The treatment of disease by electric currents : a hand-book of plain instructions for the general practitioner / by S.H. Monell.

  • Monell, S. H. (Samuel Howard), -1918.
Date:
1897
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The treatment of disease by electric currents : a hand-book of plain instructions for the general practitioner / by S.H. Monell. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

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    body, and the acute localized congestions, bruises, burns, etc., which the breeze benefits. An ordinary sponge-covered electrode moistened with hot water is placed directly over the site of pain and connected with the positive Leyden jar. A similar electrode connected with the negative jar is placed so that the current will pass directly through the tissues affected with pain. The sliding poles of the machine are then brought together till they touch, and when the machine is started into rapid action the dose is regulated by pulling the poles a little apart until the current strength produces sedative relief without passing beyond the point of comfortable tolerance. As these applications require the removal of clothing upon the main portions of the body, they yield in practical impor- tance to the more commonly used methods. Constant Galvanic Current.—The galvanic -current pos- sesses remarkable power over pain. The general principles which govern its application when not especially directed by other conditions are as follows : 1. The positive electrode is placed over the site of pain in acute hyperaemic cases, or the negative electrode is placed over the site of pain in chronic and anaemic cases, with the indiffer- ent electrode at any convenient point. 2. The electrodes are placed above and below the site of pain. In the one case the local polar effect is chiefly sought, while in the other case the interpolar action is deemed indicated in the absence of any special polar indications. The size of the electrodes must be suited to the situation and nature of the pain. If diffused, apply large felt-covered, flat electrodes and large currents. If sharp concentrated pain is present use small electrodes in proportion. In acute and con- gestive conditions use only a small amperage. In opposite states large currents will often relieve when small amperage fails, and in deep visceral pain clay electrodes with the greatest dos age that can be safely passed through the skin and applied