Why electrolytic treatment of stricture does not succeed in all hands / by G.C.H. Meier.

  • Meier, G.C.H.
Date:
1888
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Why electrolytic treatment of stricture does not succeed in all hands / by G.C.H. Meier. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    first hearing of this treatment, take it for granted that no other measures are necessary in the different complications of stricture; but that, whenever a stricture is diagnosed, the negative electrode of a gal- vanic battery is to be introduced at once, the current turned on, and presto, all the symptoms will disap)>ear, as if by magic. Now, these men do not take into consideration that all inflammation must first be sub- dued, the general health looked after, abrasions heal- ed, cystitis and prostatitis allayed, etc , otherwise the ramming of a sound into the urethra, whether it is attached to a galvanic battery or not, will aggravate and intensify such a case. This is only common sense, and seemingly needs no further elucidation. Secondly, the diagnosis must be fully made, that an vff/atiic stricture is present and that, if present, it is the cause of the complaint for which the patient consults you at the time. Many men have strictures, or, at least, some contraction of the calibre of their urethra at different points, who do not suffer from any bad symptoms. If such a man comes to you, complaining of frequent and painful micturition, perhaps retention, or small quantity and small stream of urine, be sure that man is suffering from the stric- ture and not from a prostatitis, cystitis, or stone. You examine the patient, and find a stricture (may be spasmodic); if you are satisfied with that and do not further investigate, but think this is a good case for electrolysis, and if you habitually make such im- perfect diagnosis, you will soon become an opponent of the method, and your patients will look uj>on electricity with horror and discredit.