of the 
application of the currents we have to consider i) 
their intensity ; 2) their direction, and 3) the dura- 
tion of the application. 
The intensity of the galvanic current corresponds 
directly to the number of cells from which it is de- 
rived. It were vain however to attempt to express 
this in figures, because the electro-motive force of 
different batteries varies to so great an extent, that a THE ELECTRIC BATH. 
20 
number of cells of some batteries of low intensity 
yield a current so feeble as to be barely appreciable 
in the bath, while the same number of cells of a bat- 
tery of high intensity, furnish a current that few 
persons can bear without pain. In thus comparing 
the Hill cell with the Stbhrer cell, I have found the 
ratio to be about as I to 2|, i. e.,as intense a current 
can be derived from twenty-four Stbhrer as from 
sixty Hill cells-and this is rather below than above 
the mark. Were all batteries alike in this respect, 
however, still no particular number of cells could be 
given as furnishing a current of suitable average in- 
tensity for the galvanic bath, because of the exces- 
sively great variations in the degree of electro-sen- 
sibility of different persons. This is so marked that 
I have seen persons in the bath tub who could bear 
no more than six Hill cells, diffused as was the cur- 
rent from these through the water and over the 
entire body ; while on the other hand I have met 
with male patients on whom a current from thirty- 
two Stbhrer cells made not the slightest impression, 
and where I was compelled to supplement the current 
by that from a ten-cell quantity battery (zinc carbon 
elements 6 in. long by 4| wide) in order to make 
them realize the presence of a current. These gen- 
tlemen had no cutaneous anaesthesia. MODE OF ADMINISTRATION. 
In view of the facts just stated, I have found it 
impracticable, when giving directions for the admin- 
istration of a galvanic bath, to indicate any certain 
number of cells to be used. I am in the habit of 
ordering the administration of a " mild," a " medi- 
um " or a " strong" current, as may be required in 
the respective cases ; and in every instance it is the 
electro-sensibility of the patient that determines the 
number of cells requisite to obtain the desired result 
as represented by one of these terms. The same 
applies also to the faradic current. 
To determine the direction of the current is suf- 
ficiently simple. Where a descending current is 
desired, the binding post which represents the elec- 
trode at the head of the tub must be connected to 
the positive pole of the battery, the other binding 
post to the negative pole; where an ascending cur- 
rent is desired, the reverse of this is done. 
The duration of the bath varies with different 
cases. The average is about twenty minutes, 
though the time may range from ten minutes to an 
hour and a half. 
Where it is desired to give the patient a galvanic 
shock, it is only necessary rapidly to reverse the 
current by means of the commutator. The simulta- 
neous contraction of almost the ENTIRE muscular 
21 THE ELECTRIC BATH 
22 
system that accompanies the reversal of a current of 
sufficient intensity in the bath, affords a striking 
illustration of the general effects of the galvanic bath. 
In cases where paralyzed muscles have lost their 
faradic irritability, galvanic interruptions are almost 
indispensable to successful treatment. 
I have before (page 14) described a " surface 
board," which I have devised for the purpose of lo- 
calizing the current from one of the poles in any 
portion of the body where required. This proceed- 
ing should by no means be looked upon as a " local '' 
method of electrization ; on the contrary, it is just 
as much "general" as the ordinary electric bath. 
Whereas in local applications the current runs from 
one point of the body to another, in this case, sup- 
posing the spot where the surface board is applied to 
be the centre, and the rest of the body the periph- 
ery, a current runs between every point of the pe- 
riphery and the centre, its direction being centri- 
petal when the surface board communicates with the 
negative, centrifugal when with the positive pole 
of the battery. 
The current is felt more or less intensely in pro- 
portion to the proximity to the body of the surface 
board. With the galvanic this is less noticeable than 
with the faradic current. When, for example, a fara- MODE OF ADMINISTRATION. 
23 
die current of medium strength being employed, the 
surface board is held about six inches from the ab- 
dominal surface, little or no current is felt. Let the 
surface board be now gradually approximated to the 
abdomen, and the current will be felt more and more 
sensibly, until, when about an inch away from the 
skin, or touching this, its influence becomes so strong 
as to cause more or less energetic contractions of the 
abdominal muscles. Where the galvanic current is 
employed, the skin beneath the surface board will be 
found more or less reddened after a few minutes' ap- 
plication ; the burning sensation ordinarily accom- 
panying galvanic applications will also be experienced 
more or less intensely, in proportion to the strength 
of the current employed. 
Where the current is to be concentrated in a 
manner still more energetic than that described, this 
can be effected by raising the objective part above 
the surface of the water, and then applying the sur- 
face board. In this way the entire strength of the 
current is concentrated in one spot, whereas, when 
the surface board is applied under water, a large por- 
tion of current is absorbed by this. 
This appears to me the fittest place to say a few 
words in regard to the relative conductivity of the 
human body and water-the latter at the tempera- TYZZ' ELECTRIC BATH. 
24 
ture ordinarily employed in baths, say from 90° to 
950 Fahrenheit. Beard and Rockwell, in their 
work on Medical and Surgical Electricity,* state that 
" the human body is a better conductor of electricity 
than water at the same temperature.'' Certain 
phenomena connected with the administration of 
electric baths having forced upon me some doubts 
in this respect, I made very careful experiments, 
both with and without the aid of the galvanometer 
(Bradley's Tangent), to satisfy these. Without 
wearying the reader with details, I will state that the 
result of my experiments leaves no room for doubt 
that water at the temperatures stated-and still 
more so at 98^°-is superior to the human body as a 
conductor of electricity. I do not mean to be under- 
stood that water is a better conductor than every con- 
stituent of the human body ; blood, for example, is a 
better conductor. But when I speak of the body in 
this connection, I take it as we find it practically, i. e., 
with the resistance of the skin, and especially the 
epidermis, superadded to internal resistances. I 
have no doubt that with a flayed individual it would 
be otherwise. I will add, that it will give me great 
pleasure to repeat these experiments, which are 
* " Medical and Surgical Electricity." New York. 1875. 
Wm. Wood & Co. pp. 431 and 432. MODE OF ADMINISTRATION. 
25 
sufficiently simple, in the presence of any of my con- 
freres who feel an interest in the subject. 
Having thus cursorily considered the manner of 
using the electric current in the administration of a 
"routine" bath, and there being no remarks re- 
quired concerning the water employed, in addition 
to what has been said in the previous chapter, a few 
words are in place on the subject of chemicals. As 
has been previously stated (page 13) these are 
added : a) to be absorbed, and thus act medicinally 
on the patient ; Z>) to act on the skin ; e) through 
chemical affinity to facilitate the elimination from 
the body of certain metallic substances, and ef to 
further the absorption of morbid deposits. Of the 
many drugs and medicines that no doubt-may be 
made to answer these various purposes, I have had 
personal experience with but few, and of these I will 
mention the leading ones only. A requisite of all 
chemicals to be employed is their ready solubility 
in water. Of substances intended for absorption* 
I have used but three, viz : iron, iodine, and ex- 
tract of malt. The first of these I have employed 
* For some experiments concerning the cataphoric effects 
of the galvanic current, see an article by Munk, entitled " Uebei 
die galvanische Einfiihrung differenter Fliissigkeiten in den un- 
versehrten lebenden Organismus," in the Allgemeine Medicin- 
sche Central-Zeitung, No. 16, 1875. 26 
THE ELECTRIC BATH 
in anaemic and enfeebled conditions generally, but 
especially in chlorosis and chlorotic hysteria, with 
marked success. It has the advantage, when ad- 
ministered in this manner, not only of sparing the 
alimentary canal the frequently injurious task of 
becoming the medium of its assimilation, but, in ad- 
dition to this, I believe that it can in this way be 
introduced into the blood much more rapidly and in 
larger quantities than when given by the mouth. 
The preparation which I have found, all things con- 
sidered, the most eligible for this purpose, is the 
" tartrate of iron and ammonia." This is very read- 
ily soluble, leaving no deposit, is assimilable, and 
not too expensive for the purpose. As, in my ex- 
perience at least, it leaves nothing to wish for, I 
would consider it superfluous to discuss in this con- 
nection any of the other ferruginous preparations. 
Iodine I have employed with a view to its ab- 
sorption in rheumatism and gout. I cannot speak 
favorably of it in this connection. I have not in a 
single instance found a bath charged with iodine, 
either in the form of the tincture or of iodide of 
potassium, followed by results in any way differing 
from those of the simple galvanic bath employed in 
the same cases. 
Extract of malt I have employed as a roborant, MODE OF ADMINISTRATION. 
27 
either alone or in conjunction with iron, in cases of 
debility and malnutrition, and found it of service. 
Where the absorption of substances is aimed at, 
the galvanic current must be employed. 
Where we add substances to an electric bath with 
a view of producing some special action on the skin, 
we may be guided by the same principles that gov- 
ern ordinary balneology. Thus to obtain counter- 
irritant effects, we may add mustard or common salt; 
to render the bath alkaline, bicarbonate of potassa 
or soda, etc., etc. 
An important object to be furthered by the addi- 
tion to the galvanic bath of chemicals, is the elimina- 
tion from the system of certain metallic substances. 
It will be found here that in practice we have to deal 
chiefly with two substances, viz : mercury and lead. 
That the elimination of these bodies by means of the 
galvanic bath is feasible, I shall endeavor to demon- 
strate further on. At present I have simply to con- 
sider the chemicals adapted for the purpose, and the 
manner of using them. 
To facilitate the extraction from the system of 
mercury, nitric-acid has been recommended by those 
who have heretofore instituted this treatment. 
While I cannot positively deny that this substance 
may aid in the elimination of the metal, I am com- 28 
THE ELECTRIC BATH 
pelled to state, after its trial in several cases, that I 
have obtained equally good results from the simple 
galvanic bath. In the light of my own limited ex- 
perience, therefore, I cannot insist on the necessity of 
adding any chemical to a galvanic bath which is ad- 
ministered for the purpose of extracting mercury 
from the body. 
Where the elimination of lead is the object aimed 
at, I am, on the other hand, satisfied of the utility 
of adding certain chemicals to the water of the bath. 
Sulphuric acid has been suggested and used for this 
purpose. I can say nothing respecting its usefulness, as 
I have never tried it. Indeed, the results with iodide 
of potassium added to the bath have been so satisfac- 
tory, that I have had no occasion to try any other 
chemical, although almost any other of the prepara- 
tions of iodine would probably answer equally well. 
The chemical affinity of iodine for lead affords a ready 
explanation of its usefulness in this respect. One 
ounce of iodide of potassium to each bath appears to 
me a suitable quantity. 
I have had no personal experience with any 
other cases of chronic metallic intoxication than 
those with lead and mercury. 
The absorption of morbid deposits (plastic exu- 
dations, etc.) can be materially furthered by add- MODE OF ADMINISTRATION. 
29 
ing to a galvanic bath some resolvent-above all, 
iodine. 
I have said above (page 26) that I had found no 
perceptible benefit from the addition of this sub- 
stance to the galvanic bath in cases of rheumatism 
or gout. The contrary holds good however with 
respect to the frequent sequence of these diseases- 
articular deposits. When the acute, and to a great 
extent the sub-acute symptoms have subsided-and 
in chronic cases especially, and the disease has left 
effusions in various joints, iodine, which when em- 
ployed in this manner, appears to have little or no 
influence on the pain accompanying these com- 
plaints, is a powerful adjuvant in promoting the ab- 
sorption of the deposits. In chronic synovitis and 
all other articular affections accompanied by exu- 
dation, the same holds good. 
I have no doubt that future advances in this 
branch of science will develop the utility of numer- 
ous other drugs and chemicals as additions to the 
galvanic bath.-Before leaving this subject I must 
call attention to the influence which the addition to 
the bath of certain substances has on the conduc- 
tivity of the water, resp. thus: the action of the cur- 
rent on the patient. I have found that when I 
caused salt or bicarbonate of soda to be added to THE ELECTRIC BATH 
30 
the bath, the conductivity of the water became so 
much increased, so disproportionately greater than 
that of the body, as to render necessary the employ- 
ment of very powerful currents in order to cause the 
patient to feel them. ' CHAPTER HI. 
PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS. 
IN accordance with the plan of the present work, 
the remarks I shall offer under this head are by 
no means intended to comprise all that is known at 
the present day of the physiological effects of elec- 
tricity in general. It was my purpose when I under- 
took to write these pages, to offer to the profession 
a book confined to one subject; not a compilation, 
but a volume made up almost if not wholly of origi- 
nal matter, chiefly, if not entirely the result of my 
own observations and experience. For the general 
physiological effects then of electricity as well as for 
the theories of its action, I refer those interested to 
the many excellent works on the subject that have 
appeared within the last few years. I will treat here 
only of the physiological effects peculiar to the elec- 
tric bath. 
The daily observations that I have had the op- 
portunity of making in this respect, extending as 
they do over a period of upwards of two years, have THE ELECTRIC BATH. 
32 
not been as fruitful of results as might be ex- 
pected. This is due mainly to the circumstance that 
but a small percentage-and these took the baths 
merely as a refreshing tonic-of those whom I have 
had the opportunity of observing, were in a condition 
that might called normal. By far the greater 
majority were suffering from some complaint, in most 
instances of a neurotic or rheumatic nature, the pres- 
ence of which, while it afforded admirable opportu- 
nity for observing therapeutic results, modified more or 
less the physiological effects of the baths, and served to 
deprive them of a uniformity which might to a great 
extent justly be looked for in healthy organisms. If, 
therefore, what I now contribute to the physiology 
of the subject is but little, it will I trust be at least 
found of practical utility in its applicability to the 
therapeutics of the subject. 
Before entering into details, it is necessary in the 
first place to inquire in what respects electric baths 
differ from other methods of electrization-especially 
those recently introduced as " general "-that their 
physiological effects should merit individual consid- 
eration. They differ in two ways. One of these is 
self-evident. To the effects of electricity are super- 
added those of the warm bath. The effects of the 
warm bath per se are too familiar to every physician PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS. 
33 
to require comment. Its effects in combination with 
electricity, however, may not be so generally known ; 
and I therefore feel justified in quoting here a passage 
that bears directly on the subject, from a recent Ger- 
man work by Dr. Hartmann* of Wiesbaden. 
"The last question, whether mineral water acts also by con- 
tact with the skin, leads us to one of its most important effects 
-that through electricity. 
" Although this question has not as yet been finally disposed 
of, we have still advanced far toward its solution, through the 
admirable researches of Heymann and Krebs. Both observers 
have furnished proof that the contact of the water of the bathf 
with the human body gives rise to electric currents, which cur- 
rents must be looked upon as being the excitors of the nerve- 
currents, the body acting merely as a conductor. From these 
experiments we conclude that no particular difference obtains 
between artificial and transported waters on the one, and natural 
waters on the other hand, the assertions of Scoutettens not- 
withstanding, who in regard to electricity claimed to have found 
a difference between the artificial and transported waters and 
the natural ones. 
" We gather moreover from the experiments, that the electric 
current generated through the contact of the body with the 
water of the bath is modified chiefly by the gases, next by the 
temperature of the water, and lastly only by its salts. 
* Dr. Franz Hartmann ; " Der acute und chronische Gelenk- 
rheumatismus," Erlangen, 1874; pp. i94etseq. 
t The Author here refers to mineral-water. Dr. S. THE ELECTRIC BATH; 
34 
" The effects of the bath depend on the strength of the elec- 
tric current generated and on the condition of the peripheral 
endings of the nerves ; the effect may be stimulating or sooth- 
ing. The strength of the current is governed, as we have seen, 
by the quantity of gases present, the temperature and the salts. 
Ordinary lukewarm baths, indifferent baths containing a small 
amount of gases, are less stimulating than mineral baths con- 
taining a larger proportion of gases. 
" With regard to the relative condition of the peripheral nerve- 
ends, experiments on the motor nerves go to show that swelling 
of the terminal ends of these nerves may diminish their excit- 
ability to the point of its complete extinction, while it becomes 
increased by their exsiccation. This fact as to the motor nerves 
is adopted by Heymann likewise as applying to the nerves of 
sensation. If, now, we presuppose absorption or even imbibition 
on the part of the skin, a swelling of the nerve-ends is compre- 
hensible, as the imbibed fluid reaches them. But, according to 
Heymann, the peripheral nerve-ends, i. e., the terminal bulbs of 
Krause, of the sensory nerves, and the tactile corpuscles of 
Meissner, become even without this presupposition sufficiently 
impregnated with water while in the bath, because here all in- 
sensible perspiration must cease, and in a bath of a temperature 
lower than blood-heat transpiration cannot take place, so 
that all transudation to the skin being retained during the 
bath, those termini are surrounded by moisture and therefore 
swell up. 
"From this the writer concludes with regard to the effects 
of the baths, that all baths in which the electric current pro- 
duced by contact of the water with the body preponderates 
over the swelling of the nerve-ends, have a stimulant effect, PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS. 
35 
while those baths where the swelling preponderates over the 
electric current, act as a sedative. 
" Taking a brief and comprehensive review therefore of the 
effects of mineral water baths, we have those resulting from 
the temperature, from the contents of carbonic acid and salts, 
and lastly from the electric current generated in the bath water; 
each effect however resolving itself into an excitation of the 
peripheral nerve-ends, which leads in a reflex manner to an en- 
hancement of the change of matter." 
From the foregoing quotation may be realized 
the importance which is attached to the electric cur- 
rent in the warm bath. And here let me ask the 
question : May not the remedial superiority, in 
many cases, of the mineral water bath over the or- 
dinary warm bath be due mainly, if not solely, to 
he more abundant generation in the former of elec- 
ricity ? Or rather, is it not very likely that this is 
o ? And if such is the case, it would appear evi- 
dent that the mineral water bath, the electric prop- 
erties of which, depending on the chemical changes 
going on between the gases and salts of the water 
on the one, and the cutaneous secretions and other 
constituents of the body on the other hand, are to a 
great extent beyond our control, must in turn be 
vastly inferior to a bath where the electric current is 
under our perfect control, and can be modified in 
intensity, direction and quantity to meet the indi- 36 
THE ELECTRIC BATH 
vidual requirements of every case. And such is 
the electric bath I am now describing. 
The second difference between the electric bath 
and all other methods of applying electricity is, that 
the bath is the only method by means of which general 
electrization can be realized. In making a distinc- 
tion in this respect, it becomes necessary for me to 
advert more especially to a method first introduced 
to the profession in a systematized and scientific 
manner by Drs. Beard and Rockwell,* and 
termed by them " General Faradization.'' The un- 
doubted good results that have been obtained from 
this method-for the details of which I refer the 
reader to the latest work of the authors!-have 
caused it to be extensively adopted by the medical 
profession, both here and in Europe. It is, however, 
not with its results that I have to do at present, but 
with its appellation and true nature. General fara- 
dization, so-called, consists of a series of local fara- 
dizations, administered during one and the same 
seance, until the current has alternately been made 
to impinge upon and traverse the entire or at least 
* The Medical Use of Electricity, with special reference to 
general electrization as a tonic, etc. New York, 1867. 
t Beard and Rockwell; Medical and Surgical Electricity. 
N. Y. 1875. PHYSIOL O GICAL EFFECTS. 
37 
a large portion of the body. This cumulative pro- 
cedure, it is true, approaches general electrization, 
as represented by the electric bath, more closely 
than any of the other local methods; yet it is not 
that which its name would imply, and I do not 
think it requires argument to make it apparent, that 
even this procedure differs vastly from the electric 
(whether galvanic or faradic) bath, where the cur- 
rent at one and the same time impinges directly on 
every peripheral nerve-end (excepting those of the 
head and face) and traverses every part of the body, 
obtaining-both as to reflex and direct effects-as 
a whole that which the method known as general 
faradization seeks to obtain by the cumulation of 
fractional portions. 
Having thus, I trust, established the individuality 
of the bath as an electric method, I will without fur- 
ther digression proceed to the consideration of its 
physiological effects. 
The physiological effects of the electric bath may 
be qualified on the one hand as either " immediate," 
or " remote," on the other as either " transient " or 
" permanent." Strictly to classify these is impracti- 
cable, and I will therefore be influenced in the order 
of their enumeration principally by their importance 
in a therapeutic respect. 38 
THE ELECTRIC BATH. 
One of the most pronounced as well as uniform, 
and at the same time most important, effects of the 
electric bath, is its property as an 
HYPNOTIC. 
This somniferous influence, which is to some ex- 
tent exercised by local electrization, is here distin- 
guished by its far greater constancy as well as by its 
greater degree of perfection. That this difference 
should exist, appears quite natural, when it is con- 
sidered that the same topical influences which pro- 
duce it in local electrizations, and which I shall pres- 
ently endeavor to analyze, are here brought to bear 
on the entire system. The hypnotic effect is both 
immediate and remote, and more or less permanent. 
When there is an immediate inclination to sleep, 
which may make itself manifest during the bath or 
immediately after this, it is generally accompanied 
by a 
PLEASANT SENSE OF FATIGUE, 
which cannot be likened to weariness, but rather to 
what we feel after moderate exercise ; it is only in 
some instances, where an individual takes his first 
bath, or where, for therapeutic reasons, a strong 
faradic current-accompanied by responsive muscular 
contractions-is employed, that this feeling is inten- PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS. 
39 
sifted sufficiently to become unpleasant, calling for 
rest and recuperation, and must here be looked upon 
as analogous to the effects of severe exercise. It in- 
variably disappears after a brief rest. 
Experience and good judgment will enable us 
moreover in almost all cases to avoid effects of this 
kind. The immediate inclination to sleep is much 
more decided as well as constant when the bath is 
taken late in the day, than when taken in the fore- 
noon. When the latter is the case however, the indi- 
vidual will as rule become sleepy during the after- 
noon, or else at an earlier hour than usual in the even- 
ing, and sleep more soundly during the night. This is 
the effect of one bath. A series of baths will how- 
ever produce more or less marked and permanent 
improvement in the sleep of individuals, where this 
has been below the normal standard. And this is 
among the most invariable of the effects of the elec- 
tric bath, whether galvanic or faradic. 
I have formed a theory as to the rationale of this 
influence, which I will offer as its probable explana- 
tion. We all know that sleep is a process designed 
by nature for the recuperation of the system after a 
certain period of activity. In other words, when the 
various functions have been more or less exercised 
for their daily allotted time-say seventeen hours- THE ELECTRIC BATH 
40 
the respective organs need that profound rest which 
we know as sleep. Now, it is pretty well conceded 
by physiologists, that electricity stimulates the secre- 
tory as well as excretory organs ; that it furthers 
endosmosis and exosmosis-by its electrolytic influ- 
ence in a physical, by its influence on the nervous 
system in a catalytic manner, in short, and by virtue 
of these properties, that it greatly 
ENHANCES THE CHANGE OF MATTER 
and incites the various organs to so great an activity 
as to cause them to perform in a comparatively brief 
space of time-say an hour, the work of several 
hours. The natural sequence is obvious : The want 
of rest-of sleep, is felt at a correspondingly earlier 
period. I offer this as a probable explanation of the 
immediate or almost immediate disposition to sleep. 
As to the permanent improvement in sleep, where 
this has been below the normal standard, it must 
always be due to the removal of some morbid condi- 
tion, and thus belongs among therapeutic results, 
rather than physiological effects. It is true that in 
many instances of agrypnia we are unable to discover 
any pathological condition that would account for 
this symptom ; but the probability is that here there 
is a sluggishness of some one or more of the func- PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS. 
41 
tions, mental or physical, too obscurely manifested to 
be discovered by our present means of diagnosis, yet 
reached and rectified by a mode of electrization that 
traverses and permeates every portion of the body. 
If this explanation of the hypnotic effect of the 
electric bath be not the true one, it is at least-so 
far as I know-the first attempt at accounting for a 
phenomenon that has been noticed as a result of 
even local applications of electricity by many ob- 
servers, and about the pretty uniform occurrence of 
which there can be no doubt. 
With respect to the effect on the 
TEMPERATURE AND PULSE, 
I have made a number of observations, of which I 
have recorded twenty-two, made on persons where 
both were at or nearly at the normal 'standard. 
With regard to the frequency of the pulse, the results 
were conflicting and by no means reliable. In the 
majority of cases there was an increase, immediately 
after the bath, ranging from four to eighteen beats 
per minute. In others there was no change whatever, 
and in a few there was an absolute diminution in 
frequency; this last I believe however to be a thera- 
peutic rather than physiological effect, manifesting 
itself only where there is pneumogastric asthenia, 42 
THE ELECTRIC BATH. 
and attributable directly to electric stimulation of 
this nerve. Thus in one instance, which occurred in 
the person of a physician of this city, who had an 
intermittent pulse, the result was as follows: Im- 
mediately before bath : pulse 70, two intermissions ; 
at the expiration of 15 minutes, during which he 
was under the influence of a descending galvanic 
current: pulse 65, two intermissions; at the end of 
ten more minutes, during which he received the 
faradic current: pulse 65, no intermissions; ten 
minutes after leaving the bath : pulse 66, no inter- 
missions. As a rule then, we may look for an im- 
mediate and more or less transient moderate increase 
in frequency of the pulse. <As for any permanent 
increase or reduction of the pulse, there is none as a 
physiological effect. Where such an one does take 
place, it is by the removal of some morbid influence 
on the heart, and must be looked upon as a thera- 
peutic result. 
With respect to the temperature, the results were 
somewhat more uniform. I have found that where 
this is either normal or slightly below, the immedi- 
ate but transient effect is to raise it .from 2 to 6 
tenths of a degree (Fahrenheit)-in most instances 
4 tenths. In a very few cases it remained un- 
changed, and in one case, where before the bath PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS. 
43 
the temperature was 100, at the close of the bath it 
was 99I. Of permanent modifications of the tem- 
perature, the same holds good that I have said of 
permanent changes in the pulse. It must not be 
forgotten that the temperature of the water is un- 
doubtedly an important factor in modifying the tem- 
perature of the body. In almost all instances where 
my observations were made, the temperature of the 
water was below that of the body, being 95° or a 
little less. This, which has a tendency to lower the 
bodily temperature, is to some extent counterbal- 
anced by the suppression of the insensible perspira- 
tion, so that modifications of temperature result- 
ing from electric baths, the water of which is but 
few degrees below 982-°, may justly be attributed to 
the influence of the electric current. The importance 
of the electric bath as a 
PHYSIOLOGICAL STIMULANT AND TONIC 
cannot be overrated. I deem it superior in this re- 
spect to any other known agent. This effect mani- 
fests itself immediately by a feeling of exhilaration and 
unwonted vigor, remotely by an improvement-where 
there is a margin for such-in the performance of 
some or all of the physiological functions, as well as by 
a gradual but nevertheless marked increase in weight. 44 
THE ELECTRIC BATH. 
Most striking among the tonic influences of the 
baths, are those that occur within the sphere of the 
digestive and sexual apparatuses. I will first con- 
sider the effects on 
. THE DIGESTIVE APPARATUS, 
which may be subdivided into those on tf) the appe- 
tite, ty digestion, absorption and assimilation, and c') 
alvine excretion. The improvement of the appetite 
under electro-balneological treatment is one of the 
most constant effects of this. While a series of baths 
will produce permanent results in this respect, an in- 
crease of the appetite, in some instances amounting 
to positive hunger, is a tolerably uniform and more 
or less immediate result of each separate bath. The 
permanent improvement of the appetite is relative. 
Not very appreciable where this is normal, it becomes 
most marked where the appetite has from some 
cause been impaired. The effect on the appetite is 
definite. The effects on absorption and assimilation 
are presumptive ; but when we couple the absence of 
any corresponding difficulty in digesting the in- 
creased supply of food, with the increase before 
alluded to in the weight of the body, their assump- 
tion becomes fully justifiable. It is these combined PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS. 
45 
influences that make the electric bath so valuable a 
remedy in almost all forms of dyspepsia. 
The influence on the alvine process is if anything 
even more marked than that on the assimilative pro- 
cess. Where the action of the bowels is normal, it 
is not modified permanently by the electric bath, 
although we often have, as an inimediate conse- 
quence, a cathartic effect that manifests itself as a 
more or less watery evacuation, either a few hours 
after the bath or on the succeeding day. Where the 
fecal process however is sluggish, the improvement 
resulting from the baths is very striking. I shall 
recur more fully to this subject under the head of 
constipation. 
The effects on the various functions connected 
with digestion are due doubtless to the combined 
influences of stimulation of the secretions of the 
alimentary canal and stimulation of the muscular coats 
of the stomach and intestines, as well as permanent 
tonization of the muscularis. While the enhance- 
ment of the secretions is undoubtedly due chiefly to 
the electric stimulus to the secreto-motor nerves, 
and the increased activity of the muscular coats to a 
like influence transmitted to their motor nerves, I 
believe the permanent tonization and invigoration of 
the muscular fibres to be mainly attributable to the 46 
THE ELECTRIC BATH. 
direct trophic influence of the current traversing the 
parts themselves; and I have no doubt that this di- 
rect influence has much to do with the stimulation of 
the secretions and peristalsis also. At any rate, I 
have never obtained from galvanization of the nerv- 
ous centres, which I have practiced in a great num- 
ber of cases, the striking effects on the alimentary 
processes which are so uniform a result of the baths. 
The influence on the 
SEXUAL APPARATUS 
of the electric bath does not manifest itself in so 
striking a manner as in the case of the organs of 
digestion. It is true I have seen individuals whose 
sexual functions were normal, have stysis in the 
bath, but the mere cutaneous irritation of the elec- 
tric current is here sufficient to account for a phe- 
nomenon which, where sexual irritability is intact, 
will follow any other local irritations. 
If not as immediately perceptible, the stimulant 
and permanent tonic and invigorating influences on 
the sexual organs are not much less constant than 
the corresponding influences on digestion. Careful 
observation, however, of a considerable number of 
cases where the sexual function was more or less 
impaired, has convinced me that while there can be PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS. 
47 
no doubt that direct influence on the innervation, 
tone and nutrition of the respective parts as well as 
the stimulus which the electric current furnishes to 
the seminal secretion, bear a share in the improve- 
ment that takes place, permanent beneficial results 
must be looked upon as chiefly the expression of im- 
proved nutrition and tonization of the system at 
large. I do not mean to be understood as wishing 
to put in negation the beneficial results that the local 
influence of electricity is capable of sometimes ac- 
complishing in the sexual sphere. These results, 
however, are not of a physiological, but rather of a 
purely therapeutic nature, and are obtained there 
only where local morbid conditions exist. Now, in 
the great majority of the cases that have come under 
my observation, the causes of deterioration of the 
sexual capacity, though frequently obscure and inde- 
finable, were certainly not local, but to be sought for 
in the general- most probably the nervous-system. 
In none but perhaps the very mildest and recent 
cases have I ever seen rapid results follow electrical 
treatment of any kind whatsoever. In support of 
my assertion however that in the majority of cases 
the sexual sphere can be influenced only through 
the system at large, I will state first, that I have seen 
cases where local electrical treatment had utterly 48 
THE ELECTRIC BATH. 
failed to do the slightest good, respond favorably to 
the baths, and second, that where success was met 
with, it was only after persistent treatment, contin- 
ued long enough to modify favorably the condition 
of the entire organism, and through this the objec- 
tive sphere. 
The stimulant and tonic effects under considera- 
tion, although shared to some extent by other 
methods of electrization, are here far more compre- 
hensive and pronounced, a fact which is not surpris- 
ing, when we reflect that in the electric bath not 
only are all fhc organs indirectly influenced through 
stimulation of the nervous centres, but each sepa- 
rate organ is at the same time directly acted upon 
by the current. 
A direct sequence of the stimulant and tonic 
effects of the electric bath is its 
SEDATIVE INFLUENCE. 
This sedative effect, whereof the hypnotic effect 
already spoken of is the supreme manifestation, 
must not be associated for a moment with any idea 
of depression, for here we have none such. In addi- 
tion to what I have already said in endeavoring to 
account for the hypnotic influence of the baths, I 
refer the reader for further information to the ad- PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS. 
49 
mirable and lucid remarks on this subject by BEARD 
and Rockwell.* 
The galvanic bath shares with other galvanic ap- 
plications made in the cranial and upper spinal re- 
gion, the effect of producing the galvanic taste, as 
also the flashes when the current is interrupted, 
showing that the 
CRANIAL NERVES 
come within the sphere of its influence. 
A further effect peculiar to the galvanic bath is 
a sense of 
ITCHING, 
felt chiefly in the lower extremities and about the 
neck, and proportioned to the intensity of the 
current. Rather pleasant when mild or medium 
currents are used, under the influence of strong 
currents it may become so intense as to create an ir- 
resistible desire on the part of the bather to scratch 
especially the legs. 
A negative effect of the galvanic bath, even 
where very intense currents are used, is the 
ABSOLUTE FREEDOM FROM PAIN 
throughout the entire process. I wish this to be 
* Op. cit. pp. 253. et seq. THE ELECTRIC BATH. 
50 
understood of course as holding good only when 
currents within the ordinary limits of intensity are 
employed. The strongest that I have used, and on 
which I base my statement, was that from 48 Stohrer 
or 60 Hill cells. As stronger currents are not re- 
quired for therapeutic purposes, what I have asserted 
remains practically true as applied within these limits. 
This absence of pain, which -cannot be claimed 
for correspondingly intense local applications, is to 
be attributed to the diffusion of the current through- 
out the body and its surface, as well as through the 
water of the bath. The redness of the entire back after 
a galvanic bath, is among the proofs of this diffusion. 
Freedom from pain is a characteristic likewise of 
the faradic bath, properly administered. When too 
strong a faradic current however is incautiously ad- 
ministered, the resulting muscular contractions are 
accompanied by an amount of local pain propor 
tioned to the violence of the contractions. By keep- 
ing the faradic current within proper limits, all pain 
can be avoided. 
With respect to 
MUSCULAR CONTRACTIONS, 
the effects of the electric bath may be distinguished 
from those obtained by other modes of faradization PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS. 
51 
by their comprehensiveness. Many groups of mus- 
cles may be made simultaneously to contract by this 
means. The practical bearing of this on the thera- 
peutics of parescs and paralyses, renders it an impor- 
tant characteristic of the bath. 
The physiological effects on 
THE MIND 
of electric baths, is a natural result of the enhanced 
tone and vigor of the physical system, and keeps 
pace with this. Mental buoyancy and even exhila- 
ration are among the most common sequences of 
electric baths. Although indirect, these results are 
none the less decided. 
It has been my aim in the foregoing remarks to 
give the reader, as concisely as possible and within 
the limits which I set for myself in the beginning of 
the present chapter, a summary of the more impor- 
tant physiological effects of electric baths. As the 
isolated results of observations made in a limited 
field by one unaided individual, I trust the short- 
comings of this chapter will be viewed indulgently. 
If what I have said of the physiological effects of 
electric baths proves the means of stimulating to 
further investigation more competent observers than 
myself, my labor, whatever its imperfections, will 
not have been in vain. CHAPTER IV. 
GENERAL THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS AND USES. 
THE therapeutic uses of a remedy are based on 
what we know of its physiological effects. 
Many-or rather most-of the therapeutic effects of 
this as well as of most other remedies, correspond 
to certain physiological effects. Those therapeutic 
effects whereto we find none analogous among the 
physiological effects, are yet the results of the physio- 
logical tendencies of the remedy, and where these 
tendencies do not manifest themselves as results, it 
is because they find no field for action in the healthy 
organism. When they meet with the requisite 
pathological conditions, these tendencies make them- 
selves manifest in the shape of definite results, com- 
monly known as therapeutic effects. 
Nothnagel, in his classical work,* recognizes this 
theory by excluding from his book the term " thera- 
peutic effects " altogether. Where he finds it neces- 
* Dr. Hermann Nothnagel: Handbuch der Arzneimittellehre. 
Berlin, 1870. THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS AND USES. 
53 
sary to say anything of the physiological effects of a 
remedy, in addition to those "on man in health," 
he speaks-still under the head of ''physiological 
effects"-of those "on man when sick." When, 
setting aside its empirical employment, we come then 
to inquire what it is that furnishes us with the true 
indications for the use of a remedy, analysis of the 
question leads us invariably back to its physiological 
effects. If I have failed nevertheless to include the 
few effects which I am about to touch on, under the 
head of " physiological effects," I have done so 
simply in compliance with universal usage, and as a 
matter of convenience for reference. 
I will now, without further digression, proceed to 
the consideration of those effects of electric baths not 
yet enumerated. 
As a fitting precursor to the enumeration of the 
therapeutic properties of the remedy under consid- 
eration, it may be well to dwell for a moment on 
what is among its most prominent characteristics; I 
have reference to its great value as a 
DIAGNOSTIC. 
In explanation of this, I will state that in a very 
large number of cases of disease of an obscure nature, 
and where, to be candid, the electric bath was em- THE ELECTRIC BATH 
54 
ployed empirically, or, if you please, tentatively, it 
has served to point out the locus morbi. The num- 
ber of cases in which I have made this observation, 
has been sufficiently large to establish beyond a 
doubt the fact, that as a rule the electric current 
makes itself more decidedly and often'even painfully 
felt in any part where a morbid condition exists; 
whether this be of an inflammatory, neuralgic, rheu- 
matic, traumatic, congestive or other nature, the 
result is the same. It appears to be somewhat 
analogous to the " tenderness on pressure '' that 
we find present in many of these conditions. In 
anesthesia even the current makes itself conspicuous 
by the absence of its normal effects. The value of 
this will at once be recognized in connection with a 
method of electric application which at one and the 
same time acts on every portion of the body. Local 
electrization is accompanied by like phenomena, 
when we happen to strike the right spot. The su- 
periority of the bath as a means of diagnosis is 
found in the circumstance that here we must 
touch it. 
The great importance of this feature of the 
electric bath will at once be realized by every phy- 
sician of much experience, for there can be none 
such who has not frequently met with subacute or THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS AND USES. 
55 
chronic conditions the etiology of which was more 
or less obscure. 
One of the most important effects in its thera- 
peutic application of the electric bath, is its superior 
excellency as an 
EQUALIZER OF THE CIRCULATION; 
so far as I know, it is more potent, constant and 
comprehensive in this respect than any other agent. 
Where an imperfect circulation of the blood is due 
to irremovable organic causes, the results obtained 
will of course be transient only. In all other cases, 
however, favorable results, more or less perfect ac- 
cording to the nature of the case, may be reliably 
looked for. Both currents act very well in this re- 
spect, though on the whole I look upon the galvanic 
as superior to the faradic current. 
As a theory of this effect of the currents I 
would offer the following, viz : That the galvanic 
current acts by stimulating the vasomotor centres 
and peripheral nerves, by giving tone to the mucu- 
lar coats of blood vessels, and by counter-irritation. 
That the faradic current stimulates the vasomotor 
centres little, if at all, does not influence the coats 
of vessels, except such as are close to the skin, but 
tonicizes these latter more effectually than the gal- THE ELECTRIC BATH 
56 
vanic current; that it stimulates the peripheral 
nerves to some extent, though far inferior in this 
respect to the galvanic current; but that when em- 
ployed of sufficient intensity it superadds to those 
mentioned a strictly mechanical action, which con- 
sists in forcing static blood from the capillary into 
the general circulation through the medium of mus- 
cular contractions. 
As a 
GENERAL COUNTER IRRITANT 
the galvanic bath has few if any superiors. The 
degree of counter-irritation can be very nicely de- 
termined by regulating the intensity of the current. 
The characteristic tingling sensation of the galvanic 
current is felt over the entire surface, corresponding 
in degree of course to the intensity of the current; 
I 
while the redness of the skin, bearing a like relation 
to the intensity of the current, is observable more 
especially near the electrodes, being particularly 
conspicuous over the entire back. Concentrated 
local counter-irritation can be obtained by the use 
of the surface-board. 
The counter-irritant effects of the galvanic bath, 
differ from those of ordinary counter-irritants in 
their freedom from pain, even the slight burning THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS AND USES. 
57 
sensation accompanying strong currents ceasing 
with the application. The redness remains quite 
a while and the stimulus to the peripheral circula- 
tion causes the persistence for some time of a "glow- 
ing " sensation all over the body. 
In the chapter on physiological effects enough 
has been stated to make it apparent that as a 
GENERAL INVIGORANT AND TONIC 
the electric bath can have few if any superiors. In 
the healthy organism, however, the stimulant and 
tonic effects of the baths are much less marked than 
they are where the general condition is " below par." 
In health there is little or no margin for improve- 
ment. The results obtained are temporary stimula- 
tion, and a permanent invigoration which partakes 
more of artificial development than anything else. 
It is analogous to the development by gymnastic or 
other exercise of a previously healthy set of muscles. 
Where we meet with atonic conditions however, 
with debility, malnutrition, want of energy or general 
asthenia of an obscure nature, and amenable to elec- 
tric influence, the tonic effects of the baths become 
striking and brilliant. I have observed cases where 
patients fairly bloomed up under their influence 
and acquired actually more physical strength and 58 
THE ELECTRIC BATH 
weighed more than before they became sick. When 
we consider how in such conditions as those men- 
tioned, patients are made to swallow pills and mix- 
tures for months or years, or, more appropriately, 
and if they can afford it, are sent abroad, we can 
realize the importance of an agent by means of which 
the desired end can be obtained more conveniently, 
certainly, economically and in a shorter time than by 
any other means. There is no rule without its ex- 
ceptions, and I freely admit that in many instances 
where persons are, as the saying is, "run down," a 
sojourn in some mountainous region or a course of 
sea-bathing, etc., would do them more good than 
anything else, electric baths included. The results 
obtained from these last are however sufficiently uni- 
form to justify us in looking for very favorable results 
in every case. 
In the preceding chapter I have already dwelt 
on the 
HYPNOTIC AND SEDATIVE INFLUENCE 
of the baths. It is only necessary to state here that 
this influence manifests itself still more decidedly in 
corresponding morbid conditions than in health. 
The greater the degree of restlessness, irritability or 
wakefulness, the more strikingly does the soothing THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS AND USES. 
59 
and hypnotic influence of the baths-appropriately 
administered, of course-became apparent. 
IMPROVEMENT OF NUTRITION, 
as manifested by rapid increase of weight, and which 
I have likewise touched upon in the preceding chap- 
ter, is a reliable, constant effect of electric baths. 
Where previous loss of weight is due to an incurable 
organic disease, it is, if at all obtained, of course 
much less in degree, as well as transient. When due, 
however, as is frequently the case, to causes that are 
amenable to electrical influence, the increase in weight 
is marked, and has a tendency to be permanent. 
It will be seen that the few therapeutic effects 
which I have here enumerated, are in reality nothing 
more than intensified physiological effects, there 
being about them nothing that might be termed 
specific. It may be asked in reply : why then did I 
devote any space to them at all ? I will answer that 
I thought best to point out some general therapeutic 
USES for which electric baths may be made available, 
and the indications for which are furnished by so 
great a number of pathological conditions, that 
omitting special reference to them would have led to 
a great deal of tautology in the chapter on " special 
therapeutics." 60 
THE ELECTRIC BATH. 
Before leaving the subject of " general uses " of 
the baths, I will dwell for. a moment on their ad- 
mirable adaptability as a 
PROPHYLACTIC. 
Every physician is fully aware of the fact that dis- 
turbances of the circulation constitute one of the 
most frequent causes of disease. There are, indeed, 
comparatively few pathological conditions that do 
not bring with them congestion of some more or less 
important organ. A remedy then which more than 
any other has a tendency to equalize the circulation, 
and thus counteract a condition which as cause or 
effect, or both, is an almost universal concomitant of 
disease, and which in addition to this is so admirable 
and physiological a stimulant and tonic, can hardly 
be surpassed as a prophylactic by any other uncom- 
bined remedy. CHAPTER V. 
SPECIAL THERAPEUTICS AND CLINICAL RECORD. 
I HAVE thought it best for practical purposes, to 
accompany the consideration of the treatment of 
special diseases by the histories of illustrative cases, 
where I had such at command. 
Before entering on the subject proper, I wish to 
offer some general considerations that may influence 
and guide us in determining when, where and why 
to employ electric baths as a remedy. 
To realize thoroughly the indications in given 
cases for the employment of electric baths, we must 
first of all be more or less familiar with the effects 
and uses of the electric current as well as those of 
the ordinary warm bath. We must realize the fact 
that here we not only have these two forces united, 
but that the more important of the two, the electric 
current, here acts directly (locally) as well as indi- 
rectly (through the nervous centres) on every por- 
tion of the body-a circumstance of great import- 
ance in differentiating indications on the one hand 62 
THE ELECTRIC BATH. 
for the baths, on the other for local electrization. In 
view of these circumstances we are fully justified in 
looking for results far more comprehensive than any 
that might be obtained singly from either of the two 
remedies that are here combined. There can be no 
doubt that in many cases the resisting power of 
a disease is sufficient to withstand two remedies 
brought singly and alternately to combat it, whereas 
the simultaneous combined action of these remedies 
may be fully adequate to overcome this resisting 
power. 
Approaching in its effects more closely to the 
electric bath than any other remedy, is the process 
known as " general faradization," to which I have 
already alluded (p. 36). In choosing between this and 
the bath, I state it as my conviction that, while there 
may be a small proportion of cases in which general 
faradization, so-called, is preferable, in almost all the 
cases where both these remedies are applicable, the 
faradic bath deserves the preference-it is a more 
complete faradization. 
We need never be afraid of ordering electric 
baths on the score of any imagined exertion or dis- 
comfort attaching to them. The most delicate, the 
aged and children alike, bear them with far more 
ease, comfort and impunity than any ordinary warm SPECIAL THERAPEUTICS. 
63 
bath, or any but the mildest local electrization. The 
entire absence of shock or pain of any kind whatso- 
ever, is always an agreeable surprise to those who, 
urged by their physicians, have with fear and trem- 
bling submitted themselves to a treatment, the mere 
name of which filled their minds with extravagant- 
and, it is useless to say, groundless-visions of pain- 
ful shocks. Thanks to the tonic effects of the cur- 
rent, they are by the feeble and infirm borne much 
better than the ordinary warm bath. There is like- 
wise much less liability to get cold after the electric 
bath. The stimulus which the current furnishes to 
the peripheral circulation is a powerful protection 
against cold, so that even in midwinter I see people 
daily take electric baths at an average temperature 
of 950, and enjoy apparent immunity from colds. 
Having once determined on the use of the baths 
in a given case, we have to observe certain points in 
their application. 
In the first place, guided by what we know of the 
relative effects of galvanism and induced electricity, 
we must decide which of these two currents to use, 
and if both, in which order. We must determine on 
the direction and intensity of the currents, as well as 
on the duration of the baths. 
Next we must use our judgment as physicians, THE ELECTRIC BATH. 
64 
in deciding whether a given case promises to get 
well under electro-balneological treatment alone, or 
whether auxiliary treatment may not be required to 
bring it to a favorable issue. 
With respect to the frequency of the applications, 
I will say that while there are some cases where a 
bath twice a week is sufficient, and others where a 
bath every day is imperatively necessary, in far the 
greater majority of cases suitable for electro-balne- 
ological treatment, a bath every alternate day is 
sufficient, but a bath every day is better-it leads to 
more rapid as well as certain results. 
In most of the cases, a daily bath for a few days 
or a week, followed by one every other day for a 
time, and, when the cure is about completed, a bath 
twice a week, to consolidate and confirm the good 
results obtained, has done me the best service. 
I would dwell particularly on the necessity of 
perseverance in this treatment. The majority of 
cases that have come under my observation in this 
connection, have been of a more or less chronic na- 
ture. In many of these, where medicinal and other 
treatment had been unavailingly gone through with 
for weeks, months and even years, I have found ex- 
isting the most absurd expectations with regard to 
the effects of the baths. People who had made the SPECIAL THERAPEUTICS. 
65 
tour of almost all the watering-places of Europe 
without obtaining the slightest benefit, have come 
to me imbued with the idea-whence derived I 
know not-that one or two baths should greatly im- 
prove, and two or three more cure them; and 
when these expectations were not realized, they 
would promptly discontinue treatment, fully satis- 
fied that electric baths were no more capable of 
benefiting them than "all the other things." I do 
not mean to be understood for a moment as intend- 
ing to imply that ideas of this nature are shared by 
the profession ; I mention them simply in order to 
show the necessity on the part of physicians to disa- 
buse in this respect the minds of those patients 
whom they may send for electro-balneological treat- 
ment. 
In appropriate cases, the use of the bath should 
not be too long deferred. I have had frequent occa- 
sion to become cognizant of the fact, that cases 
have been sent by physicians to take the baths only 
after prolonged ineffectual treatment of another na- 
ture had been gone through with, and where nega- 
tive or at best tardy results took the place of the 
brilliant results that might have been obtained, had 
the cases been sent earlier. I do not mention this 
in a fault-finding spirit; to do so would be unjust. 66 
THE ELECTRIC BATH. 
The remedy under consideration has up to the 
present time been too little known, the indications 
for its employment-in the absence of statistics-on 
too uncertain a basis, to expect from any but spe- 
cialists the early realization in any case of its ap- 
propriateness. I trust however that in the future, 
from being a "dernier ressort," it will come to take 
its proper place among other remedies, to be ad- 
ministered " when it will do the most good." 
When this comes to pass, the results obtained, satis- 
factory as they are even now, will become as bril- 
liant and well-authenticated as those of every other 
remedy from which experience has taught us how 
to reap the greatest advantage. 
In the following "clinical record" I shall not 
omit to cite cases where the baths were unsuccess- 
ful, wherever it shall appear to me that the citation 
of such cases may be of assistance in arriving at a 
true estimation of the therapeutic value of the 
remedy. 
In giving the histories of cases, it will scarcely be 
necessary to enter very minutely into details ; the 
demands of the present work will be fully met if 
sufficient is said of a case to illustrate the effects of 
the baths in the class of cases that it represents. 
Finally, I wish it understood that in a few of the SPECIAL THERAPEUTICS. 
67 
conditions in which I shall advise the employment of 
the baths, I have had no personal experience in their 
use, but base my opinions on what I know of their 
effects, together with what is known of the results 
obtained in analogous conditions by local electrical 
methods. 
SPECIAL DISEASES. 
RHEUMATISM. 
Its great frequency, the pain and discomfort 
which it occasions, and its many, often dangerous 
sequela, added to its frequent obstinacy under the 
most varied treatment, render rheumatism one of the 
most formidable diseases that we have to encounter. 
The long list of remedies that have from time to 
time been employed in its treatment, bear witness by 
their very number to the little reliance that can be 
placed in any one of them. A remedy then which 
can be relied on to exercise a favorable influence in 
all the forms of rheumatism-acute, sub-acute and 
chronic-as well as on most of its sequelae, should of 
right become a welcome addition to our armament- 
arium in the treatment of this disease ; and such is 
the electric bath. The treatment of the sequelae I 
shall speak of under separate heads. The disease 68 
THE ELECTRIC BATH 
itself I will divide into three classes, viz: a) acute, £) 
subacute and r) chronic rheumatism. 
a) Acute Rheumatism.-A few years ago the 
use of electricity in acute inflammatory conditions 
was scouted by most of the profession, and had it not 
been for the quiet and patient labors of a few pro- 
gressive spirits, we would at the present day be still 
deprived of the benefits which we reap from it in 
these conditions. Even to-day, the number of those 
who are satisfied of the utility of electricity in this 
respect is comparatively small. Only two years ago, 
I attended a gentleman who was suffering from a 
very severe attack of rheumatic gout. I had both a 
galvanic and a faradic battery at his house, which, in 
addition to appropriate medicinal treatment, I ap- 
plied daily to the affected joints,-using mainly the 
faradic current. Being compelled at the time to go 
to the country, the case during my absence drifted 
into the hands of a gentleman, a professor at one of 
the medical colleges, of high standing in the profes- 
sion and considered one of our leading medical men, 
who ridiculed and p omptly discontinued the use of 
electricity in the case. He gave it as his opinion 
that it did more harm than good, and I have no 
doubt he did so conscientiously-however unprofes- 
sional his conduct may have been, in this as well as SPECIAL THERAPEUTICS. 
69 
other respects. The contributions of others have 
since then vindicated my views in this respect. 
Among others, Dr. Drosdoff * of St. Petersburg has 
given a number of cases of acute articular rheumatism 
from the clinique of Professor Botkin, in which the 
faradic current was employed either alone or in con- 
junction with other 'treatment. From among the 
deductions which he makes from a series of careful 
experiments in this respect, I quote a few-such as 
bear directly on our subject, and to which I affix my 
own numbers. 
1) " The sense of pain as the result of electric irritation is 
considerably diminished, and sometimes entirely lost, in joints 
attacked by acute articular rheumatism, so that the patient ex- 
periences no pain, even when the distance between the coils 
equals naughtf, and both closure and opening are accompanied 
by the evolution of numerous sparks. At the same time the 
slightest pressure of the affected parts gives rise to the most in- 
tense pain." 
v The diminution of the electro-sensibility appears in the 
majority of cases to be in inverse proportion to the severity of 
the disease and the intensity of the pain produced by mechani- 
cal irritation." 
2) " The enhanced tactile and thermic sensibility of the dis- 
* Centralblatt fur die medicinischen Wissenschaften, No. 17, 
1875. 
t The apparatus used in these experiments was that of Du 
Bois-Reyinond, with a Grove's element. THE ELECTRIC BATH 
70 
eased joints is diminished by a faradization lasting from 5 to 
10 minutes." 
3) " From 5 to 10 minutes faradization causes a reduction of 
the previously heightened temperature of the diseased joints to 
the normal standard, or even below this." 
4) " The subjective rheumatic pains which are augmented 
by pressure and motion, are diminished by faradization. This 
diminution is sometimes so considerable, that the joint, which 
prior to the faradization admitted of no movement, is able to 
execute passive and active movements with tolerable facility." 
5) " The rheumatic pains as well as the temperature of the 
affected joints remain diminished after the faradization for 3, 4 
and even 5 hours ; they then gradually return to the previous 
height. At the same time the duration of the paroxysms of 
pain becomes shortened, and the intensity of this diminished." 
6) " Although the rheumatic process takes a more rapid 
course under the influence of faradization, and incommodes the 
patient less, we have nevertheless made the observation in one 
case, that the tendency to recurrence is not diminished. The 
attacks however become more brief and milder." 
7) "From what has here been said it follows, that daily far- 
adizations, lasting 5-10 minutes, diminish the severity of acute 
articular rheumatism, restore the perverted cutaneous sensibil- 
ity, and cause a reduction of the temperature of the affected 
joints." 
8) " Several of those suffering from the pathological process- 
es mentioned, received no medication in addition to the faradi- 
zation, and yet made a tolerably rapid recovery." 
I might adduce further testimony of the value SPECIAL THERAPEUTICS. 
71 
of electricity in recent cases of rheumatism, were it 
necessary to do so. The results in my own cases 
however have long since satisfied me of the utility 
in this respect of faradic not only, but also of mild 
constant currents. Accepting this as matter of fact, 
let us next inquire where and why we are to give 
general electrization-in other words, the electric 
bath-the preference over local applications. 
Where the manifestations of the disease are 
limited to a single joint, or at best a very few joints, 
or where we have to do with a case of muscular 
rheumatism-to one group of muscles, local electriza- 
tion, as symptomatic treatment, will answer. Where 
on the one hand however many joints, on the other 
the muscles of entire limbs, or even more, are in- 
volved, the advantages of a method by means of 
which we reach all the affected parts at once, thus 
effecting in, say ten minutes, that which where, for 
example, six joints are involved, would by the ordina- 
ry method require sixty minutes, are readily realized. 
There is, however, another reason why the baths 
are preferable in rheumatism to local applications. 
Rheumatism is a constitutional disease with local 
manifestations. The metastatic character of muscu- 
lar rheumatism especially appears to indicate the 
greater importance of general as compared to local 72 
THE ELECTRIC BATH. 
treatment. Pre-supposing, then, that electricity ex- 
ercises the favorable influence on rheumatism which 
clinical results would appear to demonstrate, it fol- 
lows that the electric bath, while it furnishes symp- 
tomatic (local) treatment equally well with local 
applications, does something more; it meets the in- 
dicatio morbi likewise. The warm bath no doubt 
contributes its due share in bringing about the favor- 
able results obtained.-Where the disease then does 
not confine the patient to bed, the electric bath will 
be found a most valuable remedy. 
The following directions will be found to answer 
best in the great majority of cases : The temperature 
of the water should range from 90° to 98° F ; a mild 
constant current, descending, should be applied for ten 
minutes ; this to be followed by a faradic current of 
as great an intensity as the patient can bear without 
the slightest degree of discomfort. In the application 
of the faradic current, the surface board (see p. 12) 
may advantageously be had recourse to for the pur- 
pose of more concentrated influence on affected parts, 
to each of which it may be applied for a few minutes ; 
the entire faradization may last from ten to fifteen 
minutes. Whan coming from the bath, the patient 
should be received in a warm blanket, anything like 
a chill being carefully guarded against. In cases SPECIAL THERAPEUTICS. 
73 
where the cutaneous secretion is of an abnormally 
acid character (which is often so marked as to be- 
come apparent through the sense of smell), bi-car- 
bonate of soda or potassa may be added to the bath. 
As appears from the foregoing, the entire duration 
of the bath is from twenty to twenty-five minutes. 
The baths should be taken daily until all urgent 
symptoms have disappeared ; after this, every two or 
three days as required, until an entire cure is wrought. 
As the results of this or similar treatment, con- 
joined with the requisite medicinal or other meas- 
ures, I may state: 
d) Considerable abridgment of the period of the 
disease; 
d) Sequelae are less constant; 
d) The tendency to recurrence is very much di- 
minished ; 
d) A relapse, if it does occur, is comparatively 
mild. 
With regard to £ and c, let it be understood that 
I speak within the restrictions of a period of observa- 
tion extending over two and a half years only. 
£) Subacute rheumatism. 
In the subacute variety, the electro-balneological 
treatment is similar to that in acute cases, with the 74 
THE ELECTRIC BATH. 
difference however, that here not so much care is 
necessary with regard to the intensity of the cur- 
rents. Muscular contractions, as induced by strong 
faradic currents, are to be dreaded in direct propor- 
tion to the acuteness of the inflammation, resp. the 
sensitiveness of the inflamed tissues. 
It will be understood, I hope, that the electro- 
balneological treatment as laid down above, though 
it applies to the majority, does not apply to all cases. 
Special complications may make it expedient in in- 
dividual cases to modify the treatment more or less. 
The course to be pursued in these instances may 
however be safely left to the judgment of the attend- 
ing physician. 
c) Chronic Rheumatism. In this affection the 
course to be pursued varies from that indicated in 
the acute and subacute varieties. We have here 
little or no constitutional disturbance, and need have 
no fear of doing any harm by strong currents. On 
the contrary, I have found that mild currents rarely 
do any good. By far the greater majority of the 
cases that have come under my observation were of 
the muscular type, the algic portion of the symptoms 
approaching those of neuralgia rather than subacute 
rheumatism. Of chronic articular rheumatism I have 
treated but very few cases. Although in some of SPECIAL THERAPEUTICS. 
75 
the cases the treatment under consideration was 
attended with brilliant results, I freely admit that in 
some instances the results were imperfect, in others 
again entirely negative. This I found true more 
especially of cases that irivolved tendons. I must 
add, however, that in perhaps the greater majority 
of the unsuccessful cases the fault lay with the pa- 
tients themselves, who, finding they were not bene- 
fited as rapidly as they had expected, discontinued 
treatment before this had had time to effect any 
thing. 
In accordance with a theory which I have formed 
in regard to the pathology of chronic rheumatism, 
and which I am not yet prepared to promulgate (nor 
is it necessary here), I have of late been in the habit 
of administering in this disease, baths calculated to 
stimulate as much as possible the circulation of the 
blood. The best manner of applying the baths to 
this end will be found further on, under "Inequali- 
ties of the Circulation.'' In addition to this I cause 
the galvanic (anode) as well as strong faradic cur- 
rents to be applied to the affected parts by means 
of the surface board. Where there is any thick- 
ening, effusion or other similar concomitant of the 
disease, iodine may be added, as hereinbefore di- 
rected. THE ELECTRIC BATH. 
76 
In chronic rheumatism it is not necessary to use 
the baths daily. Two or three times a week is 
quite sufficient. Indeed, the daily use of strong cur- 
rents, as employed here, might in some instances be 
productive of evil rather than good. Although tran- 
sient benefit may be experienced from a few baths- 
sometimes even from one bath, permanent progres- 
sive improvement need never be looked for from less 
than about a month's treatment-more or less, ac- 
cording to the nature etc. of the case. 
I regret that I have no cases of acute rheuma- 
tism to offer. As a rule, a person suffering from 
this disease is not in a condition to leave the house ; 
and in the cases that have occurred to me in private 
practice, the difficulty of introducing* an electric 
bath at the patient's residence has been in every 
instance sufficiently great to induce me to forego 
this plan of treatment. While I have thus had fre- 
quent occasion here to employ local electrization, I 
have had but one case of acute rheumatism where I 
had the opportunity to employ the baths. The 
local symptoms in this case being limited to one arm 
and shoulder, the patient was enabled to locomote, 
and thus became an office-patient. At present the 
case is still under treatment; and although the re- 
sults thus far have been eminently satisfactory, it SPECIAL THERAPEUTICS. 
77 
would yet be premature to cite it before I shall be 
able to state the final result.* 
Case I.J-Subacute Rheumatism. Mr. F„ from the 
clientele of Dr. Alexander Murray, about 32 years of age, of 
robust appearance, large, vigorous frame, had an attack of 
acute inflammatory rheumatism in the spring of 1873, from 
which he recovered in a short time. In the winter of 1874 he 
experienced a second attack, for which he had had treatment 
for about two months prior to coming under Dr. M.'s care. 
After treating him by other methods, including local gal- 
vanic applications to the affected parts (joints as well as mus- 
cles were involved) for two weeks, Dr. M. sent patient to take 
electric baths. On May 25th Mr. F. was brought in a carriage. 
He was unable to walk ; had to be assisted up the steps by two 
attendants. His arms were in a scarcely better condition, the 
wrist joints especially being exceedingly tender and painful. 
The first and second baths, administered respectively on 
25th and 29th, did not effect much change in his condition. 
The third bath was taken May 30th, with the happiest results. 
On June 1st patient was able to come for his fourth bath alone 
and on foot, and thenceforth his recovery was very rapid. The 
seventh bath, taken June 7th, left him perfectly cured, not a 
trace of the disease remaining. He has been free from rheuma- 
tism since. In the first three baths the galvanic current was 
employed exclusively, the muscles and tendons being in too 
* Since writing the above, this case has had an entirely 
favorable termination. 
t The cases distinguished by an asterisk were published in 
No. 216 of the ' Medical Record." 78 
THE ELECTRIC BATH 
tender a condition to bear the contractions induced by the fara- 
dic current. In the subsequent baths both currents were used, 
according to indications. 
Case II.*-Subacute Rheumatism. Mr. B-y, aet. 
22, came for treatment on August 27th, 1874. Had subacute 
rheumatism, with considerable swelling of ankle-joints. The 
acute attack dated back six weeks. Locomotion was very 
painful, and could be accomplished only with the aid of a cane. 
A galvanic bath on the 27th and one on the 28th of August 
were sufficient to remove both swelling and pain, enabling the 
patient to resume his avocation. 
Case III.-Subacute Rheumatism. J. H. K., aet. 
29. In the summer of 1873 had a very severe attack of 
cephalalgia, which, judging from his subsequent history, was 
probably of rheumatic origin. The attack confined him to bed 
four days, after which it troubled him continuously for three 
months. It then abruptly left him, to make way, apparently 
for enteralgia coupled with diarrhoea. This 
clung to him for five months-until May, 1874. He was then 
well for a time. Late in the summer of 1874 he began to ex- 
perience pain in the soles of the feet, which shortly culminated 
in a more pronounced rheumatic attack than any to which he 
had previously been subject. It affected chiefly the lower ex- 
tremities. When he first came under my observation (7th Oc- 
tober, 1874) he had been confined to the house five weeks. The 
left knee and both feet and ankle joints were much swollen. 
The affected joints were exquisitely sensitive. Both legs were 
very feeble, and coupled with this was great general debility. 
Locomotion was rendered difficult to such an extent that even 
the aid of two stout canes did not enable him to dispense with SPECIAL THERAPEUTICS. 
79 
additional help in mounting my doorsteps. The first bath (Oct. 
7th) was followed by no favorable results. Indeed, the patient 
thought he felt worse, if anything. He followed my directions, 
however, to take a bath every other day. From the first three 
baths he received little or no benefit. The fourth bath however 
had a very marked beneficial effect. Immediately after it he 
was able to dispense with one of his canes, and thenceforth im- 
proved steadily and rapidly. He took his last bath Nov. 10th 
1874, having taken in all fourteen baths. He made a perfect 
recovery. At present (December 1875) he has had no return 
of the disease, nor any other illness; says he never felt better 
in his life. 
Case IV.-Chronic Rheumatism. Mr. K., from the clien- 
tele of Dr. Lusk, had been a sufferer from chronic rheumatism 
for a long time. As far as I could gather, the disease origin- 
ated in an acute attack some two years ago. He came for his 
first bath on June 21st, 1875. Between that date and July 16th 
following he took twelve baths, which resulted in a complete 
cure. 
Case V.-Chronic Rheumatism. Mr. L., aet. 60, had 
been subject to chronic rheumatism for many years. When he 
presented himself for treatment (19th June, 1874). his health in 
other respects was fair. The flexor tendons of the fingers of 
both hands were more or less contracted, the result of pre- 
vious rheumatic attacks. I ordered him the baths, without any 
adjuvant treatment whatsoever. His improvement was rapid. 
Between June 19th and July 15th he took fifteen baths, a per- 
fect and (thus far) permanent cure resulting. Mr. L. has fre- 
quently taken baths since then, solely however for the sake of 
their general tonic effects. 80 
THE ELECTRIC BATH 
CHOREA. 
The utility in this disease of electricity has been 
for some time past almost universally conceded. 
While some vaunt the faradic, others prefer the gal- 
vanic current in its treatment. It appears that thus 
far the best results have been obtained on the one 
hand by galvanization of the spine, on the other by 
general faradization. It occurred to me, when I 
began to devote myself to electro-balneological 
treatment, that a method which combines the elec- 
trical procedures alluded to, must needs also com- 
bine their virtues. Accordingly, I discontinued my 
previous practice of spinal galvanization in this dis- 
ease, and had recourse to the baths in almost every 
case that applied to me for treatment. I am happy 
to state that in no instance where the baths were 
employed was anything short of a perfect result 
obtained. I will state on the other hand, that in 
every case medicinal treatment was had recourse to 
at the same time. It is equally true however, that 
in all the cases medicinal treatment without the baths 
had proved of no avail. The best method of em- 
ploying the bath is as follows : For the first ten. 
minutes a constant current of medium intensity 
should be passed, one pole communicating with the SPECIAL THERAPEUTICS. 
81 
head-electrode, the other connected with the surface 
board, applied for five minutes to the epigastrium, 
five minutes to the sacral region.' In anaemic per- 
sons the current should be descending, in all others, 
ascending. This concluded, a strong general * fara- 
dic current should be employed for five minutes. 
By this means all the muscles of the lower extremi- 
ties will be very thoroughly contracted. The pole 
of the battery attached to the foot-electrode should 
now be transferred to the surface board, and the 
hands of the patient made to hold this, under water, 
an additional five minutes. In routine cases this 
method of administering the baths will be found very 
efficient. In special cases it may be modified as ex- 
pedient in the judgment of the practitioner. 
Case VI.* Hugh O-1, aet. 12 years, from the clientele of 
Dr. J. O. Farrington, came for treatment February 5th, 1874. 
This was one of the most severe and obstinate cases of chorea 
that I have ever met with. Internal medication, ether spray, 
change of air etc. had been of no avail. Between the date above 
mentioned and March 23d the boy had seventeen baths, stead- 
ily improving. He made a complete and (thus far) permanent 
* Wherever I use the word " general " as descriptive of an 
electric current used in the bath, it is not as a characteristic, 
but merely to distinguish it from the instances where the sur- 
face board is employed. 82 
THE ELECTRIC BATH 
recovery. His intellect, which had been somewhat impaired, 
was considerably improved. 
Case VII. J. G., aet. 9 years, was sent for electrical treat- 
ment on September 22d, 1874, by Dr. Krehbiel. He had been 
under medicinal treatment for a long time, the choreic manifes- 
tations dating back upwards of a year. When I first saw him, 
the choreic movements were so continuous and violent as to 
preclude the possibility of administering electric baths. The 
attempt was indeed made; but no sooner had we managed to 
place the boy in the tub, than he splashed the water freely about, 
and by the violence of his movements bid fair to injure himself. 
I therefore deferred for a time the electro-balneological treatment, 
and had course to ordinary spinal galvanizations. These, to- 
gether with internal medication-which Dr. K. attended to- 
had by the 8th of October diminished sufficiently the violence of 
the movements to admit of the administration of the baths. Ac- 
cordingly the local applications were discontinued, and from 
Oct. 8th to Nov. 27th the boy had seventeen baths, when, all 
traces of the disease having disappeared, treatment was discon- 
tinued. 
HYSTERICAL AFFECTIONS. 
If there is any one disease that more frequently 
than any other tempts the physician to have re- 
course to empirical treatment, it surely is hysteria. 
The obscurity, in many cases, of its etiology, as well 
as its frequent obstinacy under the most diverse 
methods of treatment, successively employed, are 
alone sufficient to warrant us in having recourse to 83 
SPECIAL THERAPEUTICS. 
electricity, where this has not already been employ- 
ed. Where we can establish the etiology of a given 
case, we cannot of course be in doubt as to the rem- 
edy ; and in many instances of this kind we find in 
electricity our most potent curative agent. But even 
where we are in doubt or positively ignorant as to 
the origin of the symptoms, we are justified in giv- 
ing preference empirically to electricity, not only 
because, the disease being essentially of a nervous 
character, we find in electricity the most powerful 
of neurotics, but also because recent statistics, those 
that embrace a period when electricity has been 
permitted to participate, if not duly, at least more 
largely than heretofore, in the treatment of disease, 
go to show that by means of this remedy better 
average results have been obtained than with any 
other. Again, where there are no positive indica- 
tions to employ any special method of electrization, 
either central or local, it appears rational to give the 
preference to a method that is at the same time cen- 
tral and peripheral, that admits of the application 
of either current with the utmost facility, and is sus- 
ceptible of so many modifications that, with at 
best two or three tentative applications, it can be 
suitably adapted to almost any given case. The re- 
sults I have thus far obtained justify me in assert- 84 
THE ELECTRIC BATH 
ing that, of the cases that are merely functional in 
their nature, by far the greater majority will yield com- 
pletely to judicious electro-balneological treatment. 
As to the mode of administration in this affection, 
I can suggest nothing. There is so little uniformity 
in the manifestations of hysteria, that it were idle to 
even attempt to establish anything like a routine 
electro-balneological treatment. Each case must 
make its own laws. 
Case VIII.* Mrs. A., aet. 28, married, sterile, from the 
clientele of Dr. Kremer, was referred to me on June 12th, 1874. 
She had been a sufferer from hysteria for a number of years. 
Among the more prominent symptoms were intense pruritus, 
transient flushing and heat of the entire surface, with pricking 
sensations and headache. Six baths, in each of which both cur- 
rents were employed, sufficed to effect a complete and perma- 
nent cure. 
Case IX.* Mrs. E., from the clientele of Dr. Krehbiel, 
aet. 28, married, of an exceedingly nervous temperament, had 
suffered from excessive nervous irritability and prostration since 
her last confinement (about a year previous to my seeing her). 
There was no organic trouble, the symptoms pointing to pure 
functional hysteria. She was sent for electro-balneological 
treatment April 21st, 1874. Six baths, in which both currents 
were employed, restored her to perfect health. SPECIAL THERAPEUTICS. 
85 
NEURASTHENIA. 
(Nervous Exhaustion.) 
Those who are familiar with the pre-eminent 
qualities as a neurotic of electricity, will not be sur- 
prised to be told of the beneficial effects in the con- 
dition under consideration of electric baths. It is 
not only in general nervous exhaustion, however, 
that electric baths exercise this salutary influence, but 
in the condition known as cerebral exhaustion likewise. 
Judging from my own experience, their efficacy in 
this latter condition is far greater than that of local 
applications, whilst they are unattended with any of 
the irritant and other disagreeable effects that even- 
with the greatest care and caution we cannot always 
disassociate from galvanization of the brain. They 
no doubt act here in two ways, i. e., first and chiefly, 
through reflex influence from the entire periphery; 
second, by derived currents on the brain directly. 
Whatever their mode of action, the results obtained 
are of the most gratifying kind. The pitiable con- 
dition in which some patients of this class present 
themselves, is familiar enough to every physician ; 
but it appears that the greater the degree of exhaus- 
tion and the more prostrate the various functions, 86 
THE ELECTRIC BATH. 
the more striking are the effects of the baths. The 
patients seem to live up anew under their influence. 
While in many if not most other complaints that 
come under electro-balneological treatment, a certain 
number of baths are requisite in order to get discern- 
ible effects, in the disease under consideration each 
bath, except perhaps the first, is followed by more or 
less immediate improvement, which, if the treatment 
is persevered in, remains permanent. 
It is almost unnecessary to say, that in the more 
advanced cases great care is requisite in the adminis- 
tration of the baths. By over-stimulation at first, 
much harm may be done, and the patient, instead 
of getting better, get worse. In such cases very 
mild currents should be employed in the beginning. 
As recuperation advances, stronger currents may be 
gradually introduced. The intensity of the currents 
should be carefully regulated to keep pace with the 
gradually increasing capacity of the various organs to 
respond to the electric stimulus without detriment. 
Both currents may be used from the first. The gal- 
vanic current should precede the faradic, and be em- 
ployed for not more than ten minutes. Where 
irritability is a feature of the case, the current should 
be descending ; otherwise ascending. This may be 
followed by the faradic current, not of sufficient in- SPECIAL THERAPEUTICS. 
87 
tensity for the first few baths, however, to cause any 
but slight muscular contractions. In most of these 
cases iron may be advantageously added to the bath. 
The duration of the baths should at first not exceed 
fifteen minutes; in some cases this even is too long, 
the patient complaining of being fatigued perhaps 
after the lapse of ten minutes. When this is the 
case, the bath should be at once terminated. It is 
in these instances not the electric current, but the 
warm water bath, that gives rise to the sense of 
fatigue. Later on in the treatment, the duration of 
the baths may be from twenty to twenty five minutes, 
according to indications. 
> 
Case X. Cerebral Exhaustion.-K. S., aet. 42, lawyer. 
First consulted me on June 2d, 1874. The salient points in the 
history of this most interesting case are as follows : Ten years 
prior to his calling on me he was engaged in some very heavy 
law cases and other duties requiring intense mental application. 
At that time he began to manifest occasional symptoms of cere- 
bral exhaustion ; was unable to endure mental exertion with 
same force as theretofore. These attacks, commencing in 1864, 
supervened at various times until 1868, sometimes incapacitat- 
ing him for business for a few days at a time, and accompanied 
by intestinal catarrh, flatulence and gastric disturbances-prob- 
ably the results of loss of nerve-power. In 1868, having been 
subject for a time to extra heavy mental strain, he was com- 
pletely prostrated, and compelled to retire from the pursuit of his 88 
77/A ELECTRIC BATH. 
profession. By the advice of his physician he went to the country. 
There, without any premonitory symptom whatsoever, he suf- 
fered an attack of (left-) hemiplegia. I quote from his recital as 
follows : " While standing in the office of the hotel registering 
my name in the book, I suddenly dropped down, retaining full 
consciousness. I lost the power of speech for some hours. 
After twenty-four hours the paralysis began to recede, and in a 
few days I had made a spontaneous recovery. I then went fur- 
ther into the interior. Two weeks subsequently I had a similar, 
but milder attack ; retained full consciousness and mental con- 
trol. Returned to city (New York) two weeks after this, in a 
very debilitated condition. On the third day after my return, I 
had a more violent attack than either of the preceding-again on 
the left side. I felt as if a line were drawn perpendicularly 
through my body, dividing it in halves. My stools were clay- 
colored. "With this attack for the first time I became unconscious, 
and passed into a delirious state. So far as I know, no diag- 
nosis of my condition was made. I was confined to bed for a 
month, at the end of which I was in a very feeble state. I then 
went to Europe, where I spent some years. While there I con- 
sulted the first physicians of London and Paris, with but little 
benefit, however. Both mind and body remained feeble. My 
normal weight is upwards of 120 pounds, but has fora long 
time past been in the neighborhood of 90 pounds." 
When Mr. S. came to consult me, he had but lately returned 
from Europe, whence, he stated, his physicians had sent him 
home to die. His complexion was sallow, sickly ; skin of face 
plentifully wrinkled ; features wearing the air of suffering and 
anxiety that so frequently accompanies painful chronic condi- 
tions. He had for some time past suffered from excessive cere- SPECIAL THERAPEUTICS. 
89 
bro-spinal irritability, for the relief of which cantharidal collodion 
had been employed in the cervico-spinal region (the same had 
also been used in the hepatic region, to meet the diagnostic 
views of some one of his medical attendants). He had a remit- 
tent chronic intestinal catarrh, with-noticeably during the pe- 
riods of exacerbation-abundant discharge of a glairy mucus. 
The appetite was very capricious-not to say poor, and he was 
obliged to be exceedingly careful in his diet. He was not capa- 
ble of any continued mental application. The muscular system 
was weak and flabby. All the vegetative functions were more 
or less impaired. 
On June 3d, 1874, Mr S., by my directions, took an electric 
bath. He continued the baths daily for some weeks; then 
every two or three days, all the time steadily improving. He 
had some adjuvant medicinal treatment, probably similar to 
what he had already had in Europe. He states, however, that 
his improvement commenced with the first bath he took; and 
the baths certainly constituted the main treatment throughout. 
He gained daily in every' respect. Mind and body were invigora- 
ted ; his muscles increasedin size and hardness ; color gradually 
returned to his cheeks, etc. He continued the baths with more 
or less regularity until the close of the year, taking in all sixty- 
one baths. He was then in a better condition than he had been 
for many years. Thinking a trip to Europe would benefit him, 
I advised him to go there and remain a few months. He left 
early in January and returned in the beginning of April, 1875. 
He had been very well during his absence, until within a few 
weeks prior to his departure from Europe, when he experienced 
a severe attack of cerebro-spinal congestion, which caused him 
much suffering. On his return he resumed the baths, and con- 90 
THE ELECTRIC BATH. 
tinued them throughout the spring, continually gaining in 
strength and weight. At the beginning of last summer he was 
practically well. He has regained his normal weight (120 
pounds). As a criterion of his bodily vigor, I will simply state 
that I have seen him lift, with ease, 350 pounds, which, for a 
person of his weight, is not ba'd. His mental force is as good 
as it has ever been. The digestive disturbances have disap- 
peared ; he can eat things which for years he had been com- 
pelled to eschew. To use his own words: "I am well." In 
view of the fact that he had already received, at the hands of 
competent men, all sorts of internal as well as external treat- 
ment, I believe I am justified in attributing his cure almost en- 
tirely if not solely to the baths. 
Case XI. Mr. * * *, aet. about 50, lawyer, of large, vigor- 
ous frame, came to consult me January 4th, 1875. He com- 
plained of symptoms that are the frequent results of prolonged 
mental over-taxation. His intellect was as good as ever, but 
he lacked his wonted mental endurance and power of applica- 
tion. His mind was perfectly clear, but unable to work. It 
was a case of " limited cerebral exhaustion." Physical nutrition 
was pretty good; yet his color was not normal, being rather 
paler than it had been and has since become again. His flesh 
was flabby. There were vague neurotic disturbances, etc., etc. 
He had until recently occupied a leading public position, and 
the onerous duties that devolved on him in connection with 
this, evidently stood in direct etiological relation to his trouble. 
I ordered an electric bath every other day. This was complied 
with until the end of February, when the patient had apparent- 
ly entirely recovered his health, mentally as well as physically. 
I saw him not very long ago ; he looked the picture of health, SPECIAL THERAPEUTICS. 
91 
and told me that he was and had been since I saw him, per- 
fectly well in every respect. 
Case XII. -Mr. L., aet. 23, presented himself for treat- 
ment in October, 1874. He had at various times made the at- 
tempt to study some profession, but had never been able to 
concentrate his mind sufficiently on any object to enable him to 
persevere in its pursuit. He was fretful, irritable and vacillat- 
ing ; would desire one thing to-day, another to-morrow; never 
long of the same mind. Melancholia, digestive disturbances 
and hypochondriacal phenomena accompanied this condition. 
No organic disease was discoverable. On October 1st he took 
his first bath. Very shortly after this he commenced the study 
of medicine. He improved rapidly in every respect. During 
the month of October he had six baths, which resulted in com- 
plete and permanent relief of all the symptoms. He progressed 
satisfactorily in his studies, and is at the present time taking his 
second course in one of our city medical colleges. 
AGRYPNIA. 
(INSOMNIA ; SLEEPLESSNESS). 
Although, as a rule, but the symptom of some 
definite pathological condition, agrypnia is of such 
frequent occurrence, and so detrimental to the gen- 
eral health, that it appears to me to merit special 
consideration. This holds good especially in this 
connection, because, even where electric baths fail 
to influence the disease giving rise to the insomnia, 
they almost invariably remove this, irrespective of its THE ELECTRIC BATH 
92 
cause. Even where, the disease itself remaining un- 
cured, the insomnia must return sooner or later, the 
sleep is very much improved while the baths are 
being had recourse to. We must of course endeavor 
in all cases to relieve the original disease, and, where 
the baths are not adapted - to this purpose, resort to 
other and appropriate means. It will be found of no 
small service to us in the therapeutical management 
of every case, to be enabled to procure for the pa- 
tient, without the aid of medicinal hypnotics, suffi- 
cient of sleep during treatment. 
Case XIII. Mr. A., from the clientele of Dr. Leonard 
Weber, was sent by Dr. W. to take electric baths. He suffered 
from chronic spinal congestion. Among the most prominent 
and annoying symptoms was agrypnia. It was for the relief of 
this symptom chiefly that Dr. W. ordered him the baths. He 
began to improve in this respect from the time he took his first 
bath, and although the disease itself remained uncured, he en- 
joyed good sound sleep while he was under treatment, his gen- 
eral health improved, and he frequently spoke of the notable 
benefits that he received from the baths. He continued them 
until his departure for Europe, where, by direction of his physi- 
cian, he went last spring. I have not seen him since, but Dr. 
W. tells me that he is doing well. 
Case XIV. Mr. D. was brought on Sept. 30th, 1874, by 
his physician, Dr. Hogan. He was in the incipient stage of 
delirium tremens. Had not slept for some nights. Dr. H. had 
administered successively opiates, chloral and bromides in full SPECIAL THERAPEUTICS. 
93 
doses, without effect. On the evening of above date the pa- 
tient had a bath, in which the descending galvanic current was 
used. As a result, he slept well that night. The baths were 
repeated on the two succeeding days, with like effect. As the 
disease developed however it became necessary to send the pa- 
tient to an asylum, whence he returned cured in a short time. 
The effect of the baths in this case, where full doses of the 
most powerful hypnotics of the materia medica had failed, was 
remarkably illustrative of their hypnotic power. 
AN/EMIA. 
As is well known to the profession, anaemia 
forms the basis of a great number of morbid condi- 
tions. Hysteria, general debility, emaciation, sterility, 
various nervous affections, phthisis, in short, a per- 
version of almost any of the various physiological 
functions may be the direct result of anaemia. On 
the other hand, anaemia may be only a symptom or 
sequel of somepother morbid condition-but of such 
cases I do not now speak. I have to do here only 
with those cases where anaemia is the primary and 
etiological of a group of symptoms, and where there- 
fore it is to this that the treatment must be mainly 
directed. Now let us see what this treatment is. Dr. 
FLINT* suggests the following therapeutic measures : 
"first, a nutritious alimentation, into which meat 
* Austin Flint, M.D. A Treatise on the Principles and Prac- 
tice of Medicine. Philadelphia, 1873. 4th ed. pp. 63 and 64. 94 
THE ELECTRIC BATH. 
should enter largely; second, the use of tonics and stim- 
ulants to render the digestive functions more active; 
third, iron as a special remedy-the effect of which is 
often remarkable; fourth, a regimen calculated 
to increase the energy of the assimilative functions, 
consisting of exercise in the open air, recreation, etc.'' 
This agrees mainly with the views of other writers. 
It may conveniently be condensed under two heads, 
instead of four, namely: first, to secure for the pa- 
tient appropriate food and adopt the best means to 
insure its assimilation ; second, the administration of 
iron. As to the ingestion of appropriate food, open 
air exercise, etc., patients are of course to receive the 
necessary directions. The remainder of the thera- 
peutic indications, as given above, are admirably met 
by electric baths. As we have seen in a preceding 
chapter (p. 43 et seq.), they are a tonic and stimulant 
of the first order, and as nearly as possible a specific 
for the furtherance of the digestive and assimilative 
processes. When impregnated with iron, they consti- 
tute a treatment for anaemia which, in conjunction 
with the requisite diet and other hygienic measures, is 
inferior to no other. It will moreover be found very 
efficacious in counteracting secondary anaemia, and 
thus, by maintaining the general strength of the pa- 
tient, often enable nature and appropriate treatment 
to cope successfully with the original disease. SPECIAL THERAPEUTICS. 
95 
CASE XV. Mrs. S., aet. 22, four years married. I was 
called to see her on October 2d, 1874. She then had a spon- 
taneous miscarriage, the fifth since her marriage. She asked 
me whether nothing could be done to enable her to carry a child 
to full term, as both she and her husband were very desirous 
to have offspring. In pursuance of my directions, she pre- 
sented herself at my office about ten days after I first saw her. 
On examination I found no organic trouble, no uterine displace- 
ment, nor any other local trouble to account for her premature 
confinements. Involution had progressed normally. The only 
deviation from the normal that I could discover about the uterus 
was undue paleness of the cervical portion. Her appearance 
was very decidedly anaemic ; features pale, flabby ; lips whitish 
blue ; physical energy much depressed. She had had but very 
slight loss of blood on the occasion of her recent miscarriage , 
certainly not enough to account for her anaemic appearance. 
Viewing her case as one of idiopathic anaemia, I ordered her 
electric baths strongly impregnated with iron. In addition to 
this, the regimen usual in such cases, and also strychnia and 
phosphorus internally. She took her first bath on Oct. 14th ; 
then one bath weekly until she had taken six baths, the last of 
which was administered on the 24th of November. During all 
this time she kept steadily improving. The anaemic appear- 
ance and symptoms gradually receded, and, soon after she had 
taken her last bath, I discharged her, as far as the anaemia was 
concerned-cured. While she was under treatment she had, by 
my advice, refrained entirely from sexual intercourse. Early in 
the spring of 1875 she called to tell that she was again pregnant, 
.and in November, 1875, I delivered her of a healthy male child, 
at full term. 96 
THE ELECTRIC BATH 
PARALYSES AND PARESES. 
I include these under one head, because not 
only is their origin frequently identical, but, chiefly, 
because the therapeutic indications are almost al- 
ways the same in both. Whatever the cause in any 
given case, whether cerebral, spinal or peripheral, 
organic or functional; whatever the treatment that 
may be indicated-and this should never be neg- 
lected-for the primary trouble, the direct electri- 
cal treatment of the paralysis, sub-paralysis or pare- 
sis, being purely symptomatic treatment, remains in 
the great majority of cases essentially the same. 
The objects to be aimed at are two, viz : first, a nor- 
mal state of nutrition of the affected muscles ; sec- 
ond, their normal contractility. In other words, we 
are to endeavor to prevent atrophy of the affected 
muscles, or, where this has already taken place to 
some extent, to restore their normal bulk; and, 
second, we must strive to restore the more or less 
impaired contractility of the paralytic or paretic 
muscles. Even where symptomatic treatment for 
these purposes is the only treatment employed in a 
case, we frequently meet to a great extent the indica 
tio morbi, by favorably influencing, either in a reflex, 
or direct manner, the primary disease. This is true SPECIAL THERAPEUTICS. 
97 
of local electrizations of the affected parts ; it holds 
good much more strongly however of electric baths, 
because here, in addition to the reflex influence 
that we get from local applications, we have also the 
direct influence of the electric current on the spinal 
cord and posterior portion of the brain not only, 
but on the sympathetic system and all the impor- 
tant organs contained in the thoracic and abdominal 
cavities. The great importance of this is apparent, 
when we reflect that in very many if not most cases 
of disease of the nervous system, central or periphe- 
ral, electricity in an appropriate form is a useful 
therapeutic agent, and that moreover the great ma- 
jority of functional paralytic disorders respond 
favorably to its influence. As for any harm being 
done by it in those rare cases where its use may 
be contra-indicated, I admit that such may accrue 
from the administration of electric baths without 
medical supervision ; it is entirely obviated however 
where the baths are under the supervision of a phy- 
sician, who does not, like a layman, indiscriminately 
admit to their use any and everybody who is willing 
to pay for their administration, but will carefully dis- 
criminate, and conscientiously exclude those cases 
in which general electrization might result injuriously. 
In such cases a tolerably accurate diagnosis is as 98 
7ZZA ELECTRIC BATH. 
a rule readily made, and will enable the physician to 
separate the suitable from the unsuitable cases. 
As to the mode of administration of the baths 
in cases of the class under consideration, the use of 
both currents is requisite; the galvanic as a nutri- 
ent, the faradic as an excito-motor agent. Where, 
as is sometimes the case, faradic irritability is ex- 
tinct, or so slight as to be practically unavailable, 
the (slowly) interrupted galvanic current must take 
the place of the faradic, until faradic irritability has 
become re-established. As to the intensity, direc- 
tion, etc., of the currents, each individual case has 
its own laws, which must be recognized by the su- 
pervising physician. 
Case XVI.-Infantile paralysis. Albert Pichl, aet. 22 
months, was sent me by Dr. Lilienthal, October 3d, 1874. 
Had complete paralysis of right leg (of four weeks standing), 
with considerable atrophy of the entire leg as well as the glu- 
teal region of the corresponding side. The temperature of the 
leg was much lower than that of the healthy limb. Faradic ir- 
ritability was entirely extinct. The treatment was begun by 
galvanizations of the lower (lumbar and sacral) portion of the 
spinal cord, and the use of the interrupted galvanic current on 
the affected muscles. This was at first done daily. The con- 
tractility of the muscles gradually but slowly improved, but 
neither the atrophy nor temperature of the limb appeared visi- 
bly affected by the treatment. With a view to favorably influ- SPECIAL THERAPEUTICS. 
99 
encing these conditions, I ordered him galvanic baths. He had 
a bath every alternate day. The result was favorable and rapid. 
The leg became sensibly and permanently warmer after each 
bath, and commenced steadily to increase in bulk. Faradic ir- 
ritability soon returned. The local applications were continued 
several times a week for some time, and then gradually aban- 
doned, the baths being meantime continued regularly. The 
boy very soon began to walk, and in December active treat- 
ment was discontinued. At that time, faradic irritability hav- 
ing long since become completely re-established, I caused the 
child's father to purchase a faradic battery to use at home. The 
limb was eventually entirely restored in every respect, with the 
exception of a slight abduction of the foot, for which I referred 
the patient to Dr. Gibney. I saw the child recently; he re- 
mains well. 
Case XVII.* Sub-hemiplegia from cerebral hemorrhage. 
Mrs. S., aet. 30, married, from the practice of Dr. Krehbiel, 
was sent by Dr. K. to take baths, July 3d, 1874. It was a rou- 
tine case, differing in no respect from what is ordinarily wit- 
nessed as a sequence of cerebral hemorrhage. Six baths, taken 
at intervals of two and three days, restored almost entirely the 
muscular power of the affected side. The patient subsequently 
made a complete recovery without further treatment. 
Case XVIII. Paralysis from insolation. Mr. P., proof-reader 
aet. about 40, had suffered for some time from sub-paraplegia, 
the result of insolation. He was sent to take baths in May, 1874, 
by his physician, Dr. Schirmer. Electro-balneological treat- 
ment in this case met with no success. 
Case XIX. Lead paralysis. Mr. M., aet. about 35, paint- 
er, was referred to me for treatment May 15th, 1874, by Dr. 100 
THE ELECTRIC BATH 
Mohn. The extensors of one (I believe it was the right) arm 
were paralyzed. The characteristic blue line about the gums 
was clearly defined. I ordered an electric bath daily. The 
descending galvanic current was used for twenty minutes each 
bath. From half to one ounce of iodide of potassium was added 
to each bath. The blue line became less distinct from day to 
day, until, after eleven baths, it had entirely disappeared. The 
object for which I had ordered the baths having now been ac- 
complished, I treated the affected muscles with the faradic cur- 
rent. A short course of this treatment sufficed to remove the 
paralysis from all but one finger (it was either the middle or 
ring finger), the extensors of which had probably undergone fatty 
degeneration. 
NEURALGIA. 
The great variety of causes that may give rise to 
neuralgia, precludes the possibility of any specific for 
this symptom. In discussing its electro-balneologi- 
cal treatment, I would observe a primo that I cannot, 
in the light of my personal experience, agree with 
those who claim for electrical treatment good results 
in a majority of cases.* On the other hand it cannot 
be denied that, either as a palliative or curative 
measure, electricity, employed in an appropriate form 
and manner, is of inestimable value in many cases, 
and frequently succeeds where all other remedies 
are of no avail. Where we know the cause of a neu- 
* See Beard and Rockwell, op. cit., 2d ed. p. 472. SPECIAL THERAPEUTICS. 
101 
ralgia, it is of course comparatively easy for us to 
determine whether or not electricity promises to avail 
anything. But even where the nature of the cases 
appeared to indicate its use, the failures, in my hands 
at least, have outnumbered the successes. The bril- 
liant results-sometimes almost instantaneous-that 
we obtain now and then, should not lead us into 
overlooking our failures. Undoubtedly the circum- 
stance that most of the cases that have come under 
my observation were of a very obstinate nature, re- 
ferred to me by other physicians after varied unsuc- 
cessful treatment, has much to do with the formation 
of my views as expressed above, and future experi- 
ence may perhaps lead me to modify them. 
Speaking still from my own experience, I will 
state that the cases that have proven the most amen- 
able to treatment were, first, those of rheumatic 
origin ; second, hysterical neuralgiae, and, third, cases 
where no assignable cause could be elicited. The 
most obstinate varieties were those of a malarial 
type (even when quinine in large doses or arsenic 
were employed in conjunction with galvanism) and 
those that depended on some form of chronic inflam- 
mation-neuritis, periostitis, etc. Of central neural- 
gias, I have had excellent results in the sympathetic 
variety and in the pains of posterior spinal sclerosis, THE ELECTRIC BATH 
102 
while in the neuralgim of cerebral origin (diffuse cere- 
bral sclerosis, tumors, etc.) I have never met with 
any appreciable success. 
Where, then, we are able accurately to diagnose a 
case, there cannot be much doubt as to the appro- 
priateness or not of electrical treatment, and in cases 
whose origin is obscure, which may be considered 
practically functional and therefore treated more or 
less empirically, electricity holds out as much or 
more hope than any other remedy. Whether elec- 
tricity should be employed locally or in the form of 
baths, must depend on the features presented by 
each individual case. In neuralgia of the fifth pair- 
excepting those reflex cases where thqpoint d'origins 
is to be sought for somewhere in the trunk or ex- 
tremities, and those that depend on cerebral hyper- 
aemia or anaemia, where the equalizing effects of the 
baths on the circulation are frequently of great bene- 
fit-these are generally useless. Of other neuralgiae, 
I have found the baths less successful in those of the 
superior than in those of the inferior spinal nerves. 
Lumbo-abdominal neuralgia and sciatica have yielded 
much more readily than brachial or dorso-intercostal 
neuralgia, etc., etc. 
The mode of administering the baths in neural- 
giae does not possess enough of uniformity to render SPECIAL THERAPEUTICS. 
103 
suggestion in this respect of any value. I will state 
however that, as a rule, the best results have been 
obtained from the descending galvanic current. 
In chronic cases the baths should be administered 
daily, and should not be discarded as unavailing un- 
til at least a dozen have been successively taken. 
CASE XX. Sciatica. Mr. R., a middle aged man, me- 
chanic, was sent by Dr. Arcularius Nov. 9th, 1874. Had 
post-rheumatic sciatica of some six weeks' standing. There 
were no remarkable features about the case, which however 
was sufficiently severe to disable him from pursuing his avoca- 
tion. He took his first bath on the date above-mentioned. An- 
other bath was administered next day, and three more every 
alternate day. He was then almost well. On Nov. 25th he re- 
turned, there remaining still some traces of the affection. Four 
more baths, the last of which was administered on Dec. 4th, 
sufficed to complete the cure. 
Case XXI. Sciatica. Mr. G., aet. about 35, saddler, was sent 
by Dr. Waechter, March 6th, 1875. Had suffered from scia- 
tica without discoverable cause for several years. For one year 
prior to his visit had been unable to work, and was confined to 
bed a great portion of the time. There was slight atrophy of 
the affected limb. He had had considerable medical (including 
local electrical) treatment, without avail. The baths were faith- 
fully and persistently tried in this case, effecting however but 
slight improvement. Subsequent hypodermic injections, first of 
strychnia, then of atropia and finally of chloroform, the latter in 104 
THE ELECTRIC BATH. 
doses ranging from 30 to 60 minims, gave him only temporary 
relief. The patient was finally discharged uncured. 
Case XXII. Lumbo-abdominal neuralgia. Mr. W., aet. 
about 40, was brought by Dr. Marvin S. Buttles in June, 
1875. He had been in poor health for a number of years, and 
was then in a very cachectic condition. There was consider- 
able gluteal atrophy on the affected side. At Dr. B.'s sugges- 
tion he took a course of electric baths, with the happiest result. 
He improved steadily, and on the occasion of a late inquiry after 
I had not seen him for some months, Dr. B. told me that the 
patient had entirely recovered. His general condition as well 
as the neuralgia had been very favorably modified by the baths, 
and he is now in far better health than he has been for many 
years. 
Case XXIII.-Lumbo-abdominal neziralgia. Mr. G., aet. 
40, came to consult me in October, 1875. He had suffered from 
neuralgic pains, more particularly in the renal region of both 
sides, but also in the neighboring parts, for only one week. 
The case being so recent, I entertained a very favorable prog- 
nosis, which subsequently was amply verified. A bath on the 
12th of October and one on the 16th sufficed to effect a complete 
cure. 
ARTICULAR EFFUSIONS. 
It would appear at a first glance as though local 
galvanization of affected joints should be more di- 
rectly and powerfully instrumental than electric 
baths in promoting the absorption of morbid depos- 
its. To suppose so would however be a mistake- SPECIAL THERAPEUTICS. 
105 
even where a single joint is concerned. Where 
many joints are involved, the advantages over local 
galvanization of the baths is sufficiently obvious. 
Where but a single joint is involved, the current 
can by means of the surface board be concentrated 
on the affected joint, while by the general galvaniza- 
tion a stimulus is furnished to the absorbents, that 
in itself is probably fully as important as any local 
treatment could be. In this manner absorption is 
made to progress much more certainly and rapidly, 
and this course is therefore to be given the preference 
in all cases where no special contra-indication exists. 
The ascending general galvanic current should be 
employed for from 5 to 10 minutes. The surface 
board, connected with the negative pole, should then 
be applied for a few minutes successively to each of 
the affected joints. Iodine in some form should be 
added to the baths. 
Case XXIV.* Specific synovitis of knee-joint, with consid- 
erable articular and peri-articular effusion. Mr. C., from the 
practice of Dr. Sheppard, aet. about 35. First saw patient at 
his house on Nov. 9th, 1873, in consultation with Dr. S. and 
Dr. Hutchinson, of Providence, R. I. Had been on mercury 
and iodide of potassium for a long time. When I first saw him, 
he had been incapacitated from work for about a year. Had 
been unable to leave the house for three months. The affected 106 
THE ELECTRIC BATH 
joint was very much enlarged, with little or no mobility, the con- 
dition being practically the same as true ankylosis. It was 
decided to substitute tonics for the specific treatment, and to 
administer galvanic baths. On Nov. nth the first bath was 
administered, another on the 15th, and a third on the 19th. 
Considerable improvement in motility was then apparent. Two 
more baths, taken respectively on the 22d and 29th, effected 
some reduction in the size of the knee. The baths were contin- 
ued to January 3d, 1874, when the effusion had become almost 
entirely absorbed, and the joint perfectly mobile. The patient 
then had been for some time taking daily walks, unassisted. 
He now (Jany. 3d) walks without any difficulty, has regained 
his normal vigor, and is perfectly well. 
IMPOTENCY. 
The frequent obstinacy of this distressing condi 
tion under every variety of non-electrical treatment, 
is the cause of the frequency with which cases pre- 
sent themselves to the specialist. Unfortunately 
however but few of the referred cases are of recent 
origin. In almost all instances they have gone 
through a vast amount of medication and other 
treatment, and finally, either through their attend- 
ing physicians or of their own accord, they come as 
a dernier ressort to seek relief from electrical treat- 
ment. I have already (p. 47) spoken of the compar- 
ative merits in this disease of local and general elec- 
trization. A few years ago I was ignorant of the SPECIAL THERAPEUTICS. 
107 
good effects of the baths in male impotency. I came 
to test and employ them here from two causes. In 
the first place, patients were sent me specially for 
electro-balneological treatment, ordered by their phy- 
sicians : and, second, I began, when I became famil- 
iarized with the effects of the baths, to have recourse 
to them in cases where with local electrical and other 
treatment I had been unable to accomplish anything. 
My average results, without becoming uniformly 
successful, became so very much better, that after a 
brief but abundant experience with this treatment, 
I have come to consider it the most important we 
possess in this affection ; one that will frequently 
succeed when everything else, including local elec- 
trization, has failed, and which, in cases where no in- 
curable organic changes underlie the affection, will, if 
properly persisted in, either cure or improve to a 
great extent a large majority of the cases. I have 
even seen instances where, the sexual power having 
receded as the legitimate result of advancing age, it 
returned almost or quite perfectly and with seeming 
permanency under the influence of the baths. In 
the class of cases-and they are quite numerous-in 
which impotency (loss of the power of erection) oc- 
curs as a purely nervous symptom in comparatively 
young men ; where its cause is sometimes purely 108 
THE ELECTRIC BATH. 
imaginative, at others the result of early excesses, 
the baths are attended with the most gratifying 
average results. Where the cause is purely psychi- 
cal, a very few baths are sometimes sufficient to 
dispel the morbid phenomena. Where masturba- 
tion or excessive venery are at the bottom of the 
trouble, there is always a probability of more or less 
organic change in the lower portion of the spinal 
cord, and frequently also a secondary enfeeblement 
of the digestive functions, which render requisite a 
long and steadily continued use of the baths. Pa- 
tients whose sexual power was intact, who took the 
baths for other purposes, have time and again called 
my attention to their aphrodisiac effects. 
While here the general electric influence is the 
main remedial agency, there is no reason why the pos- 
sible-or, I should say, probable-good to be obtained 
from its local influence should not be realized-the 
less so that it is so facile to obtain this in the bath, 
by means of the surface board. While individual 
cases will undoubtedly call for modifications, I have 
found the following plan to answer best in certainly 
more than half the cases that have come under my 
observation : The first five minutes of the bath may 
be occupied by a general galvanic current of medium 
intensity, descending where the patient is of an irri- SPECIAL THERAPEUTICS. 
109 
table, ascending where of a phlegmatic temperament. 
The pole connected with the foot electrode should 
now be detached, and the surface board substituted. 
The second five or ten minutes may be consumed by 
running a galvanic current between the head elec- 
trode and the surface board, the latter applied alter- 
nately to the penis, scrotum, perineum and, where 
thought best, also to the lumbo-sacral region. Where, 
as is usual, the impotency is accompanied by a cer- 
tain degree of cutaneous anaesthesia of the penis, but 
especially where the seminal secretion is scanty, the 
board should be positive (ascending current) ; where 
however nocturnal spermatorrhoea, premature dis- 
charges (before coition is possible) or other irritable 
phenomena characterize a case, the surface board 
should be negative (descending current). The head 
of the patient should rest on a sponge thoroughly 
saturated with water, and communicating with the 
water of the bath, so as to include the cerebellum in 
the direct circuit. The last five or ten minutes of 
the bath should be devoted to passing the faradic 
current between the head electrode and the surface 
board, this last applied about the genitals, but chiefly 
about the perineum, the current to be of sufficient 
intensity to contract the perineal muscles. With 
anaemic patients iron should be added to the baths. TWA ELECTRIC BATH. 
110 
These should be taken at first daily, later on every 
other day, then three times a week, and so on until 
it becomes apparent that all the good that can be 
obtained from them has been obtained-whether 
this be a perfect cure or only a certain degree of im- 
provement. Where it is thought requisite, internal 
medication and various hygienic measures may be 
advantageously resorted to as adjuvants. While 
these will do no good when employed alone, they 
may serve to enhance the effects of the baths. 
In the following cases, I will include some where 
the impotency was not perfect, where the conditions 
were merely those of sexual debility. As there is 
here merely a difference in degree, it would be super- 
fluous to separate the two conditions under distinct 
heads. 
CASE XXV.* Perfect impotency.-Mr. F., from the prac- 
tice of Dr. Caro, a robust gentleman, aet. thirty-six, full of 
muscular vigor. Had had syphilis, the symptoms of which had 
disappeared under Dr. C.'s treatment. For two years the power 
of erection as well as sexual appetite had become extinct-if we 
except an occasional imperfect spontaneous erection on waking 
up in the morning, and even this was of rare occurrence. Ordi- 
nary medication proving inadequate, Dr. C. sent patient to take 
electric baths. From March 7th to July 16th, Mr. F. used the 
baths, averaging about two weekly. He was then, and still re- 
mains, perfectly restored. SPECIAL THERAPEUTICS. 
111 
CASE XXVI. Perfect impotency. A. E. K., aet. 23, com- 
mercial traveler, applied to me for treatment in the spring of 
1873. His general health was very good. He had masturbated 
but little. Had been in full possession of his sexual power until 
almost twenty-two years of age, when he found that, without 
assignable cause, he had lost the power of erection. His gen- 
eral condition being, as far as discoverable, perfect in every 
respect, I instituted a local electrical treatment. This was con- 
tinued for some time without avail. Strychnia was then admin- 
istered with no better result, and after some months' treatment 
I told him that I could do nothing for him. He remained with- 
out any treatment whatever until the spring of 1874, when I 
advised him to try electric baths. He took in all about half a 
dozen baths, which resulted in his complete and thus far per- 
manent restoration. 
Case XXVII. Sexual debility. Mr. W„ aet. 32, married, 
manufacturer, consulted me in February 1875. Had gradually 
for about a year past lost sexual power. Was able to perform 
the marital act at rare intervals only, and when he did, felt ex- 
hausted the whole of the succeeding day. I ordered him elec- 
tric baths. He took the first on February 22d, 1875. Between 
this date and March 22d, he took six baths. The sexual power 
had then fully returned. I must not omit to state that during 
the time he was under treatment he took, by my direction, gr. 
tjC phosphorus twice daily, which may have somewhat accele- 
rated the result. 
CONSTIPATION. 
Atony of the muscularis of the intestine is admit- 
tedly the direct cause, in most instances, of constipa- 112 
THE ELECTRIC BATH. 
tion. It is the condition known as " torpor of the 
bowels." It is ordinarily due to abnormar innerva- 
tion of the parts. The inefficient innervation may 
be-and in females frequently is-reflex, or its cause 
may be sought for in the central nervous system. 
The condition of the voluntary abdominal muscles is 
likewise a factor in the alvine process. Sluggishness 
of the abdominal (portal) circulation is a not infre- 
quent etiological concomitant of constipation, and, 
finally, the conditions grouped as " dyspepsia " may 
form the causative feature of a case. I have men- 
tioned these different causes simply in order to ac- 
count to some extent for the almost wonderful effects 
in this condition of electric baths. When we con- 
sider that in every one of the morbid conditions here 
enumerated, electricity is a very efficient remedy, and 
that for the resulting muscular atony it may be called 
a specific, it will not appear surprising that a mode of 
application which brings the electric influence to 
bear on both cause and effect-often on a combina- 
tion of several of the causes enumerated, should be 
attended with such brilliant results. I have thus far 
met with no failure in the electro-balneological treat- 
ment of constipation. 
In the majority of cases the following method 
has proven the most efficient. The first ten minutes SPECIAL THERAPEUTICS. 
113 
of the bath should be devoted to the administration 
of a galvanic current, as intense as can comfortably 
be borne by the patient. The one pole should be 
connected with the head-electrode, the other, by 
means of the surface board, applied alternately, to 
the epigastrium, chiefly, and to the hypogastric 
region. The current should a portion of the time be 
ascending, the rest descending. Occasionally the 
current should be rapidly reversed by means of the 
commutator, the intensity however having been pre- 
viously reduced, in order to avoid too severe a shock ; 
this will cause efficient contractions of the abdominal 
parietcs, and probably also of the intestinal muscu- 
laris. The second ten minutes of the bath should be 
devoted to faradization, employed in the same manner 
as the previous galvanization, only that here the di- 
rection of the current is immaterial, and no reversals 
are requisite. The current should be of sufficient 
intensity to produce energetic but not painful con- 
tractions of the abdominal parietes. 
Case XXVIII. Mrs. * *, aet. 55, in average health, without 
however being robust, had suffered from constipation for about 
thirty years. She had had every possible medicinal treatment, 
with no avail. Nothing had ever ameliorated her condition. 
Without the aid of a cathartic, her bowels moved but once every 
week or ten days. She was of course compelled frequently to re- 114 
THE ELECTRIC BATH. 
sort to laxatives. In the fall of 1873 I ordered her electric baths. 
She was not very energetic in anything, and this lack of energy 
caused her to take the baths less frequently than I desired her 
to. Had she taken them regularly, she would probably have 
been restored in as many weeks as it took months to effect her 
restoration. As it was, she took some thirty baths in the 
course of about fifteen months. For nearly a year past she has 
had a passage every day with the utmost regularity. No adju- 
vant treatment was employed in this case. 
Case XXIX.* Emil Miller, a bright child two years of age, 
was brought for treatment July 7th, 1874. He had suffered from 
obstinate constipation almost from his birth. Had been under 
the care of several physicians, but had never received any bene- 
fit from treatment. Even with the aid of powerful cathartics, 
given in doses suitable for an adult rather than a child, defeca- 
tion took place only once every three or four days, and was so 
exceedingly painful as to elicit cries of pain from the child. 
The feces were always hard and lumpy, and of an abnormally 
light color. A digital examination per rectum revealed consid- 
erable flaccidity. My diagnosis was paresis of the muscularis 
of the intestine. I ordered faradic baths. On July 12th the first 
bath was administered, and I must confess that the result was 
a perfect surprise to me. True, I had expected a cure to take 
place; but I had looked for gradual improvement, and was not 
prepared for a result such as was here obtained. From the 
time tiie first bath was taken, defecation took place regularly 
once a day, without pain ; the feces became perfectly normal both 
as to color and consistency, and the boy continues to the present 
day to defecate regidarly and in every respect normally. To in- 
sure permanency, the baths were continued, at first twice, then SPECIAL THERAPEUTICS. 
115 
once a week. They have now been discontinued for upwards of 
a year, there being no occasion for their further use. No other 
therapeutic measures, internal or external, were resorted to in 
this case, nor was any change made in the diet of the child. 
HYDRARGYROSIS. 
The etiology of this condition requires no com- 
ment. I will simply relate a case illustrative of the 
eliminative effects of galvanic baths. 
Case XXX.* Mercurial Stomatitis. Mr. S., about 35 
years of age, came to me for treatment in the fall of 1872. He 
then had indurated chancre, two buboes and syphilitic sore 
throat. He had had the chancre for six weeks before applying 
to me, but had been, he said, ashamed to consult a physician. 
Before medication had had time to make any impression on the 
disease, roseola appeared. The syphilis was very obstinate in 
this patient, compelling me to keep him under the influence of 
mercury for a long time. In October 1873, the patient pre- 
sented himself with a very aggravated mercurial stomatitis. The 
customary remedies, internal as well as external, made little or no 
impression on the affection. On November nth, I discontinued 
all other treatment, and ordered a course of galvanic baths. 
He took his first bath on the same day. This was repeated 
every alternate day until six baths had been taken, when all 
symptoms of the disease had disappeared. He has had no mer- 
curial trouble since then. The descending galvanic current 
from a zinc-carbon battery was used throughout. 116 
THE ELECTRIC BATH 
LOCOMOTOR ATAXIA. 
Were it not for the remarkable results obtained 
in the following case, I should not have felt justified 
in devoting any space to an allusion to this formida- 
ble disease. I insert the case as it was published in 
No. 216 of the "Medical Record." I have to add 
that the patient, some six months ago, suffered a re- 
lapse, which however is not nearly as aggravated as 
his former condition, nor are the symptoms so path- 
ognomonic. I had a letter from him about a week 
previous to my writing this, in which he states that 
he intends soon to come to the city for the purpose 
of taking another course of treatment. Even if the 
treatment however has not had the effect of curing 
the disease-and this I do not claim for it, it has 
been of sufficient importance if it has resulted in 
arresting for a time its progress, giving the patient 
temporary comfort, and prolonging life. Further 
trial may possibly have better results-in more re- 
cent cases-with respect to permanency. 
Case XXXI.* Mr. W., aet. 48, came to consult me Janu- 
ary 12th, 1874. He had then felt the symptoms of locomotor 
ataxia for about six years. Had been unable for several years 
to walk without the aid of a cane. When walking he dragged SPECIAL THERAPEUTICS. 
117 
his right leg alon<£ in a semicircle, and was able to accomplish 
very short distances only. There were almost complete anaes- 
thesia and great paresis of the bladder. The same conditions 
were observable in regard to the bowels. Anaesthesia of both 
lower extremities existed, complete in every respect in the right 
leg, almost so in the left. Dyspepsia and general debility and 
emaciation accompanied the disease. Treatment was begun on 
January 15th. I prescribed phosphorus and cod-liver oil, and 
passed a strong galvanic current through the spine for probably 
ten minutes. January 16th, a galvanic bath was administered. 
Towards the close of the bath (which occupied twenty minutes), 
patient thought he felt some sensation in his legs. The baths 
were taken every two or three days, alternating with strong gal- 
vanizations of the spine. While taking his second bath, patient 
remarked that " his right leg felt warm for the first time in six 
years." The treatment as described was continued for about six 
weeks, during the latter part of which the local applications were 
gradually diminished in frequency, the baths being continued 
regularly. Medication was discontinued about this time. About 
the middle of March Mr, W. was enabled to resume his occu- 
pation (paymaster's assistant on the Erie Railway). His im- 
provement had been rapid and steady. All the symptoms gradu- 
ally disappeared, and in the beginningof April the patient was, 
with the exception of some feebleness, consequent on his pro- 
tracted illness, as well as ever. He continues so to the pres- 
ent day.* He still takes two or three baths a month, but has 
had no other treatment since May (1874). He walks freely 
* This was written a year ago. See remarks preceding the 
case. 118 
THE ELECTRIC BATH 
without a cane, and talks jocosely of running footraces. All 
functions are performed normally. 
Although in this case the baths were not employed exclu- 
sively, yet they predominated in the treatment; and if the judg- 
ment of the patient, a very intelligent gentleman, is to be relied 
on, a large share of the success is due to the baths. 
CACHEXIxE. 
After what has been said in a preceding chapter 
of the tonic effects of electric baths, it would scarcely 
appear necessary to introduce the subject of cachexiae. 
If I do so nevertheless, it is only to be afforded the 
opportunity of relating the following case, which 
possesses sufficient interest to render its introduction 
here desirable. The first portion of it has already 
been published (Med. Record, No 216), but to this I 
have to add what occurred subsequently. 
Case XXXII.* Mercurio-syphilitic Cachexia.-Mr. L., aet. 
27, had primary syphilis about four years ago. Subsequently 
had inveterate constitutional symptoms, for which he was under 
medical treatment both here and in Europe. When he had so- 
journed in the latter country' some time, he was pronounced 
cured by his physicians. He married, and returned to this 
country in the fall of 1872. A few weeks after his return he fell 
into a gradual decline, which confined him to the house-and 
part of the time to bed-for eight months, during the latter por- 
tion of which he had discontinued all medical treatment. It 
was with difficulty that, assisted by his wife, he managed to SPECIAL THERAPEUTICS. 
119 
reach my office. I found him terribly enfeebled ; greatly emaci- 
ated ; sallow complexion. He was much annoyed by rheumatic 
pains, which I considered specific. His condition was so ex- 
ceedingly low, that I decided to postpone all medication until he 
should be stronger. I ordered galvano-faradic baths, i. e. the 
galvanic current in the bath as an eliminative, the faradic as a 
tonic. The first bath was taken on November 20th, 1873. For 
one month he took the baths, and nothing else. He was then 
so much stronger, that I felt justified in instituting a mild specific 
course of treatment, the baths being continued as theretofore 
At the end of two months the patient was nearly as strong as 
ever, was able to resume his occupation, and had gained twenty- 
seven pounds in weight. 
Thus far this case was published as above stated. For the 
sake of the interest attaching to it, I will now proceed to give 
its further history. Mr. L. remained to all appearances well 
until July, 1874, when he commenced to suffer from headache 
and constipation. On the 23d of August following, while I 
was absent from the city, he presented himself to the gentleman 
who attended to my practice during my absence, with paralysis 
of the external rectus muscle of the left eye. He also consulted 
a specialist, who pronounced the paralysis rheumatic. When I 
returned from the country he presented himself for treatment. 
I commenced a series of daily electric applications to the affected 
muscle, which failed to respond to the faradic current, but con- 
tracted very readily when the slowly interrupted galvanic cur- 
rent was employed. As I had strong suspicions that syphilis 
was at the bottom of the trouble, I also administered iodide of 
potassium in gradually increasing doses-not however until 
electrization and strychnia employed for some weeks had failed 120 
THE ELECTRIC BATH 
to do any good. The administration of the iodide met with no 
better success. The patient's general health gradually declined. 
On October 22d, he complained of numbness in the left leg, 
which gradually increased, the leg at the same time becoming 
paretic, so that the patient required the aid of a cane for ordi- 
nary locomotion. His condition now became rapidly worse. His 
movements became ataxic. Anaesthesia of the bladder, paresis 
of this and the intestine, with obstinate constipation, loss of ap- 
petite, emaciation, etc., rapidly supervened. I suspected the 
development ofgummata on the meninges of the brain and cord, 
and advised him to use the inunction cure, and to remain at 
home until he should be well. This, on account of the business 
losses which it involved, he was very much averse to doing. He 
consequently proposed a consultation with an eminent physician, 
which was had. This gentleman pronounced the case one of 
spinal (either multiple or posterior) sclerosis, and discarded the 
syphilitic theory. A consultation two days subsequently with 
another physician had a like result. In deference to the opinion of 
these gentlemen, I treated the patient in accordance with their 
diagnosis. This was in the second week of November. The pa- 
tient became rapidly worse. He soon ceased to walk-he tum- 
bled about. After six days' treatment, considering his life in 
imminent danger, I reiterated my advice to institute the inunc- 
tion cure, and the patient then acquiesced. Nov. 24th I ordered 
a drachm of Unguent Hydrarg. to be used every evening; I 
could not however prevail on the patient to remain at home 
during the treatment. He continued to grow worse. Nov. 26th 
he had complete retention from vesical paralysis, and sent for 
me at night to relieve him. Thenceforth until he got nearly 
well he was obliged to use the catheter regularly. A few days SPECIAL THERAPEUTICS. 
121 
after this, fortunately for himself, he fell down as he was leaving 
a horse car, and sprained his ankle. I say fortunately, for this 
accident compelled him to remain at home. From this time he 
began to improve. December 2d I substituted for the ointment 
a twenty per cent solution of the oleate of mercury, of which he 
used a drachm morning and evening. The improvement from 
this day was exceedingly rapid. On the 4th of December he 
had regained control of the bladder. The qpnstipation, which 
had been very obstinate, also began to yield. From this date 
he used the oleate only once daily, and discontinued it en- 
tirely on the 14th. On the 10th he had already resumed his 
avocation, and the same month absolutely danced at a ball. 
He took iodide of potassium for a time after his mercurial 
course. He has since been and is now in perfect health. 
DYSPEPSIA. 
The remedies for this disease are unfortunately 
so numerous, there is so much temptation to try 
another where one remedy has failed, that it is sel- 
dom or never that an uncomplicated case of dyspep- 
sia applies for electrical treatment. As a rule, the 
disease that furnishes cause fur referring a case to 
the specialist, is some nervous trouble secondary to 
the dyspepsia. 
In regard to the influence of electric baths on dys- 
peptic conditions, whether complicated or not, I can 
however speak unqualifiedly in their favor. I know 
of no one other remedy that can at all approach 122 
THE ELECTRIC BATH. 
them in this respect. Whatever the secondary or 
other troubles of patients, any co-existing dyspepsia 
was in every instance either cured or greatly amelior- 
ated. The improvement usually begins at once- 
after the first or second bath, and continues stead- 
ily. As I have not had occasion to treat by means 
of electric any uncomplicated cases of dyspep- 
sia, I can adduce none. I may safely claim however 
for the baths a reliability and bespeak for them a 
confidence that I might claim or bespeak for no 
other remedy or plan of treatment whatsoever-as- 
sertions which would appear rash and venturesome, 
had I not at my command abundant clinical evi- 
dence to warrant my making them. 
MELANCHOLIA. 
A case of melancholia, highly illustrative of the 
effects in this condition of electric baths, came under 
my notice very recently. It may serve as a guide 
in the treatment of this and kindred conditions. 
Case XXXIII. Mr. F., aet. 22, single, butcher, consulted 
me Oct. 21st, 1875, for melancholia and loss of memory, from 
which he had suffered for upwards of a year. He had fre- 
quently entertained the idea of suicide. A thorough examina- 
tion revealed no trouble of any of the viscera. All functions ap- 
peared normal. He had never masturbated. There were no SPECIAL THERAPEUTICS. 
123 
collateral symptoms to furnish any evidence of organic cerebral 
trouble. I prescribed phosphorus and strychnia, and galvanized 
the brain twice a week. Two weeks of this treatment had com- 
pletely negative results. I then ordered electric baths. Four 
baths resulted in a complete cure. 
INEQUALITIES OF THE CIRCULATION. 
As a very fruitful source of morbid conditions of 
almost every nature, abnormities of the circulation 
of the blood are well worthy our attention. As is 
the case with dyspepsia, so here likewise patients 
seldom present themselves for treatment unless some 
definite secondary pathological condition has super- 
vened. We find these patients complaining of cold 
hands and feet, irregular and disturbed sleep, occa- 
sional local congestions, with vague, usually slight 
pains here and there, etc., etc. Where organic car- 
diac disease is at the bottonUof the trouble, we can- 
not of course expect much permanent improvement. 
Although even here considerable relief is often af- 
forded while the baths are being used, their discon- 
tinuance will in all probability be soon followed by a 
return of the former condition. Where, however, 
cases are not complicated by organic disease, where 
we have a " sluggishness " of the circulation, due 
either to vasomotor inertia or atony of the mus- 
cular coats of vessels, the electric bath will be found 124 
THE ELECTRIC BATH. 
reliably efficient. I have already (p. 55) alluded to 
this subject, and explained the probable " mode of 
action" here of the baths. I will now offer some 
suggestions as to the best method of administer- 
ing them with a view to equalizing the circulation. 
We must here seek to stimulate the vasomotor 
system, both central and peripheral; to give tone to 
the coats of vessels, both by direct and indirect elec- 
tric influence ; through counter-irritation to relieve 
internal congestions, by causing an afflux of blood to 
the skin. These objects are best attained by means 
of the galvanic current, which should be employed 
of sufficient intensity to produce a rubefacient ef- 
fect. The faradic current acts in the same direction, 
but far less energetically, if we except the vessels near, 
the surface, the muscular coats of which are proba- 
bly more efficiently tonicised by this than by the 
constant current. The faradic current however is 
applicable here in another way, and for a very im- 
portant object. I refer to the mechanical counter- 
action of a sluggish circulation, through the agency 
of prolonged muscular contraction. This mechani- 
cal effect is not of course peculiar to the faradic cur- 
rent ; it is shared by gymnastic and other exercises; 
but obtained in any other way whatsoever (with the 
exception, perhaps, of massage, which is however SPECIAL THERAPEUTICS. 
125 
much more troublesome as well as inferior, and 
moreover not always admissible) it involves, in order 
to produce perfect results, a considerable amount of 
bodily exertion, often beyond the physical power of 
persons who are in ill health, and bringing with it the 
risk of positive injury, through over-exertion, which 
with the passive contractions obtained by means of 
the faradic current, is entirely obviated. By admin- 
istering the general faradic current in the bath, of 
sufficient intensity to maintain muscular contraction 
as long as the circuit remains closed, any stagnant 
blood in the lower extremities will be efficiently 
forced into the general circulation. After from 
three to five minutes of this faradization, the surface 
board may be successively applied for a minute or 
two each to the arms, abdomen, pectoral and dorsal 
muscles. I believe the best results can be obtained 
by first going through the faradic process, then sub- 
jecting the patient to general galvanization, as above 
indicated, and concluding by another but brief fara- 
dization. 
AFFECTIONS OF THE SYMPATHETIC. 
Last, but not least, I have some remarks to offer 
on the treatment by the electric bath of certain af- 
fections of the sympathetic nerve. While I do not 126 
THE ELECTRIC BATH. 
in any such cases accord to the baths the rank of 
an exclusive remedy or even a specific, their im- 
portance as an adjuvant is sufficient to entitle them 
to special consideration in this connection. In those 
neuroses of the sympathetic where electricity (gal- 
vanism) is indicated, the greatest benefit can be 
obtained from local applications. On the other 
hand the baths, employed in addition to local appli- 
cations, will be found a very important factor in the 
treatment, possessing, as they do, two advantages, 
viz: first, by their means the electric influence is 
brought to bear-in a much less concentrated form 
it is true-on the entire sympathetic system, from 
the ganglion impar to the ganglion cervicale supre- 
mum, and, by derived currents, on the cephalic gan- 
glia also, at one and the same time ; second, the rest 
of the body participates in the general nutrient and 
tonic effects of the bath equally with the sympathet- 
ic, the latter thus receiving a reflex benefit which 
local applications fail to furnish. There are, more- 
over, cases where hyperaesthetic conditions of the 
nerve do not admit of local applications, and where 
yet electricity is urgently called for. Thus I have 
at present under treatment a lad sixteen years of 
age, in whom both supreme cervical sympathetic 
ganglia as well as the ganglion impar were until re- SPECIAL THERAPEUTICS. 
127 
cently so susceptible that the mere adjustment of the 
electrodes caused him great pain, while on the other 
hand he bore the baths exceedingly well. In such 
cases, electric baths, suitably administered, frequently 
constitute in conjunction with proper medication, 
the most useful treatment. 
As to the mode of administration in sympathetic 
neuroses of the baths, the most direct manner in 
which to influence the diseased nerve, is by connect- 
ing one pole of a galvanic battery (I consider the 
faradic current next to useless here) to the head elec- 
trode, the other to the surface board, the latter ap- 
plied portion of the time to the epigastrium (solar 
plexus), the balance to the coccyx {ganglion imp ar}. 
This will include in the direct circuit the main portion 
of the sympathetic, the position in the tub of the 
bather bringing the cilio-spinal centre very close to 
the head-electrode. The direction of the current 
must be determined by the individual features pre- 
sented by each case, as also the duration of the bath. 
Case XXXIV. Mr. S., aet. 31, merchant, was referred to 
me April 3d 1874, by Dr. Krehbiel. In January, 1874, Mr. S., 
until then in the enjoyment of good health, woke up one morn- 
ing to find, as he expressed it, " everything dark before his 
eyes." He groped his way to the window, in order to open the 
blinds. When at the window, he felt as though about to fall 128 
THE ELECTRIC BATH 
out-probably vertigo. He soon returned to an apparently nor- 
mal condition, and went about his business as usual. A week 
after, he had a much more serious attack, which he describes as 
follows: " I had been playing whist during the evening (several 
hours), when suddenly, without premonition, I felt as though a 
champagne cork popped against the top of my head, inside. 
Accompanying this was an indefinable sensation about the heart* 
as though the blood all rushed thence down to the feet. I did 
not lose consciousness ; did not fall. I trembled all over, and a 
great fear came over me. Felt very weak all night; my pulse 
was very slow." About two months subsequently, patient was 
referred to me, as above stated. He then had an uneasy look ; 
an indefinable continual sense of fear ; was excessively nervous 
in the forepart of the day ; had brief attacks of tremor-usually 
every alternate morning, but not typical as to time of occurrence. 
The history exhibited neither syphilis, malaria nor intemperance. 
Had never had headache. Sleep good ; appetite likewise. The 
most pathognomonic symptom, however, related to his pulse. 
This was abnormally slow, ranging from 44 to 54 (the latter 
only when standing or after walking) per minute. It was full 
and regular. There was no organic heart trouble. In the 
absence of any other symptom whatsoever pointing to irritation 
of the pneumogastric or spinal accessory, I was justified in ex- 
cluding this as the possible cause of the cardiac infrequency. On 
the other hand, the pathogenetic manifestations appeared all to 
point to " asthenia of the sympathetic "-at any rate the portion 
of this whence the cardiac nerves take their origin, and I formed 
my diagnosis accordingly. In the beginning, the treatment 
consisted of bilateral ascending (from cilio-spinal centre to both 
mastoid fossae) galvanizations of the sympathetic, and galvanic SPECIAL THERAPEUTICS. 
129 
baths (head electrode negative, surface board positive, to epigas- 
trium) on alternate days. Improvement in every respect was 
steady, though not rapid. At the end of three weeks, I supple- 
mented this treatment by the administration of ergotin and nux 
vomica. At the expiration of two more weeks, the patient being 
nearly recovered, I discontinued these medicaments, substitut- 
ing the valerianates of zinc and iron, and steadily maintaining 
meanwhile the electrical treatment as above indicated. After a 
short time recovery appeared complete, and patient was dis- 
charged from treatment. He returned however a few months 
subsequently, complaining of " faint spells " in the mornings, 
accompanied with excessive nervousness, and a renewed though 
moderate cardiac infrequency. Electrical treatment, similar to 
that above described, soon restored him. One or two more 
slight relapses occurred during the next six months. For over 
a year past however Mr. S. has been in the enjoyment of perfect 
and undisturbed health. His normal pulse ranges from 72 to 80. 
Whoever is familiar with the physiological effects 
of electric baths, will readily concede their great 
utility in a variety of conditions that I have not thus 
far specially alluded to. Of such I would mention 
AST HEN LU, ATONIC AND DEBILITATED CONDITIONS 
GENERALLY, including the state of CONVALESCENCE 
FROM ACUTE DISEASES and the DECLINE OF AD- 
VANCING AGE ; many cases of CHRONIC HEADACHE ; 
some INCLASSIFIABLE CONDITIONS OF MARASMUS 
and MALNUTRITION, etc., etc. In all such cases, 
when purely functional and uncomplicated by incura- 130 
THE ELECTRIC BATH 
ble organic disease, good results may be confident- 
ly looked for. 
With these remarks I conclude my subject. 
Whichever the errors that a too limited experience 
may have engendered-and I doubt not there are 
many, I cannot on reviewing my work accuse my- 
self of lack of candor nor yet of undue enthusiasm. 
I have cited but a small proportion of the success- 
ful cases whereof I possess records; still I believe 
that I have adduced amply sufficient clinical proof 
of the great value as a remedial agent of electric 
baths, and of the desirability of their more general 
adoption. I would more especially call attention to 
the inappropriateness of deferring their employment 
until almost all other remedies have been exhausted ; 
and when I reflect that pretty much all those 
cases that had been referred to me by other physi- 
cians had already had the doubtful benefit of almost 
every other conceivable treatment, while many of 
those who came of their own accord, had in addition 
made the rounds of all the quacks, and exhausted 
nearly all the nostrums that are to be found adver- 
tised in the columns of our daily papers, the wonder 
seems that the results obtained were as good as they 
have been. I sincerely trust that in the future phy- SPECIAL THERAPEUTICS. 
131 
sicians will avail themselves more frequently than 
heretofore of a remedy that is certainly capable of 
accomplishing much good ; and I hope that in addi- 
tion to myself there will be found others, more com- 
petent, to devote themselves to the study of the sub- 
ject. To these, and perhaps to myself at a future 
time, I relegate the task of correcting my errors 
and promulgating hitherto undiscovered truths. INDEX. 
A. 
PAGE 
Agrypnia 92 
Anaemia 93 
Apparatus for baths 7 
Articular effusions 105 
B. 
Bath-tub 8 
Batteries 16 
c. 
Cachexije 118 
Chemicals in baths 15 
Chorea 80 
Circulation, effects on 55 
" inequalities of 123 
Clinical Record 61 
Conductivity of water, etc 13 
Constipation 112 
Counterirritant effects 56 
D. 
Debility, general 139-130 
Diagnostic uses 53 
Digestive apparatus, effects on... 44 
Dyspepsia 121 
E. 
PAGE 
Electric Bath compared with 
other electrical methods 32 
Electrodes » 10 
G. 
General Therapeutics 53 
H. 
Hydrargyrosis 115 
Hypnotic effects 38-58 
Hysterical affections 82 
I. 
Impotency 106 
Insomnia 93 
Invigorant properties 57 
L. 
Locomotor Ataxia 1x6 
M. 
Melancholia 122 
M ind, effects on 51 134 
INDEX. 
PAGE 
Miscellaneous disorders 129-130 
Mode of administration 19 
Muscular contractions 50 
N. 
Nervous Exhaustion 84 
Neuralgiae 100 
Neurasthenia 84 
Nutrition, effects on 59 
P. 
Paralyses 96 
Pareses 96 
Physiological effects 31 
Prophylactic influence 60 
Pulse, effects on 41 
R. 
Rheumatism 67 
PAGE 
Rheumatism acute 68 
" chronic 7 
" subacute 73 
" cases of 77 
s. 
Sedative effects 48-58 
Sexual apparatus, effects on 46 
Sexual debility 106 
Sleep, effects on 38 
Special therapeutics 61 
Stimulant effects 43 
Surface board 14 
Sympathetic, affections of 126 
T. 
Temperature, effects on 41 
Tonic properties 43-57