Presidential address delivered November 8, 1901 / by John Macintyre.

  • Macintyre, John.
Date:
[1901]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Presidential address delivered November 8, 1901 / by John Macintyre. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

    8/18 (page 8)
    should pass to the patient, and even then it is not serious. The dust of the room rapidly collects on the surface of the patient's body, being attracted by the electric currents. Healing as a rule progresses steadily; granulations form in the parts until they have reached the proper level, after which epithelial structures cover in the parts. It is further interesting to note that discharges rapidly dry, and that the effect is not limited to the part in front of the electrode, because in some instances I have found that while one side of the face which alone had been stimulated was healing, other diseased structures on the other side at a distance took on the same action. There is no scar left. I have never seen the slightest attempt at reaction or dermatitis, which often accompanies X-rays, Finsen's, and in one case with me at least, high frequency currents. I have had the best results where no surgical operation had previously been performed ; in fact, in any case where a scar has resulted or loss of tissue it has been where other measures had at first been tried. No medicine in the test cases was administered, and no other kind of treatment was applied to the patient. I have thought of trying these high potential currents in the deeper tissues ; in other words, it is a fair question to ask, Would not the tissues of the larynx or the lungs be affected indirectly ? So far my best results have been got by applying the current in the way I have indicated, but I am at present engaged in a series of experiments to test the internal as well as the external benefits. As yet I have not been able to come to a definite conclusion in the matter. Results. Lupus.—It is difficult to convey to you a fair and accurate idea of the changes which take place in the tissues of the nasal, pharyngeal, and other cavities under the influence of these currents, for the simple reason that they can only be seen by examination of the patients. I can show you some photographs, however, of the changes which take place in the skin of the face^because this was involved in many of the cases, the disease having spread by continuity of surface. In this first photograph, that of a girl aged seven who had suffered for over three years from the disease, and who had been treated by means of the cautery and other methods, you will see the effect on the face, although the affection had also involved the nostrils as far back as the naso-pharynx. As recently as July the parts had been curetted for the third time under an anaesthetic, and in August seemed as unsatisfactory as ever. There was great