A YEAR OF EXPERIMENT 
IN 
ELECTRO-THERAPEUTICS: 
INCLUDING 
THE FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF THE ELECTRO- 
THERAPEUTICAL DEPARTMENT OF 
DEMIL T DISPENSA R Y. 
READ BEFORE THE NEW YORK ACADEMY OF MEDICINE, MAY 16th, 1872, 
BY 
GEO. M. BEARD, M. D 
AND 
ALPHONSO D. ROCKWELL, M. D. 
Electro- Therapeutists to Demilt Dispensary, N. V. 
REPRINTED FROM THE AMERICAN PRACTITIONER 
LOUISVILLE: 
JOHN P. MORTON AND COMPANY, PUBLISHERS. 
1872. A YEAR OF EXPERIMENT 
IN 
ELECTRO-THERAPEUTICS: 
INCLUDING 
THE FIRST ANNUAL RETORT OF THE ELECTRO- 
THERAPEUTICAL DEPARTMENT OF 
DEMIL T DISPENSA R V. 
READ BEFORE THE NEW YORK ACADEMY OF MEDICINE, MAY 16th, 1872, 
BY 
GEO. M. BEARD, M. D 
AND 
ALPHONSO D. ROCKWELL, M. D. 
Electro-Therapeutists to Demilt Dispensary, N. Y. 
REPRINTED FROM THE AMERICAN PRACTITIONER FOR AUGUST, 1872, 
LOUISVILLE: 
JOHN P. MORTON AND COMPANY, PUBLISHERS. 
1872. A YEAR OF EXPERIMENT 
IN 
ELECTRO-THERAPEUTICS: 
INCLUDING THE FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF THE ELECTRO- 
THERAPEUTICAL DEPARTMENT OF 
DEMILT DISPENSARY. 
About the close of the year 1870 we suggested to the 
trustees of the Demilt Dispensary the propriety of establish- 
ing an electro-therapeutical department in connection with 
that institution. Shortly after, by the unanimously-expressed 
wish of the medical staff of the Dispensary, the trustees de- 
cided to establish such a department; and with a liberality 
that can not be too highly commended, and with an enthu- 
siasm for science that is exceedingly rare among business- 
men, they set aside a room and supplied it with all needful 
apparatus for electro-therapeutics. 
One object in establishing the department was to afford 
opportunity for experiment. It was our desire not only to 
treat cases for which electricity had been proved to be bene- 
ficial by past experience, but all diseases from any of the 
departments that were sent in, paying no regard whatever 
to any merely theoretical reasoning on the subject. False 
theories have all along retarded the science of Electro-thera- 
peutics, just as they have retarded all other branches of 
science and the general progress of the human race. At the 4 
A Year of Experiment in Electro-therapeutics. 
present day the best results of electrical treatment are seen 
in just those diseases where, by a priori reasoning, it was 
supposed to be contraindicated. 
We started out with the idea that the results, whether 
favorable or the reverse, would be of service to science. If 
it be important to know where electricity is needed, it is also 
important to know where it will do harm. Now the true and 
only way to exhaust the indications for the use of electricity 
is to treat all cases just as they come by all the different 
methods, and note the results, whether good or bad. The 
opposite method of selecting those cases that promise well 
to our very imperfect vision may be the wise course for the 
practitioner, but science will never be advanced by any such 
method, and ultimately both patients and physicians are losers 
by it. 
Hysteria and allied Affections. 
Among the affections allied to hysteria is neurasthenia, a 
term which we have devised and applied to what is called nerv- 
ous exhaustion—a condition where exhaustion is the leading 
feature—uncomplicated with any special organic lesion. One 
case of neurasthenia, with a full pulse of 115, was greatly im- 
proved by general faradization. A case of hysterical mania 
in a woman aged fifty-five, with symptoms of anaemia—con- 
stipation and delusions of various kinds, such as fear of the 
police, etc., all of six months’ standing—was so much bene- 
fited by general faradization alone that after the tenth applica- 
tion she seemed to be entirely restored; but she soon relapsed, 
and treatment by general faradization was again employed. 
Under this she made progress, but slowly. Galvanization of 
the brain and sympathetic, however, brought her up to pretty 
nearly the standard of health. 
Another case, a woman aged forty-five, who had been 
debilitated by a two years’ siege of intermittent fever, and 
who presented the symptoms of globus hystericus, hysterical A Year of Experiment in Electro-therapeutics. 
5 
paralysis of the right arm, and melancholia, was so much 
benefited by twenty-five applications of general faradization 
that she was able to return to her duties as servant-girl. The 
melancholy was cured, and also the hysterical paralysis of the 
arm. Her pains were relieved, the bowels regulated, and the 
appetite increased by the tonic effects of the treatment. 
A case of chlorosis in a girl of eighteen, with the symp- 
toms of yellowness of the skin, irregularity of menses, and 
general debility, was greatly benefited by general faradization. 
Two other cases of hysteria, with the symptoms of globus 
hystericus—nervous trembling, fits of crying, flashes of light 
before the eyes, and nervous twitchings of the muscles—were 
rapidly improved by general faradization. 
It is a noteworthy fact that while neurasthenia, neuralgia, 
chlorosis, and many other affections allied to hysteria, are 
more frequent among the higher orders, hysteria itself is 
quite as common among the ignorant or servant-girl class, 
in whom the emotional nature reigns pretty nearly supreme, 
unchecked by reason or education or common-sense. 
In private practice we have treated for a long time cases 
of hypochondriasis, melancholia, and insanity of various kinds 
by central galvanization, or by simple galvanization of the 
brain and cervical sympathetic, and sometimes by general 
faradization, with results that warrant us to persevere. 
Dr. Bryce, Superintendent of the Alabama Asylum, con- 
sulted us about electrical apparatus a year and a half ago, 
and he has since written that he meets with good results in 
certain forms of insanity from both currents. In England 
and in Germany the electro-therapeutics of insanity is now 
undergoing investigation. 
Neuralgia 
Of neuralgia, uncomplicated, but two cases were treated. 
A case of sciatica was apparently cured by three local gal- 
vanizations. A case of neuralgia of syphilitic origin was but 6 
A Year of Experiment in Electro-therapeutics. 
slightly benefited by local galvanization, was made worse by 
central galvanization, and somewhat improved under general 
faradization. 
We remark here that the statement made by some Euro- 
pean writers of ability, that the faradic current is useless in 
neuralgia, is contradicted by the experience of scores of physi- 
cians in this country, who are every day relieving or curing 
cases of true neuralgia of a central origin by faradization 
alone. 
Rheumatism. 
Of rheumatism six cases were treated. Of these five were 
greatly relieved by the treatment; and one case of very long 
standing, in which the joints of the lower limbs were involved, 
was treated for several months by general faradization and 
central galvanization with only slight benefit. In some cases 
relief of pain followed a single application. 
Of the various methods of application employed for rheu- 
matism, general faradization seemed to accomplish more than 
localized galvanization of the joints, and very much more 
than central galvanization. This would show so far forth 
that rheumatism is not so directly under the influence of the 
central nervous system as some other diseases. Rheumatism 
is, however, a constitutional disease, whatever its pathology 
may be, and merely local electrization of the affected joints 
is not satisfactory. It may relieve that particular part, but it 
does very little toward eradicating the disease. 
General faradization favorably affects rheumatism in several 
ways: i. By its stimulating tonic influence over the whole 
system; 2. By the relief of the local manifestations; 3. By 
modification of the urinary secretion. 
Rheumatism is benefited by tonics of various kinds, as 
quinine, iron, etc., and general faradization acts as a tonic. 
By the special influence that it exerts on the liver and all 
the organs of digestion it greatly assists the cure of the forms 
of rheumatism that are at all curable. We have seen cases A Year of Experiment in Electro-therapeutics. 
7 
where the secretion of urine was greatly increased after a 
single application of general faradization ; but the cases where 
such increase is demonstrable are not very frequent. 
Muscular rheumatism is the type that gives way most 
readily to electrical treatment. Next to that the subacute 
articular variety offers the best chance of benefit; and last 
of all come the very chronic forms, where the unfortunate 
patient is, as it were, tied up in knots from long-standing 
affection of the joints of the upper and lower limbs. It is 
not pleasant to treat these latter cases. They appreciate, it 
is true, the tonic effects of the treatment in a general way, 
and that is about all. It is possible that localized galvaniza- 
tion, prolonged for hours or days by means of apparatus 
placed at the bedside, might compel these maladies to give 
way; but we have never yet brought this idea to the full test 
of experiment. The most hopeless forms of rheumatism are 
those which simulate arthritis nodosa, or rheumatic gout, if 
indeed they are not actually that disease. It is possible to 
do but very little for such cases. 
Paralysis. 
Of paralysis of different kinds we treated five cases, four 
peripheral and one infantile. These cases behaved as cases 
of paralysis usually do under electrical treatment, and upon 
this subject we have little that is new or suggestive to com- 
municate. We simply remark that it is a mistake, and one 
that is often made, to use too strong currents and too long 
applications. A current just sufficient to produce muscular 
contractions is preferable. The earlier this form of paralysis 
is taken under treatment the better. It is delay frequently 
that makes it require protracted treatment. 
Six cases of dyspepsia were treated, five of which recovered 
and one was improved. The leading symptoms in the above 
Dyspepsia. 8 
A Year of Experiment in Electro-therapeutics. 
cases were pain after eating, nausea, vomiting, pyrosis, con- 
stipation, anorexia, flatulence, and mental depression. The 
methods of treatment employed were general faradization, 
galvanization of the sympathetic, and pneumogastric and cen- 
tral galvanization. Very few diseases yield so surely to any 
remedy as nervous dyspepsia yields to electrization, the ex- 
ceptions being those cases where from some peculiarity of 
constitution electricity is not well borne. 
Bronchitis. 
Five cases of bronchitis were treated. Of these one was 
much improved by five weeks’ treatment with central galvan- 
ization; another case, complicated with phthisis, was consid- 
erably benefited in a general way by persevering treatment; 
another case was benefited for a time; and the fifth case, com- 
plicated with phthisis, was improved. None of the cases were 
perfectly cured, and those complicated with tubercular disease 
will doubtless die; and yet the electrical treatment of phthisis 
is not wholly a failure. 
The method we adopted in cases of tubercular deposit in 
the lungs was to apply a mild galvanic current directly through 
the diseased region, with a view to cause absorption. In 
the experience we have had with this method up to date we 
have had no satisfactory evidence that absorption of any great 
amount is caused by such treatment; but through the influence 
on the sympathetic and spinal cord, directly and indirectly, 
very much benefit is derived that deceives the patient and 
perhaps the physician. 
Asthma. 
Of asthma two cases were treated. One of these, a 
woman of middle life, had for three months suffered from 
the disease, brought on, as she said, by the smell of cooking. 
Galvanization of the sympathetic and pneumogastric at once 
benefited her, and in two weeks she was apparently cured, A Year of Experiment in Electro-therapeutics. 
9 
and we have not since heard from her. This is the best re- 
sult that we have ever seen in asthma. It may be accounted 
for by the recentness of the attack; and the query occurs at 
once whether the majority of cases might not be cured if 
they were taken early, before the asthmatic habit had become 
engrafted into the system. The other case, a man aged fifty, 
had suffered for five years. His distress was very great, and 
the attempt to walk half a block caused a feeling of suffo- 
cation. One seance of five minutes gave him such positive 
relief that he was able to walk home, a distance of one mile. 
He did not return for treatment. 
Asthma, so far as electrical treatment is concerned, would 
appear to come in the same category as facial spasm, bleph- 
arospasm, and other similar local spasmodic affections, which 
when recent and mild are very easily cured, but when long- 
existing and severe are susceptible only of temporary relief. 
Intermittent Fever, 
Three cases of intermittent fever were treated. Electricity 
is prescribed for those subacute or chronic stages of intermit- 
tent fever where the patient is able to go about, but is debili- 
tated, and is liable to frequent or even daily attacks; not as 
a specific at all, for electricity is not a specific for anything, 
but as a general stimulating tonic. 
In one case the patient, who had suffered from chills and 
fever every day for eleven months, and had become anaemic, 
was much improved by general faradization, and stopped 
treatment. Three weeks after the chills returned, when three 
seances of galvanization of the spine and sympathetic appar- 
ently effected a cure. Another case was so much influenced 
by general faradization that the attacks, which had been daily, 
came on only every fourth day. The third case abandoned 
treatment after the first application. These results confirm 
our previous experience in private practice. A Year of Experiment in Electro-therapeutics. 
Diseases of Women. 
In the department of gynecology we have little of interest 
to record. Of amenorrhoea four cases were treated. Of these 
one was cured by faradization of the uterus. Another case, 
where at the usual time for the menses there was headache 
and much pain, was relieved of these symptoms, but not cured 
of the amenorrhoea. Another case, a sterile woman who de- 
sired children, was not benefited. The fourth case was an 
Irish girl, whose menses had been stopped by a sea-voyage. 
After eight sittings of general faradization the courses came 
on, and lasted five days. 
Increase in size of an Atrophied Uterus. 
In private practice we have demonstrated that an atrophied 
uterus may be so improved in its nutrition under localized 
faradization as to increase in size, as shown by careful meas- 
urement. The current makes the muscular tissue of the uterus 
grow just as it makes atrophied muscles grow in paralysis. 
On the other hand, nutrition of an engorged uterus may be 
so modified by electrization with either current that it dimin- 
ishes in size. 
Spinal Congestion. 
Of spinal congestion seven cases were treated. Before 
speaking of these cases we may remark, first, that the diag- 
nosis of spinal congestion in the mild, passive, and chronic 
stages is oftentimes very difficult. The symptoms of spinal 
congestion in the chronic stage are numbness of the extremi- 
ties, of an arm or a leg, or only the part supplied by a single 
nerve, as the ulnar; neuralgic pains of a sharp, shooting, or 
boring character; a feeling of pricking or tingling or burning 
in the bottoms and along the sides of the feet; soreness on 
pressure, a feeling of constriction in the trunk or ankle, flatu- 
lence, constipation, bladder difficulty, fibrillary contractions A Year of Experiment in Electro-therapeutics. 
and twitchings of muscles, a feeling of pressure on the chest, 
coldness of the extremities, stiffness of neck, a feeling of weak- 
ness on walking, and a disposition to tire out easily in the 
lower limbs; sensations of localized heat and cold in various 
parts of the body, insomnia, anorexia, cramps of the muscles, 
spinal tenderness, and actual paralysis. 
Now these suggest a variety of diseases. Many of the 
symptoms of locomotor ataxy and progressive muscular 
atrophy in their early stages are found in spinal irritation 
and cerebral congestion, which, by the way, is oftentimes 
complicated with spinal congestion; but when all or the great 
majority of these symptoms appear in any case, and are per- 
sistent, and are worse when the patient is in a recumbent 
position, we make the diagnosis of spinal congestion. When 
the patient lies down at night the numbness increases and 
the pains come on, and the morning is the worst part of the 
day. These symptoms must all be read together, and in their 
relation to each other, in order to interpret their meaning. 
Patients suffering from spinal congestion often pass for cases 
of rheumatism, dyspepsia, general debility, spinal irritation, 
spinal sclerosis, neuralgia, or hysteria. 
Secondly, we remark that congestion of the cord is fre- 
quently, if not usually, a result of atony of the cord; and that 
the simple statement of the fact that the cord is congested 
does not go far enough in the elucidation of the pathological 
condition. The congestion is not the disease, but rather the 
expression of the disease. The spinal cord is so exhausted 
that it has not strength to keep off congestion; and in our 
treatment, whether we use electricity or internal medication, 
we should aim not so much to directly reduce the amount of 
blood in the cord as to increase its tone, that it may be able 
itself to throw off its superfluous blood. Electricity then 
helps spinal congestion not so much by directly reducing the 
amount of blood in the cord as by improving the nutrition, 
and enabling it to do its own depletion. 12 
A Year of Experiment in Electro-therapeutics. 
Of the cases that were treated in the dispensary one came 
twice, and was not benefited; one came three times, and was 
so much relieved that he came no more; one case, where 
paralysis of motion existed, was cured after two months’ 
treatment; one case, after four applications, was very much 
helped; and still another case of an aggravated character was 
by two months’ treatment (seventeen applications) so much 
benefited that the patient believed herself cured, until one 
day she walked a long distance, became exhausted, and the 
old symptoms appeared in full force. A second course of 
treatment again relieved her. 
Spinal Irritation. 
Of spinal irritation, pure and simple, only one case was 
treated, although an irritable condition of the spine was noted 
as a complication in a number of cases. Among the class of 
patients who frequent our public institutions spinal irritation 
is not so common as among the higher orders of society. 
The pathology of spinal irritation we take to be a general 
anaemia or neurasthenia, or both combined, in which the 
spinal cord shares to such an extent that it can not maintain 
the proper balance of circulation, and may therefore alternate 
between anaemia and hyperaemia. Here, as in spinal conges- 
tion, the great point to be considered is not so much the 
vascular condition of the cord as the disease of the cord or 
of the system on which this vascularity depends, and of which 
it is a symptom. Alternations of anaemia or hyperaemia 
(fluctuations in the circulation) are observed continually in 
persons who are in a susceptible nervous condition. Under 
excitement the face may redden or turn pale, or it may first 
manifest a blush and then paleness. The eye in nervous 
people, the anaemic or neurasthenic, illustrates this feature 
of unbalanced circulation perhaps better than any other organ. 
The conjunctiva may suddenly become congested, or as sud- 
denly become pale. A slight emotion, a flash of bright light, A Year of Experiment in Electro-therapeutics. 
13 
a stoop or bend of the body, the least over-use or strain, may 
bring an excess of blood to the eye that very quickly departs 
as the cause disappears. Under the ophthalmoscope the retina 
is seen to flush or pale while the cervical sympathetic is being 
galvanized or from other irritation. 
The hypersemia which follows the use of a powerful current 
soon subsides into comparative anaemia. Indeed, the emula- 
tion of the retina is so easily affected one way or the other 
that ophthalmologists have been slow to accept the view that 
the effects we have referred to were due to the action of the 
current on the sympathetic. 
Some of the symptoms of spinal congestion are also found 
in spinal irritation, for the reason that in the latter condition 
the cord may be a part of the time, or by intervals, congested. 
They differ, however, from the symptoms of fixed congestion 
in two respects: first, they are not so pronounced or perma- 
nent; and second, they are relieved by a recumbent position, 
and are better in the morning. 
Another consideration of importance is that spinal irrita- 
tion is most frequent in ansemia, and is especially common in 
women, while spinal congestion is found in both sexes, and 
attacks all organizations. Spinal congestion is caused by 
excessive exertion, or by taking cold, as well as by all nerve- 
exhausting habits. Spinal irritation is not excited by taking 
cold. Excessive physical exertion may increase it, but it 
is mainly the result and symptom of inherited or acquired 
nervous debility, and disappears in proportion as the debility 
disappears. Both spinal irritation and congestion are apt to 
be attended by head symptoms, which differentially follow the 
same law as the other symptoms of these disorders. The 
case of spinal irritation at the dispensary had suffered for four 
months from headache, mainly across the forehead. There 
was at times a marked fullness of the temporal arteries, which 
would diminish under mild galvanization. There was diffi- 
culty of respiration, a feeling of suffocation, great pain in the A Year of Experiment in Electro-therapeutics. 
back, especially in the lower dorsal and lumbar vertebras. 
There was pain in the region of the heart, and examination 
by auscultation and percussion gave evidence of dilatation. 
The pulse was intermittent, the appetite poor; but the tender- 
ness of the spine on pressure, so common in such cases, was 
not in this instance a marked feature. All her symptoms 
were relieved by lying down, and in the morning she always 
felt better. Treatment by general faradization at first increased 
the headache and pain in the back. Central galvanization re- 
lieved the pain in the head and back, and with various relapses 
this improvement continued. We have no reason to believe 
that the improvement was entirely permanent, for of all symp- 
toms of the nervous diathesis this is perhaps the easiest to 
relapse. Under electrical treatment, or under counter-irritation 
to the spine, they yield sometimes very rapidly; but a little 
over-exertion, the reception of bad news, a few sleepless nights, 
and away they go back to their old condition. 
In two cases of spinal congestion we tried to solve the 
question whether the ascending or descending current was 
most successful. Both cases appeared to be injured by the 
ascending, while both were benefited by the descending, cur- 
rent. Whether the difference of effect was due to the differ- 
ential action of the poles or the direction of the current we 
are unable to state. As a rule, we prefer descending currents 
in central galvanization and in general faradization; but in 
ordinary localized applications to the periphery or special 
organs, as the uterus or bladder, we do not find so much 
difference as has been claimed in the effects of the ascending 
or descending current. 
Locomotor Ataxia. 
Of locomotor ataxia (posterior spinal sclerosis) one case 
was treated, and mainly by galvanization of the spine and 
central galvanization. The benefit derived from a few appli- 
cations was slight, and the patient did not return. A Year of Experiment in Electro-therapeutics. 
15 
lii regard to this disease there are two considerations of 
great importance; I. That cases of simple spinal congestion 
or irritation are frequently called locomotor ataxia; 2. That 
when the process of degeneration of the posterior columns of 
the cord has actually set in, with the necessary body of symp- 
toms that accompany such degeneration, perfect recovery is 
very rare under electrical or other treatment. In Europe, 
and especially in Germany, the so-called functional or milder 
disorders of the nervous system are much less frequent than 
with us, and hence physicians there are not prepared for them 
when they occur, and are apt either to ignore or mistake 
them. Even in the most recent German works, and in some 
of the medical journals of that country, we see cases of 
spinal congestion of a not very severe form mistaken for 
spinal sclerosis, and gravely reported as cured by hydro- 
therapeutics or electro-therapeutics, or by nitrate of silver. 
Now, in regard to the electrical treatment of locomotor 
ataxia, our experience is that grateful relief or cure of some 
of the symptoms and decided general benefit is derived from 
it. Remissions and improvement that are greatly encourag- 
ing to the patient, and perhaps deceive the physician himself, 
occur; but never a perfect or an approximate cure, except in 
the early stages. The relief of the pain is very desirable, and 
this we may accomplish by central galvanization or general 
faradization; and it may be here remarked that some of the 
best results of the treatment of locomotor ataxia that we have 
seen have been accomplished by general faradization, either 
alone or alternating with galvanization of the spine. 
Diseases of the Eye. 
A case of deplopia, resulting from paralysis of the tro- 
chlearis muscle according to Dr. Derby, who sent him to the 
electro-therapeutical department, began at once to improve 
under localized galvanization, and after twelve seances was 
cured. How permanent the cure was is not known. A case A Year of Experiment in Electro-therapeutics. 
of congenital paralysis of the motor oculi, where only the 
power to distinguish light from darkness remained, was so 
far benefited that he could distinguish such objects as a knife 
or a watch at a distance of four feet. 
Addison’s Disease. 
A woman that presented the bronzed-skin appearance of 
Addison’s disease was treated for one month by general fara- 
dization with benefit as regards her general symptoms. In 
private practice, in a case of undoubted disease of the supra- 
renal capsules, where the diagnosis was made by Prof. Austin 
Flint, we have demonstrated that general faradization and 
galvanization of the sympathetic, although powerless to effect 
a cure, are followed by results the most gratifying, so far as 
improvement in the general condition of the patient is con- 
cerned. 
Diseases of the Skin. 
What has been learned in the electro-therapeutical depart- 
ment of the dispensary in the treatment of diseases of the skin 
is itself a sufficient reward for all the expense of inaugurating 
such a department, and for all our professional labors there 
from the beginning until now. Dr. Woodruff, one of the 
physicians in charge of the skin class, has shown great in- 
terest in our investigations by sending in cases, and thus 
given us opportunity of testing the various methods of appli- 
cation in a department which now promises to be one of the 
most satisfactory of all the special branches of electro-thera- 
peutics. We had previously experimented in the electrical 
treatment of some of these diseases, in connection with Dr. 
Piffard, at the dispensary for diseases of the skin, and also 
in private practice by intervals during the past three or four 
years. 
Eleven cases in all of diseases of the skin were treated in 
the electro - therapeutical department; six cases of chronic 
eczema, and one case of each of the following diseases: A Year of Experiment in Electro-therapeutics. 
17 
psoriasis, erysipelas, syphilitic tubercle, favus, and superficial 
ulcer. All the cases of eczema that persevered (three in 
number) recovered. The case of psoriasis did not persevere, 
the case of favus was not benefited, and the ulcer was cured. 
It was here that we first demonstrated the immediate and 
sometimes permanent relief of the pain, itching, and burning 
with which eczema and other diseases of the skin are so often 
associated. 
Tumors. 
Of tumors ten cases were treated, as follows: two cases 
of scirrhus of the breast, one of epithelioma of the lip, two 
of uterine fibroid, four of goitre, and one cystic tumor. The 
goitres were all reduced in size more or less by the use of 
the needles; but none have yet been entirely cured, although 
some of them have been treated with great perseverance and 
by all varieties of applications, by catalyzation—that is, by 
external applications with sponges, by one needle or by many 
needles—with and without ether, and by ether spray. Goitres 
do not rapidly disappear under electrization. In many cases, 
like fibroids and other tumors, they grow smaller under the 
treatment up to a certain point, when they hang fire, and will 
not budge an inch further. 
It is, of course, possible to destroy any tumor that is access- 
ible by electrolysis, provided a sufficiently strong current be 
used, and sufficient time be given to it; but then the question 
must always arise whether the disease or the remedy is most 
to be dreaded. For malignant growths the choice is easy. 
For benign, painless growths, like small goitres, it is a ques- 
tion whether they are worth the pain and annoyance of an 
operation of any kind. 
The Method of Working up the Base. 
The epithelioma of the lower lip was destroyed, root and 
branch, by a method of electrolyzation that we have recently 
employed, and which we call working up the base. This A Year of Experiment in Electro-therapeutics. 
method consists in inserting the needles around the tumor 
and partly into the healthy tissue, so as to undermine the 
former, and cut off all communication between it and the 
healthy tissue. This method is followed by complete slough- 
ing of the growth, granulations, and healing. The usual and 
accepted method of electrolyzation is to insert the needles 
directly into the tumor. 
The method of working up the base or undermining the 
tumor has the advantage that it is more thorough, since it 
makes sure of the complete destruction of the growth; that 
it is shorter, since it wastes no time on the body of the tumor, 
which really is of no consequence if it be separated from the 
healthy tissues; and that it insures a more satisfactory healing. 
We use this method not only in epithelioma, but in malig- 
nant growths of all kinds and in all accessible locations, as 
the vagina, rectum, and breast. One of the cases of cancer 
of the breast that had been sent to us by Dr. Stephen Rogers 
was for the time relieved of her pain by external faradization 
and galvanization, and a portion of the growth was favorably 
influenced by electrolyzation, but only to a limited extent. 
The patient was saturated with cancer; and when she died, 
a few months after abandoning treatment at the dispensary, 
deposits were found, as Dr. Rogers informs us, in the internal 
organs. Another case of cancerous nodules following an 
operation did not pursue the treatment long enough to enable 
us to test its merits. 
In conclusion, we desire to express our obligations to the 
staff of Demilt Dispensary, and to our assistants, Dr. H. N. 
Griswold, Dr. R. S. Tracy, Dr. Marsh, and especially to Dr. 
J. H. Sterling, whose carefulness and fidelity in carrying out 
the details of many of the experiments here recorded can not 
be overestimated. The American Practitioner. 
EDITED BY 
Professor of Clinical Stirgery in the University of Louisville 
DAVID W. YANDELL, M. D. 
AND 
THEOPHILUS PARVIN, M. D. 
Professor of the Medical and Surgical Diseases of Women in the University of Louisville 
PUBLISHED MONTHLY. TERMS $3.00 A YEAR. 
A journal which stands in the very front rank. We take pleasure in com- 
mending it to our brethren of the West as an honor to their section of the 
country, and physicians of the East would do well to have it come monthly 
to their office tables. It is in every sense of the word a credit to American med- 
ical journalism.—'Journal of Psychological Medicine. 
The editorial labor which has been expended on this journal during the year 
has given the work a standard value, and rendered it one of the most attractive 
and readable journals now published in this country. The plan of the journal is 
to give especial prominence to therapeutical studies and applications, thus making 
it directly contributory to the practical every-day work of the physician. It is a 
journal which is creditable to the medical literature of the country.—New York 
Medical Journal. 
One of the best and most practical medical periodicals in this country.— 
Chicago Medical Examiner. 
“A noble journal, and the very thing needed by the busy doctor.”—Prof. G. C. 
Blackman, M. D. 
“ It comes under the most favorable editorial auspices, and under such man- 
agement mus Itake rank among the best of the medical monthlies.”—The Phar- 
macist. 
“ Of all our exchanges, it is the freshest.”—Nashville Medical Journal. 
JOHN P. MORTON & CO., Publishers, 
LOUISVILLE, KY.