TWO YEARS EXPERIENCE
IN THE
EMPLOYMENT OF
,  MMMCT(0)-ElLE(GfWOW3
AS A
REMEDIAL AGENT
IN DISEASE.
BY DR. NELSON WALKLY,
     TUSCALOOSA, ALA.

       "T7'""> A ^<>v «■*
       Uii>j.U...j.W. -vV
    TUSKALOOSA:
PRINTED BY M. D. J. SLADE,
       1844. 
 
INTRODUCTION.
  The  following  pages contain,  as the  title  indicates,
a simple record of the effects  of magneto-electricity, as a
remedial agent in disease, during an experimental employ-
ment  of it for two years past by the author.   No argu-
ments are advanced to show the quo modo of  its action,
or upon what principle its remedial powers depend.  These
arc subjects for future  investigation,  and require for their
correct determination, a mass of evidence yet uncollected,
or, if collected, yet undigested.   It is  hoped,, however, that
the facts here detailed may aid in the solution of these pro-
blems.  It is  well known that electricity and galvanism
have long been employed by the medical profession in the
treatment of paralysis, muscular debility, amenorrhea, rheu-
matic pains, and other complaints of a similar  nature.—
They have, at different periods, excited considerable atten-
tion in the public mind, but from various causes have de-
clined in favor of other and more fashionable  remedies.
Within a few years past, their use seems to have been re-
vived, particularly in France, and many eminent physicians
have zealously applied themselves to the elucidation of the
rules which should govern us in their employment.  The
results  of their  investigations have  been  laid before the
world in the various medical publications of the day.  They
have also in their communications endeavored to lay the
claims of these agents before the profession, and have urged
not only the importance, but  the vast utility to be derived in 
U                    INTRODUCTION.
medical practice, from their application in diseases arising
from impaired nervous action.
   Magneto-electricity, however, has not until recently been
known or employed as a  remedial agent.  Only two or
three cases are on  record, or  at  least have come to my
knowledge, in which it has been used ;  but these  are suffi-
cient to demonstrate that all the arguments in favor of the      \
beneficial influence of other kinds of electricity, are. doubly
applicable  to this.  The first magneto-electrical  machine,
known or introduced into this countiy, is described in Silli-
man's American Journal, vol. xxx. p. 100, under the head of
Clark's Electro-magnetic machine.  About the time of the
first presentation of this machine to  the public, Prof. Locke
of Ohio, Dr. C. G. Page of Boston, and myself, respectively      ,
constructed ourselves one upon the same principle, but      (
very dissimilar in structure.  Since the fall of 1840,1 have
been in the almost constant use of my machine as a reme-
dial agent in disease, for which purpose it is, in its form  and
arrangement, especially adapted. In this time I have been
much more successful in the treatment of-complaints orio-i-
nating and depending upon depraved nervous action than
physicians  usually are, who confine  themselves to other
medicaments that are offered in the  materia medica, as the      '
cases submitted in this publication will, I  think, fully  sub-
stantiate.   In all these, the kind of electricity employed was
magneto-electric,* and  whenever mention is made of an
  *Note.—For machines constructed upon the principle embo-
died in that  of Clarke's, Dr. Page and others have suggested the
name of magneto-electrical,  as being  more  appropriate and to
distinguish them from those electro-magnetic machines intended
to be used as motive powers, and in which magnetism is induced
by galvanic electricity.  These  are  truly  electro magnetic.
in  machines arranged on the principle of Clarke's, however,
the reverse  is true.  In these electricity is generated from the
magnetism and is consequently magneto electric. 
INTRODUCTION.
V
application, I wish this fact to be distinctly borne in mind.
Without attempting to discuss the relative merits of the dif-
ferent forms of electricity, I will simply remark, that in my
cstimation this latter possesses advantages far more numer-
ous and superior to those of any kind known at present.  It
has all the properties common to galvanic electricity, and
by it a rapid succession of shocks, varying in intensity at
the will of the operator, can be given, or a direct unbroken
current, suitable for the  endermic introduction of remedies
into the system, when,  from  irritability  of the stomach or
other causes, this is desirable.  It is always ready, without
the trouble  of daily  preparation; is not easily deranged ;
and no atmospheric condition or  changes affect its action.
Whether it has any peculiar properties to render it superior
to, or to distinguish it from, other kinds is  not yet determined;
but we know that by means  of the magneto-electrical ma-
chine is evolved a vast amount of electricity, of high ten-
sion, under perfect control, and applicable to all cases, where
its employment is in any form indicated.  Why this agent
has heretofore been so little used, with  so great a mass of
testimony in favor of its  beneficial influence, can only be
accounted for on the  grounds of  the trouble and difficulty
of generating and applying  it according to the ordinary
modes, and  the constant liability  of the batteries and ma-
chines to become deranged.   By the invention of the mag-
neto-electrical machine,  adapted as it is to the direct applica-
tion of its power to the various forms  of disease, in such
mode, quantity or tension, as may be deemed most benefi-
cial, these objections are entirely removed ; so that it is now
in the power of every practitioner, who may desire, to em-
ploy it in all that class of disorders whose symptoms indi-
cate its use.
   To direct more attention to this subject than has hitherto 
vi                  INTRODUCTION.

been bestowed upon it in this country, to show the success
that may be rationally anticipated, the vast amount of suf-
fering that may be alleviated, and impaired health that may
readily be restored by its judicious application and combi-
nation with other remedies, I have, in the subsequent pages,
briefly enumerated the cases and results of my own limited
experience, without other comment than perhaps a passing
remark, or any claim to originality of invention or applica-
tion.  Nothing is novel except the method of generating and
applying the electricity, which, beyond all dispute, is recent
and of much practical importance.   Whether the  success
consequent upon its employment has been sufficiently abun-
dant to satisfy the expectations of the most sanguine, and to
justify the importance that I, in common with many others,
attach to it, is left  for the intelligent reader to decide upon
the perusal of the various cases here submitted.
                            NELSON  WALKLY.
  Tuscaloosa, January 4,1844. 
CASES.
  The first case which I shall mention, is that of Mr.----
This patient had suffered for a long time from a rheumatic
affection of the left eye, which had resulted in a partial
paralysis of the rectus externus muscle.  This occasioned
considerable strabismus, and the eye was also amaurotic.
April 22d,  1843,  a direct  application of electricity  was
made to the nerves, as well as the affected muscle of the
eye, and continued for three weeks,  once a day, each ap-
plication occupying about five minutes.  At the expiration
of that period, the paralyzed muscle was restored so as al-
most entirely to remove  the strabismus, and the  sight was
partially regained.*

   Case II.—Mrs. ——, a widow of nervo-bilious temper-
ament and energetic habits, was seized with an attack of
billious remittent fever in the summer of 1840, which after
a few weeks assumed an intermittent form  and  continued
with occasional intermissions until the spring of 1842.   Du-
ring the progress of  the disease, her eyes became affected,
and she suffered excruciating pains in the forehead  and in
the upper and  posterior portions of the eyeballs.   Various
remedies were resorted to, which produced temporary re-
lief;  but upon recovery from the fever, her sight gradually
failed until  almost total blindness supervened.   When I
first saw her, which was on the 10th March, 1843, the pu-
pils of her eyes were  contracted to their utmost limits appa-
  *Note.—The extreme meagreness of many of the sketches here given,
is accounted for from the fact, that, having no intention of ever making
public the cases occurring to me, I at the first only noted down a general
description of them. As my practice and success increased, I became, as
will be observed, more particular in this respect. 
8
AMAUROSIS.
rently, and she could barely discover light by turning them
directly towards  the  sun.   The cervical glands were en-
larged, and there  was a constant discharge of purulent, ir-
ritating matter kept up from the nose and eyes.  I found
her also laboring under a profuse leucorrhea and suppressed
atamenia.  Made a prescription to check  the leucorrhea]
discharge, and applied electricity to re-establish menstrual
action.   This was effected by the third application.
  From this period her general health improved rapidly,
accompanied with corresponding amendment of the eyes.
The ichorous discharge ceased  and the pupil of the right
eye began by degrees to dilate.   On the twentieth day, this
was expanded  to about half the  ordinary size, and  she
could dimly perceive  objects of some magnitude.  Five
days later she  could distinguish persons  by the color of
their hair  and  the articles  of their dress.  This improve-
ment continued gradually, so  that on the fortieth day  she
was able to count very distinctly the seams between the
layers  of bricks in  the houses across the street.  About
this period she left the place.  I was informed by her four
weeks  after her departure, that her sight was still improv-
ing.  No improvement was effected in the left eye.   I di-
lated the pupil by means of belladonna, and found the cry-
stalline lens perfectly opaque.

  Case III.—Mrs.----, aged 24 ; has been married for
three years, without  issue.  For  four  or five years has
been subject to severe dysmenorrhea and violent pains in the
head, apparently  in the frontal sinus,  or its immediate
neighborhood.   This had produced a very amaurotic con-
dition of the eyes.   By the use of actea racemosa, she suc-
ceeded in removing the pelvic and lumbar  pains at  her
monthly periods, but the other symptoms continued very 
AMAUROSIS.
9
severe and unabated.  For  the  amaurosis she applied t< >
me on the 3d September, 1843.   I  made both a general
and local application, twice  per day, for three days, when
a profuse discharge of purulent matter took place from the
nose,  and continued  at intervals  for two  days.  With the
commencement of the discharge  the pain ceased and the
sight improved.  The electricity was continued three days
longer, when she was discharged from my care entirely
cured, in which condition she still remains.
   Instances sometimes occur of partial and  even perfect
blindness resulting from injury of the supra or infra orbital
nerves, or their branches, without any apparent change in
the structure of the  eye.  In these cases Beer advises a
complete division of the injured nerve, and states that ho
has practised this  course with uniform success;  but Dr.
Hennen  and Mr Guthrie, who tried it in several instances,
failed altogether.   Mr. Hey narrates a case of amaurosis
following a wound in the forehead which was successfully
treated by electricity, and Dr. Lichtenstadt another, from
injury of the infra orbital nerve, which was similarly treat-
ed with a like happy result.   Several cases are also given
by Lawrence of  successful cures effected by the same
agent, and the endermic introduction of strichnine into the
system.  The following confirms the importance  of this
remedy in such complaints.

   Case  IV.—Mrs.----- received  a blow from  a small
bucket that a cliild of hers was  swinging  with a string,
which produced a bruise and  slightly lacerated the skin
about two inches above the right superciliary ridge and on
the course of the supra orbital nerve.   Three days  after
she found great difficulty in  defining objects with the right
eye, and  felt frequent shooting neuralgic pains through the 
10
AMENORRHEA.
affected portion of the nerve.   This condition  continued
for seven months, when I was called in.  This was on the
20th of April, 1843.  There was no perceptible  change in
the  appearance of the  eye  from that of the healthy state.
Applied electricity, with various degrees of power, every
third day, throughout the course of the wounded  nerve.
After the second application she was relieved of the neural-
gia  and able to read and sew, which she had been unable
to do from the date of the injury.   The applications wrere
continued semi-weekly for three weeks.  She was perfect-
ly cured.

  I have a record of eleven amaurotic  cases, and of these
seven  were permanently relieved, one temporarily, and
three none at all.   In those that were not benefited, appli-
cation was only  made  for  a few times, and in one these
were made but weekly.  With the knowledge I now pos-
sess of the effects of a continued and judicious use of elec-
tricity, I have no hesitancy in saying that the failure was
owing to want of perseverance in the employment of the
remedy...

                  AMENORRHEA.

  Of this complaint my  journal shows a record of forty
cases, all of which have been successfully treated by means
of electricity, and in a much shorter time than under the
usually prescribed course of medicines.  Where the sup-
pression was of  recent standing, one or two applications
just before the expected period, has generally proved effi-
cacious in removing the obstruction and inducing the dis-
charge.  This is best effected  by passing  a rapid  succes-
sion of shocks through the uterus, until pain is felt in the 
AMENORRHEA.
11
lumbar region, and this is induced in from two to five min-
utes by placing the negative electrode directly above the
pubes and the positive to the spinal nerves of  the  lower
lumbar vertebrae.   The same object is, however, attained
by placing one  conductor in a warm bath with the feet of
the patient, and the other to the back of the neck, or it may
even be held in the hands ; but in this manner longer ap-
plications are required, which in persons of plethoric habit
produce  considerable  soreness of the muscles  from the
spasmodic action caused by the shocks, and the discharge
is not so speedily established.   It has been objected, that
electricity would be much more likely to do injury, by pro-
ducing abortion,  in those cases  where  a natural  cause
might exist for the  suppression of the catamenia than the
usual remedies that are so often, and so ineffectually I may
add, prescribed. I have, however, within the past year made
application for several weeks in three cases where the sup-
pression  proved to  arise  from  pregnancy,  without the
slightest injurious effects being observed.   These  were vi-
gorous, healthy negro girls and  possibly different results
might have been produced upon pregnant white women of
delicate health and excitable temperament.   Still I have
never known any injurious results to  ensue from its em-
ployment in any case, unless there existed acute inflamma-
tion, which it  seems to increase, or from an excessive and
unwarrantable length of application,  as  in the instance of
Mr. ----,  described  under  the  head  of  apoplexy.—
Where uterine derangement is occasioned or attended with
prolapsus, and inflammatory symptoms, no relief may be
expected from this agent until these symptoms are reduced
by other remedies.   This being effected, I have employed
it with great success  in restoring strength and muscular
power to .the  debilitated and partially paralyzed parts.— 
12
AMENORRHEA.
No pain or injury will result from a direct application per
vagina, though this mode is rarely, if ever, necessary, ex-
cept in some obstmate cases of leucorrhea;  but when thus
applied, its effects  are most salutary.   In cases attended
with chlorosis, the remedial effects of electricity seem much
increased by an exhibition of such tonics as are calculated
to improve and strengthen the nutritive  powers of the sys-
tem.  Its action will be best illustrated  and understood by
a perusal of the following cases.

  CASE V.—A young lady, 17 years  of age, attended a
ball in a light thin  dress, on the night of the 8th January,
1842, and during the period of her monthly course.   The
evening was damp and rainy, and the exposure brought on
a violent cold,  attended with cough, which immediately
checked the catamenial discharge and confined her to her
room for several weeks.   On the  approach  of spring,  her
cough abated, and her health so much improved that  she
commenced attending school.   She soon found, however,
that  the confinement of her sight to a  book produced an
acute pain in her forehead, and this became at length in-
supportable whenever she  looked at any  object intently.
On the 25th May I was called in.  Her sight was then so
enfeebled, that all objects appeared to her as if they were
enveloped in^a thin mist.   The menses  had  not  returned
since the night of her exposure, her bowels were much con-
stipated, and the digestive functions considerably impaired.
Prescribed the following mixture: Tinct. Apocynum, 4 oz.,
Tinct. Sanguinarii, 1 oz.; dose, a teaspoonful, 3 times  per
day, before eating.   Applied electricity through the system
for five minutes at each application, (semi-weekly,) and re-
commended daily moderate exercise in the open air.  The
catamenia made its appearance on the sixth application.— 
AMENORRHEA.
13
Th's was followed up by directly applying the same agent
to the frontal nerves, as described in amaurosis, daily for one
woek, wh.ch entirely remaved the cephalalgia and restored
her s.ght.   Her subsequent health has been  uniformly
good.

  CASE VI.—Was  a young lady, aged 13; has  never
menstruated, but instead is subject to a cutaneous eruption
every fourth week.   This commenced three  years smce,
and usually continues from four to six days.   Has  had an
ep lept c attack, occasioned by a sudden d.sappearance of
the eruption from the use  of cold appl cations, and also a
c'nroal nff ct.on of the  left s.de from a sim.lar cause.—
M ty  llth;  commenced the dady use of electricity, by  pla-
cing her feet m a vessel of warm water w.th one conduc-
tor and apply.ng the other to the nerves proceed ng from
the fir^t and second lumbar vertebrae.   Th.s was four days
previous to the usual appearance  of the eruption.   The
fourth application was followed by the menstrual discharge
in the place of  the hab.tual cutaneous affection.   No pain
of the back preceded  its appearance.  S.nce then her gen-
eral health  has been good and her periods regular.

  CASE VII.—Miss -----, aged  13;  was called to visit
her the  20th September, 1843 ; found she had been attack-
ed w.th intermittent fever  in May  preceding, from which
she recovered upon the application of the usual mode of
treatment.   S.nce  then, however,  she has suffered from
aim >st constant pain in the lumbar region, and was subject
to frequent fa ntings, especially up an s.tting in an upright
posture for any length of time.  The catamenia had never
made their appearance, and she was very pale and much
debditated.  On ascertaining  these  facts, I  immediately
                                             2 
14
AMENORRHEA.
applied electricity through the system, daily, for two weeks,
which prevented the  recurrence of the lipothymiae and
induced the menstrual discharge.  There has been no re-
turn of the symptoms before complained of, and she is in
excellent health.

  CASE VIII.—A colored woman, aged 23 ; stout,  short
and of plethoric habit; has suffered from irregular menstru-
al action for several years.  Digestion bad,  and is habitu-
ally subject to severe  cephalalgia and vertigo.  April 11th,
applied electricity  through the  system, and  made  the fol-
lowing  prescription:  R. Pulv. Ipecac,  Pulv. Charcoal,
a a 40 grains, honey  q.  s. pil. xl; take one 10 minutes be-
fore each meal, increasing the dose by an additional pill
each succeeding week.  14th. Repeated the shocks through
the system, in rapid succession, and as severe as the patient
could endure, until perspiration was produced.  This was
continued every third day, until the 21st, when the menses
appeared of a proper  character and quantity, and four days
sooner than had been  usual in a healthy state.  The cepha-
lalgia and vertigo  ceased from  the second application, and
her digestion is improved.  Continued the prescription &c.
until May 18th. her second period, when she expressed her-
self as being perfectly well.   She has had no diminution of
health since, and the catamenia  is regular.
   CASE IX.—A negro girl, 11 years of age; has  never
menstruated more than two or three times.  During the last
period, two years since, she took cold from exposure, which
entirely  suppressed the  catamenia, and she  has ever since
been subject to wandering rheumatic pains ; at first  in the
acute form, but these  have gradually subsided into the chro-
nic.  Upon the clavicle, the anterior portion of the  tibias,
the radius and ulna  of both arms, where these pains are 
ANGINA PECTORIS.
15
most generally felt, nodes of considerable size have formed.
August 10th, 1843, made 4 successive applications through
the whole system, in as many days, which completely re-
moved the rheumatic affection.   Prescribed hydriodate of
potassa, 2 drachms; syrup sarsaparilla, 8 oz. misce; dose, a
table spoonful, to be taken three times a day  before meals,
and continued the electricity for eighteen days, when the
catamenia appeared.   She left apparently cured, and has
had no irregularity or pains since, and the nodes have nearly
disappeared.
   A  farther examination of these cases is needless, from
their great similarity.   Instances of this affection are chiefly
confined to  the females of our colored population, owing to
their  ignorance upon  the subject and almost  constant ex-
posure.  In these cases a direct application has been made
to the lumbar and pubic region, and with much speedier
success than by other modes.

                ANGINA PECTORIS.

   A  few cases have  occurred  in my practice resembling
 angina pectoris.   They were  rather mild than otherwise,
 and I leave the reader to  decide upon the peculiar nature
 and classification of the complaints, if he shall, after under-
 standing the symptoms, feel doubtful of their present assign-
 ment.

   CASE X.—This was a young  lady, aged 17.   In  the
 summer of 1841, she had a severe attack of congestive fe-'
 ver, from  which  she had partially recovered, when from
 imprudence she relapsed.   As it was late  in the fall, the
 fever assumed a typhoid character, from which she did not
 entirely recover until the succeeding spring.   Shortly after, 
16
ANGINA PECTORIS.
upon any unusual exertion, she experienced an acute pain
just below the left mamma and  extending up to the shoul-
der of that side, attended by a sense of stricture and great
oppression of the chest.  These attacks were so severe as
to cause her, if she was walking, to stop perfectly still until
the pain and  oppression of the thorax ceased, and this was
invariably followed by a pricking sensation down the under
side of the left arm, and a numbness of  the  little  finger.
No palpitations or other hysterical symptoms were present,
except the oppression, and the complaint had continued for
eighteen months, with increasing severity of the symptoms.
Aside from this, her general health was good.  During one
of the attacks, I made application of magneto-electricity, by
placing one electrode upon the seat of the spasmodic stric-
ture and the other  to the lower cervical vertebrae, which
afforded almost instantaneous relief.  Afterwards, for two
weeks, daily applications  were made by changing the  elec-
trode  from the neck to the left hand.  The first application
was on the 8th July, 1843, and no other remedy was cm-
ployed.  She has had no return of the affection.

  CASE XL—A gentleman, aged 55,  of an arthritic hab-
it, and in his  younger days well versed in the qualities of
different liquors, came to  me, three months since, complain-
ing of a suffocating sensation, attended with severe pain in
the left side  whenever he attempted to walk fast, and espe-
cially up an ascent.  This prevented him frcm riding on
horseback, and when exercising he was seldom free  from
pain in the  side, though much  less  acute  than under the
circumstances above mentioned.  Applied electricity, as in
the case above, and relieved him for  the day ; but  the last
symptom returned the next  morn ng, and was removed as
before.   His business requiring ks  presence, he left that 
APOPLEXY.
17
day, and has only experienced a few slight symptoms of
the complaint since.

   CASE XII.—Was a woman of a robust form  and a
vigorous const.tution, and at the time of the affection was
nursing her  filth child.  This patient complained of feeling
a sharp pain d.rectly under the left breast  upon walking
fast or  making any uncommon exertion.   The pain was
so acute as  to cause her to drop whatever she held in her
hands at the time, and to involuntarily clasp  them upon
the seat of pain untd the paroxysm passed off.  There was
no dyspnoea present and  but  slight palp.tation.  General
health apparently good.  Electr.c ty was employed once
per day, tor four days, by apply ng one canductor to the
nerves  of the lower cervical  vertebrae and the other to
those of the n nth and tenth dorsal on the affected side.—
The first appl cation produced immediate relief.  The rem-
edy was d scont nued on the fourth day, and there has been
no return of the paroxysms.  I have successfully treated
several cases of th.s latter kind in women disposed to hys-
teria.

                    APOPLEXY.

   There has occurred to me no opportunity for testing the
merits of electric ty in a stroke of  th s d.sease.  The only
one that makes any approaches towards it, is the following
 case of paralyses  resulting from it.
   CASE XIII.—Mr.---- of Wetumpka, aged about 35,
 of plethoric habit and very short  neck.   Four years since
 he  had a  stroke of apoplexy.  By prompt antiphlogistic
 treatment h.s Lfe was saved; but h.s lower extremities
 were left entirely paralyzed.  Alter a long course of med-
                                            2* 
16
APOPLEXY.
ical treatment, he  obtained a slight control over the right
leg, and there was partial sensation in the left only.   Thin
he could not  raise from the floor, but managed to move
from one place to another by the aid of a crutch and a tri-
pedal staff.  He was brought to me for the application of
electricity on the 1st September last.   I found him troubled
with indigestion and cephalalgia for some hour or two after
eating.   He had an inordinate appetite, and no entreaties
could induce him to forego its gratification.  This evident-
ly was one, if not the principal, cause of his situation.  To
obviate this I prescribed, in connexion with electricity, small
doses of ipecac and charcoal, ten minutes before eating.—
This checked the unnatural craving and removed the symp-
toms of indigestion and also the cephalalgia.  He remained
a month without much apparent improvement.   He, how-
ever, declared he was much stronger and his faith was so
much increased by its effects, that he procured a machine
to use  on his return home.   On his departure,  I gave him
specific directions in reference to  the subsequent applica-
tion of electricity,  that he should  omit it  in case of febrile
or cerebral excitement, and the precautions to be observed
in order to prevent another apoplectic attack.
  He wrote me on the 1st November, stating that he was
much improved, could ride  very   well on horseback, and
that sensation was  nearly restored to one leg  and  motion
without sensation to the  other.  On the  25th  November,
while laboring under an  attack of influenza, he exercised
much more than usual, rode abont considerably  in superin-
tending some drays, and  at night ate a hearty supper, which
produced a return of his  cephalalgia.  To remove this
acute pain, contrary to my directions, he applied electricity
directly to his head and   continued it for nearly an hour.
If he was not deUrious  when he  commenced making the 
ASTHMA.
19
application, he was upon its discontinuance.   A physician
was immediately sent for, who found him raving, pulse very
quick and strong, breathing hurried,  and eyeballs starting
almost from their  sockets.  Bleeding him twice very ex-
tensively reduced  his  pulse and corrected the delirium ;
but his body was found completely paralyzed from below
the dorsal vertebrae.   The next day, the  physician finding
he had passed no urine, proposed the  use of the catheter;
but he was obstinate in his refusal, though admonished of
the probable consequences.  From some cause, fbrgetful-
ness, distrust, or ignorance of its precise effects, no applica-
tion of electricity  was made.   On the fourth day, when
symptoms of inflammation wore apparent to his own sen-
sations, he permitted the  catheter to be used.  A large
quantity of urine, mingled with blood^and pus,  followed its
introduction, mortification ensued and  he died upon the 1st
of December.   These  last circumstances were detailed to
me by the physician in attendance, Dr. Penick.   Comment
is unnecessary.

                      ASTHMA.

   I have had but one opportunity of testing the benefits of
magneto-electricity in  this complaint.  I have, however,
learned from Dr. F. L. Merriwether, of Greene County, to
whom I furnished a machine, that he has successfully treat-
ed  two very obstinate  cases of long standing by its means.
The following is a  sketch of the one that occurred to me.

   CASE XIV.—Mr.---, aged about 28, called on me
November 1st, 1843, whilst laboring under a severe attack
of spasmodic asthma.   His pulse was feeble and intermit-
ting every sixth pulsation; eyes protruding;  anxious, hag- 
20
ASTHMA.
gard look ; and could with difficulty speak so as to be un-
derstood.   He had labored under this complaint for many
years and the attacks had  become very frequent.  Almost
every exposure, change of  weather, &c, were liable to pro-
duce paroxysms wh.ch usually lasted for several days.
  I applied electr.c.ty first through h s system, to rectify
the intermittent state  of the pulse.   Th.s  was effected in
about three minutes.   I then placed the pos.tve electrode
upon the spinal or'g'n of tiie nerves passing to the thoracic
cav ty, and the other along  the edge oi the d aphragm below
the sternum, and passed a rap d success on of shocks for
three  m nutcs longer, which had the c filet to produce copi-
ous pci sp.rat.on, relieve the difficulty m talk ng and the an-
xious expression of countenance.
  November 2nd.—-"Found this morn'ng he had rested well
during the n ght, which is very unusual, though the affect .on
stdl cont.nues, but much reduced .n violence.  Repeated the
electr.c.ty, chang ng the negative conductor to the hollow
of the neck above the sternum; and also m the evtnng,
when I ascertained the asthma had ceased s nee the morn-
ing.   From this time daily  apphcations  were  made until
the 18th, without any  symptoms of ts return.  I heard trom
him a few days snee, and  although he was labor ng under
a severe cold, he had  as yet had no recurrence of the com-
plaint, wh.ch formerly v.s.ted him upon all such occasions.
  In one other instance m  wh ch I made a s.ngle appl ca-
tion, the  result was unknown to me  until alter wr^t ng the
above.  It is deserving not ce, and I therefore append ,t.—
Mrs.----, applied to me for an apple iLon of electr city
for a  rheumatic affection,  as she was pass ng through the
city on the 3rd of October  last.  Th s was confined chiefly
to the shoulder.  She was also at the same t me suffering
from a spasmodic asthma, which she informed me had exist- 
GUOREA.
21
ed for two years past. ' For this, as well as the rheumatism,
I made a particular application, as in case xiv, w.thout ap-
parent benefit.  As she was also laboring under indigestion
and other dispeptic symptoms, I prescribed for her a mixture
of tinct. apocyuum and syrup of sarsaparilla, each 4 ounces,
with  directions to  take a teaspoonful ten minutes before
each meal.  Saw nothing more of her until  the first week
of December,  when she called again and informed me that
the asthmatic  affection ceased a few hours after the appli-
cation, and  had never made its  appearance since.  Her
rheumatism had also left, and her health was excellent.

                     . CHOREA.

   I have treated eleven cases of this  disease, all of winch
were cured, with  a single exception.  No  other remedy
than electricity was used, except occasional aperients.   Of
the ten cured, seven were females under sixteen years of
age.  The remaining one was benefitted to a considerable
extent, as the following sketch of his case will show.

   CASE XV.—A negro boy, 18 years of age, large, stout,
and  healthy looking; has a choreal affection of his  entire
left side, very much impairing speech and  locomotion.—
When awake  the muscles of the deranged side of the face
and neck are contracted, so as to  flex  his head towards the
shoulder and distort his features.  The hand and forearm
are spasmodically coded upwards towards the axdla,and are
perfectly useless.  Has a partial control of the leg and walks
 with  an awkward and ludicrous  jerk.  This has been  his
condition since an infant, and is now supposed to have been
induced by  the recession of an erysipelatous or syphilitic
eruption that covered him at  his birth.  I made daily ap- 
22
CHOREA.
plications to the affected parts for six weeks, with gradual
improvement.   The distortion  of his face  and wry  neck
were removed,  his speech and gait greatly improved, and
he so far obtained the control of his arm as to straighten it
out at will, and to use it to a considerable extent in cutting
wood, carrying water, &c.  During the last eight or ten
days of his stay, his improvement seemed to remain station-
ary, and thinking it might benefit him to work moderately,
I sent him to his master.   He remained in the  same  state
apparently for two months after this, when he was attacked
with a billions fever, and during its course the chorea seem-
ed as bad as ewr ; but during his convalescence the affect-
ed parts broke out thickly with small biles  and he was then
fast improving.  I have not since heard from him.

   CASE XVI.—Miss----, aged about 14, was attacked
with chorea of the right side in August, 1842.  It was sup-
posed to have been occasioned by fatigue, consequent upon
watching in a sick family, and was of a very annoying char-
acter.  It was impossible for her  to keep the affected side
and  limbs quiet in any  position when awake, though the
spasmodic action was not unusually violent.  On the first
of October, I commenced the employment of electricity,
and continued it with but little success for twelve days.   A
marked amendment then ensued, which was  maintained
until the  18th, when she was  dismissed from my charge
entirely recovered.

   CASE XVII.—Mr.----,  aged about 25, called on  mc
April 1st, 1843, for a choreal affection of the right arm and
side  of the  face.  These parts were unaffected with any
involuntary action, unless he attempted to speak or was
laboring under  some excitement, when they immediately 
DEAFNESS.
23
became uncontrollable.   Semi-weekly applications were
made in this case for three weeks, which removed the com-
plaint, and there has been no subsequent recurrence.

  CASE XVIII.—Was a lad about  seven years  of age;
had a choreal affection of the left side, which had continued
for two months.   The affected limbs  were in  constant mo-
tion, and the face was occasionally contorted.  The disease
was apparently caused from an excessive growth.  Elec-
tricity was applied daily to the choreal side for one week,
commencing on the 27th June, 1843.  The first three days
he seemed to get worse, and his  parents became much
alarmed at the increased rapidity of the spasmodic action ;
but after this he amended very rapidly.   The second week
application was made only on alternate days, at the end of
which he was discharged from my care  entirely cured, at
least there has been no relapse since.

  Electricity was also employed in a case not  considered
among the eleven above mentioned.   This was a lad about
eight years old, a patient of Dr. II. 's of this city.   The usual
remedies had been prescribed by him  for  two  weeks previ-
ous without effect, and these were continued until the com-
pletion of the cure.  The lad evinced  no improvement until
the third days  use of the  machine, from which time he
amended rapidly, and was dismissed cured  on the tenth
clay.   The case  was of recent standing.

                    DEAFNESS.

   Of seventeen cases of this affection, in which I have em-
ployed electricity, eight were relieved entirely.   The others
appeared to  derive no benefit  from its use, except in two 
24
DEAFNESS.
instances, where a slight improvement was manifest.  Those
cured were mostly affected in a smilar manner, With the cases
described below.

  CASE XIX.—Mr.----,aged about 28.  This patient
herd an attack of billious fever m the fall of 1838.   Hemi-
plegia  of  the left  side followed h.s  recovery from th.s dis-
ease.   By jud cious treatment,  he  was in a few  months
cured of the paralysis,  With the exception of the aud.tory
nerves of that  side.  The left ear cont.nued perfectly deaf
up to the time  of his appl cation to me, and there was also
entre loss  of all sensation in the meatus cxternus.  On the
2( th September, 1842,1 made a d rcct application of electri-
city, by moans  of a piece of wet sponge  introduced into the
external or dice of the ear.  Appaix ntly but Lttle effect was
produced from the application, which was made in the even-
ing ; but the next morn.ng he called upon me w.th h.s hear-
ing perfectly restored, in whxh condition it remans at pre-
sent.

  CASE XX.—Mrs.----, aged about 36, has  for several
years been deaf in the left ear.   The organ has been unable
to djst.nguish any  sound farther  than a constant roaring,
which  in addit.on  to the loss of hearing was excessively
annoying.   Marcli 12th, 1843,1 examined the ear and found
the meatus cxternus presenting a dry,desquamating surface,
and  devoid  of any secretion of wax.   Electricity was
passed through the organ by means of a moist inserted
sponge., for about two minutes, without perceptible improve-
ment.  The next morning, however, I discovered  a slight
secretion of wax,  and on putting a watch to the ear,  the
patent was sensble of the tick.   The remedy was  contin-
ued for three days, when a copious secretion was induced, 
DEAFNESS.
25
and the functions of the  organ entirely restored, in which
state it yet remains.

  CASE  XXL—Mrs.----, in the fall of 1840, had an at-
tack of billious intermittent fever, recovery from which was
followed with deafness  in both ears.   December 23d, 1842,
she called on me for atrial of electr.c.ty.   I  made a  direct
application to the auditory nerves, twice a week for three
months, which gradually restored the organs to their heal-
thy state.   This continued until September,  1843, when,
from another attack of fever she again became deaf.  She
has been for a  short time past under electrical treatment,
and her gradual improvement now indicates  an  entire  re-
covery  in a few weeks.

   In those instances in which I made an unsuccessful em-
ployment of this remedy, there were impediments that did
not exist in the eight that were cured.  For instance, some
were seemingly the result of old age and  some had existed
for twenty  years.  Others were caused by pressure upon
branches  of the auditory nerves from a swelling or enlarge-
ment of the cervical glands, or a scrofulous  affection of the
tympanum and meatus auditorious.   In two instances that
were particularly examined, the Eustachian tube was found
closed and resisted all efforts made with a view to re-estab-
lish the  communication.  In the scrofulous patients tempo-
rary relief was gained, but this was destroyed upon the first
exposure.   It is proper to state that in all these cases, except
one, the remedy was only employed for  a  few days, and
was discontinued then at  the wish of the patients, owing to
their want of confidence in its virtues. I do not, therefore,
consider that its powers were fairly tested, though the results
might have been the same if it had.   If, however, it can be
                                             3 
26
DYSMENORRHEA.
made efficacious in restoring lost hearing under any circum-
stances, as I have shown it has been, the fact is most valu-
able and cannot fail of being improved by the profession.

                DYSMENORRHEA.*

  In no complaint that has fallen under my treatment, has
electricity proved more successiul than in tins.  Nor is there
any remedy in  the materia med.ca, to winch fi male s  may
resort With greater faith, or physicians apply w.th more
certainty in its results.  True, the state of seme  patents is
often such as  to require a sl.ght preparatory treatment be-
fore this agent can exert its full beneficial  power; but this
condition may be easily ascertained by ord nary cllc-nt.cn
on the part of the pract.tionc r, and  the  proper means  em-
ployed to prepare  the system for  its jud.c.ons cxlub.t en.—
Twenty-two cases have  happened  in my pract.ee dur.ng
the last  two years, which have been treated successfully m
the manner described  in the following instances.

  CASE XXII.—Mrs.-----, aged 24, of a sanguine billious
temperament, has been married for five years without off-
spring.   Has suffered greatly  for six years past wlh dys-
menorrhea.  Her  health has gradually failed ; is troubled
with leucorrhea, and is much debilitated.  March 13th, 1843,
commenced a general application of electric.ty, upon alter-
nate days, and prescribed of solution Iodide Fern, ten drops

  *The  removal of amenorrhea  or dysmenorrhea, in several
instances that have occurred under my practice, where die pa-
tients had been married for several years without issue, has
been almost immediately followed up by the condition of preg-
nancy, and this too when the cause  of the previous sterility was
entirely unsuspected. 
DYSMENORRHEA.
27
twice a day.   This course  was continued for two weeks,
when the catamenia appeared, but still painful, though much
less so than formerly. Discontinued the solution, from the ir-
ritable' state of the stomach, kept up by it.  Directed the
occas.onal  use of Sup. Tart. Pot. and Jalep, in  small doses,
to prevent constipation, and continued the electricity semi-
weekly, until the 20th of April.   The menses then  made
their healthy appearance, unattended with any dysmenor-
rhea! symptoms.   Her general health was also much amen-
ded, and I ceased my visits.   She has continued to improve
in health, and has had no recurrence of the dysmenorrhea
since.

   CASE XXIII.—Miss----, aged 16; was called to see
 lur on the  22d of May last, and found her suffering acutely
 from this complaint, it being her usual period.   This had
 been the case during the three  previous occasions.   Her
 general health good.  Placed the patients feet in a  warm
 bath with the positive electrode and applied the other to the
 lumbar nerves, and continued the application for five  min-
 utes, with much mitigation of the pain, which entirely ceased
 in about six  hours.  No other application was made, nor
 has there been any necessity for it since.

    CASE  XXIV.—Mrs-----, has been married five years
 and is the mother of two children.  From some circum-
 stance an  abortion was produced  sometime  in  the- fall  of
  1842.   Menstruation returned two months afterwards, but
  attended with most excruciating pains in the lumbar region,
  which she declared were worse than those of labour.   This
  happened for three successive periods, when her attending
  physician, being unable to afford her any relief, recommend-
  ed electricity.   On the 18th of April, the day before her 
28
DYSMENORRHEA.
usual period, I made a general application, which induced
an immediate  return of the dysmenorrheal symptoms, but
with great mitigation of their severity during the discharge.
During the following week, however, I was called in tigain
and  found her suffering from violent rheumatism, as she
termed it, in the soles of her feet.   For. this I applied elec-
tricity for five days, as usual, ineffectually.   Being satisfied
that  there existed some cause  for this obstinacy, other than
ordinary, I made more particular enquiry into the  case, and
suggested to the family practitioner that there  might be  a
pressure  upon  some  of the nervous twigs of the sciatic
plexus, arising from a prolapsus, which would  account for
the obstinate neuralgic affection.  Upon examination this
proved to be the case, and upon the introduction  of a pes-
sary, the rheumatism instantly ceased, nor has she  since had
any  symptoms of it or of dysmenorrhea.

  CASE XXV.—Miss----, aged 17, has labored  under
violent dysmenorrheal symptoms for thirteen months past.
These have been so severe as to confine her to her bed at
least five days  each period, and the discharge has been much
coagulated and stinted in quantity;  has resorted to various.
remedies for relief,  but hitherto ineffectually.  On the 22nd
of April,  1843, electricity  was applied as  in case twenty-
third, during the first day of her period, which relieved her
in about eight  minutes, and the discharge took  place freely
and continued  without farther pain.  Electricity  was con-
tinued for the three succeeding days and then omitted until
the 17th  of May, when I again called and resumed it thro'
the whole system only.  The catamenia appeared on the
following day  of a healthy character and without pain.—
There has since been no occasion for its employment. 
DYSMENORRHEA.
29
  CASE XXVI.—Miss----, aged 30, has suffered from
painful menstruation for several years;  complains of an al-
most constant dull aching pain in the small of the back.—
June 3d, 1843, for the  relief of this, made six applications
ineffectually.   Upon more particular enquiry,found she was
subject to habitual constipation.  To remedy this prescribed
a mixture of tinct. sem. colchici, 2 ounces; tinct. apocyni, 4
ounces; a teaspoonful to be taken three times a day, alter-
nating every three days, and discontinued the electricity.
The daily use of this was, however, resumed on the 28th,
and on the 1st of June the menses appeared without any
dysmenorrheal affection.   The further application  of  the
remedy was omitted, nor has there occurred any occasion
for its use since.

   CASE XXVII.—Mrs.----, aged 28.   This patient has
labored under painful menstruation for ten years.  She has
been  married seven years and as yet has no issue.  For
several years- past she has been confined at her regular  pe-
riods for several days, with excessive  pain in the lumbar  ;*
region and a most acute cephalalgia; and this last symptom
has frequently continued from one period  to another. Du-
ring the last two years she has been affected with leucor-
rhea, indigestion, and  almost habitual  constipation.  Has
been  for long  periods under medical treatment, without
obtaining any thing more than a slight temporary relief.—
She applied to me on the 1st of September, 1843.   Upon
ascertaining her situation, for the purpose of strengthening
the nervous and nutritive systems, and to remove the  ce-
phalalgia and constipation, I applied electricity through  the
whole system daily, for ten minutes each application, and
prescribed the following pill, to be  taken daily also, Oxid<
 Silver, Sulphate Quinine, Extr. Apocynum, each 20 grain.
                                            3* 
30
EPILEPSY.
ft. pil. xx, with Conserv. Roses.  September 3d, found her-
self free from the cephalalgia and leucorrhea subsiding.—
From this  until  the 25th, she continued to amend rapidly,
when the catamenia made its regular appearance unatten-
ded with any painful symptoms; whereupon the electricity
was discontinued.   Her health has remained unimpaired,
in every respect, since.

                     EPILEPSY.

  Seven cases of this terrible disease have occurred in my
last two years experience.   Four of  these were perma-
nently cured, apparently, and the others were temporarily
relieved.  A complete cure in all of these last, except one,
I am satisfied might have been effected, had they only  re-
mained and persisted in the use of the remedy.  The results
are sufficient to  show that it has control  of all ordinary
cases of this disease.  Those of long stand ng, or depend-
ant upon organic disease oi the brain or skuil, are but little
affected by it, and are pr.dia.bly hopeless under any treat-
ment.

  CASE XXVIII.—Was  a bright, nervous look ng lad,
about 9 years old; has been subject to ep.lopsy tor two
months  past; has often  bed as many as eight or ten fits a
day.  Has been -.aider the  care of a regular phys cian  for
sometmo, who has oxubtoei  the usual remod.es for the
compla nt, and particularly anthelmintics, w thout affording
any re 1 of.   Apid 3eL I c acme need making stmi-dady ap-
plications of electr.c.ty.  Ait r the second  eky he had one
or two spasms dady, s,» s. giit s not to impa r lis cemscious-
ness.  Un tho fifth, h  m.^soe! those; but on the e ghth day,
from a quarrel with ,m tuer lad oi the street, he had  a vio- 
EPILEPSY.
31
lent fit.   He  remained one day longer, when his parents
left.   I learned that for two weeks afterwards he had occa-
sional, though mild, spasms;  but at the expiration of this pe-
riod they entirely ceased.

  CASE XXIX.—H----,  a negro woman, 24 years of
age; stout, plethoric, and apparently very healthy, with the
exception of  being subject to  epileptic fits   These have
existed now  for seventeen years.  When first attacked,
they were frequent and irregular; but, upon her arriving at
puberty, they assumed the  catamenial period, and so contin-
ued until three years since, when they began to appear very
violently every two weeks, and  this character  they have
since maintained.  She has also been subject to very severe
dysmenorrhea for  several  years.  On the 8th of December,
1842, the day before the usual epileptic fit, I  applied elec-
tricity through her whole  system; but without  preventing
the attack.   The remedy was continued each alternate  day
during this  month.  One  fit happened on the 10th;  but
from this she was free until the 2d of March ensuing, when
she experienced a  series of five or six fits  in three days.—
Suspecting, from her appearance, that this attack was occa-
sioned by the presence of worms, I administered, in connec-
tion with electricity, an anthelmentic, which brought away
large quantities of ascaris lumbricoides.  The electricity
was  continued tri-weekly  for a fortnight.  She was after
this hired out to work upon a plantation  and sent to the
country.   She continued free from the epilepsy for several
months;  but, from excessive labor and exposure, it again
returned.  A physician was called in, who administered the
usual remedies for the complaint, but without any success
when I last heard  from her.   I may remark that previous
to being  placed  under my charge,  she had been sent to 
32
HYSTERIA.
Charleston and Augusta, where she had been under medical
treatment without experiencing any relief whatever.  Her
dysmenorrhea was removed during the first employment
of electricity.

  CASE XXX.—Mr.----, aged about 19, of an apoplec-
tic form, applied to me in June, 1842, for epilepsy.  Had
been accustomed to have fits about every two weeks, or if
delayed beyond that period, he had  an almost constant,
dull, heavy pain in the back of his head, and occasionally
shooting acutely to the eyeballs.  He informed me that he
had been under the care of Dr. Jackson of Boston, for two
months previous, without being at all relieved.  I applied
electricity through his system and each of his limbs, in suc-
cession, which entirely removed the cephalalgia.  As  his
digestive organs were somewhat impaired, I prescribed a
pill containing a grain of ipecac and half a  grain quinine,
to be taken directly before eating.  After the  lapse of a
week he left, having experienced no indications of a return
of the disease, nor has he in any manner since.

  The case of the negro woman before cited, was the most
severe  and obstinate of any that came under my treatment.
The others who, like her, were temporarily benefitted, have
from similar  causes relapsed.   Proper care  and a farther
continuance of the remedy, I am confident, would  have
proved as successful in their cases as in the others.

                    HYSTERIA.

  In this disease, as will be seen below, my experience has
been extremely  limited, yet as a vast  proportion of  the
cases which  I have observed in the course of my life, have 
HYSTERIA.
-33
been  attended  with uterine derangement, and all are evi-
dently dependant upon a vitiated condition of some portion
of the nervous system^ I have no hesitancy in avowing
my entire confidence in the ability of magneto-electricity,
judiciously employed, to effect in most, if not in all instan-
ces, a complete cure.   The following embodies my experi-
ence.

  CASE XXXI.—Mrs.----, aged 24, has been married
five years and  in tills time has given birth to two children,
From the birth of tho younger, more than two years since,
she ha.s been subject to frequent attacks of hysteria in all
its protean forms.   November 13th, 1842, I was called in,
and found her in the following situation: she was confined
to her bed, with a large blister drawn upon the lumbar re-
gion,  very excitable, and averring she had the congestive
lover;  had suff red much during the day from palpitation
of the heart, the cessation of which had"been succeeded-by
severe abdominal pulsatiems.  I ascertained that menstrua-
tion had been  from before the first appearance of these
symptoms  exceedingly irregular, and had  only  occurred
then from the use of medicine, and  of very scant quantity.
Also, that the hysterical symptoms were generally confined
to the usual catamenial period, or were greatly aggravated
by it, and that suppression had now existed for about seven
weeks;  her bowels  were also in a very irregular, but gen-
erally a constipated state.   Applied electricity through her
system  until  copious  perspiration  was  produced, which
required about  four minutes time.   This quieted her nerv-
ous irritability and she soon fell into a profound sleep, not
having had any before in the last forty-eight hours.   Nov-
ember 14th. The patient rested well during the night, is
free from any appearance of hysteria, pulse weak and ir- 
34
HYSTERIA.
regular, and she feels very weak and debilitated.  Prescri-
bed of the following mixture,* comp. syr. sarsaparilla, tinct.
apocynum, each 4 ounces, hydriodate potassa, ii drs.—one
drachm to be taken just before eating each meal.   Repea-
ted electricity, and as the catamenia had not  appeared, di-
rected it directly through the pelvis.  This, however, hap-
pened during the night.   I made one other visit and found
her entirely relieved.   She has remained well since.

   CASE XXXII.—Mrs. ----, aged  about 45, has  for
many  years labored  under  a complication  of disorders,
chiefly of a nervous character; has been treateel for hyste-
ria, prolapsus uteri, and during the time has continued to be
subject to gastralgia, indigestion, and other dyspeptic symp-
toms.  I was called to visit her April 1st, 1843.  She was
then suffering from the last named and excruciating uterine
neuralgia, attended with  active synocha.  I immersed the
patient's  feet in a  warm  saline bath, containing one con-
ductor ancl applied the other to the spinal origin of the ute_
rine nerves.   The electricity  was  continued for five min.
utes with great mitigation of the symptoms.  This opera.
tion was repeated  semi-weekly for three weeks, and, with.
out the aid of other remedies, appeared to remove her ano.
malous nervous affection, and with  most decided improve.

  * The professional reader may smile, perhaps, at the fre-
quent prescription of the components of the above mixture, and
from their simplicity may  inquire wherein their great virtues
consist.   In answer, my only reply is, that these simple ingre-
dients have proved more efficacious, in my experience, as adju-
vants to electricity, than any others I  have employed.   As the
tincture of apocynum is not usually found in the shops, and is
of variable strength, I will state that I have made it by combi-
ning a pound of the recent  root, pulverized or ground, with a
gallon of spirits.. 
HYSTERIA,
35
ment of her general health.  On the 10th of December
following, however, I was again sent for, and found  her
troubled with a severe neuralgia  of the left supra orbital
■nerve, attended with  other  symptoms resembling  angina
pectoris, though they  had been considered hystcrcal—for
instance, she had  a pamful stricture of the a3sophagus, op-
pression of the chest, dyspnoea, and  occas.onal pans shoot-
ing from the cardiac reg.on to the left shoulder.   Her at-
tending phys.cian had proscribed  frequent and full dose s of
morphine, wh ch  had kept her stomach m an irritable con-
dition  and nauseated.  I made tho usual application to the
cerebral and dorsal nerves, With but l.ttle mitgat on of those
symptoms,  except remov.ng the sesophageal stricture.—
I) comber 9th. Found her  vom.ting  tins morning.   She
had taken a dose of charcoal,  winch from the excessive
irritab.l.ty  of  her stomach was rejected.  Has passed  a
sleepless night.   The  neuralgia continues  unabated—the
other  symptoms  have greatly  decreased.  Repeated the
application of yesterday with  more  effect, though acute
pirn was produced by the  operation along the course of
tho  aff.cted nerves.   10th. Symptoms mostly abated—
cont nued the remedy.   11th. Found her up and entirely
free from the complaint.  Applied the electricity through
her  system  generally, as well  as locally.  She has since
remained well.
   As  hysteria had been her most prominent complaint for
several years before, and she is now wholly relieved from
 all symptoms of that affection, I have placed the above case
 under that head, though it more resembles those of neural-
 gia  and angina pectoris.

   CASE XXXIIL—Mrs.----, aged 54, of a nervo-billious
 temperament, has been subject to frequent and most violent 
36
INTERMITTENT  FEVER.
attacks of hysteric colic for several years; has resorted to
the usual medical treatment, but without any permanent
effect.  August 21st, 1843, I  was called in and found her
suffering great pain in the op:gastric region, attended with
rumbling of the  bowels, frequent eructations,  and globus
hystericus.  Immersing the patient's feet in a warm saline
bath, along with  the positive pole,  I  passed and repassed
the negative pole along the spine, and particularly to the
roots of the nerves supplying the parts chiefly affected, for
ten minutes.   This relieved her of  every symptom of the
complaint.   On the lGth October, I was again called in for
a similar attack,  which was also relieved by a single ap-
plication.  I then prescribed one of the following pills to
be taken three times a day: R. oxide argent, sulph. quinia,
a. a. 30 grs., conserv. res. q.  s. ft. pil. xxx.  Continued
electricity daily for a week thereafter.  She has been in
excellent health since.

            INTERMITTENT FEVER.

  In this disease I have not had sufficient opportunity to
determine the precise effect of magneto-electricity.  That
it has great control  over ordinary chills, is certain, from its
results in several cases which I have applied it; but  to
what extent, generally, it may prove efficacious, is not yet
demonstrated.  Numerous persons, laboring under tertian
or quartan  ague, have often called and applied electricity
on the day of its usual appearance, just before the time, or
at the commencement of their chill, which it has generally
either prevented or checked within a few minutes.  In such
cases perspiration is quickly produced, and little or no fever
succeeds the operation.  In a few instances it has failed of
producing these effects, but the circumstances under which 
INTERMITTENT FEVER.
37
it was applied were unpropitious, nor was the application
persevered in sufficiently, in my opinion, to test its virtues
in these particular cases.  But a single  application was in
most instances made, and though this generally, as was sta-
ted before, either prevented or broke the chill for that time,
it did  not always prevent its return.   That it possesses
great remedial virtue, however, in  chronic ague,  or chills
supervening upon the  usual fevers  of the  country, is evi-
denced from  the cases appended below.  The results in
these, will at least warrant its employment in all similar in-
stances.

   CASE XXXIV.—Mr.----, applied to  me on the 27th
November, 1842, for treatment of  chills and fever.  The
paroxysms were at first tertian, and were for  a  time re-
moved by the use of tonics and alteratives.  They, how-
ever, returned upon him in the quartan form, and showed
no  disposition to remove, although urged to do so by the
exhibition of quinine,  arsenic, and the various other reme-
dies usually prescribed.   They had now continued for three
months.   I applied electricity on the regular day  of the
•chill and a few minutes before its expected appearance, by
placing in his hands one conductor and passing the other
down the course of the spine.  Copious perspiration was
induced  in five minutes and the chill did not make its ap-
 pearance.  The same application was made on the next
 period for its recurrence with a similar effect.  It was then
 discontinued, nor has the  complaint ever returned.

   CASE XXXV.—Mr.----, aged 24; has been  subject
to a quotidian intermittent for a few days only.   Electrici-
 ty was passed through his system, on the 8th  December,
 1842, during one of his chills.  In ten minutes, perspiration 
38
INTERMITTENT FEVER.
was induced, followed by no fever.   The application was
made by putting his feet in a bath with one conductor and
placing the negative electrode to the back of the neck.—
The next period it appeared as usual.   An immediate ap-
plication was made with the same success as the day before
upon the chill.   From this he has had no farther  attacks.

  CASE XXXVI.—Miss----, aged 10 years, has been
subject to quartan ague for eight months past, which has
obstinately resisted the ordinary remedies for the  complaint.
On the 12th March, 1843, applied electricity by simply pla-
cing a conductor in each hand for five minutes, which pre-
vented the chill.  It however  returned at the succeeding
period; but  was prevented on the next by an application
similar to the first.   For several periods this  continued,
but from taking cold the chills again made their appearance.
My machine being  absent in the country, I made a com-
mon tonic prescription, which removed them altogether.
It is probable the electricity had  prepared the system for
the beneficial influence of this simple prescription.

  Whether  this agent can be made efficacious in the treat-
ment of our ordinary fevers, especially of that class which
seem more particularly to depend upon nervous prostration
or depraved nervous action, may be inferred to some extent
from its effects  in two or three instances in which it has
been employed.  That it will in all diseases and under all
circumstances prove an infallible specific, would be absurd
to  suppose:  yet it will  be seen in the  following cases,
that at least its preventive and salutary powers are worthy
of notice.  I regret that I have not had opportunities suffi-
cient to determine its specific action and influence in these
.diseases. 
INTERMITTENT  FEVER.
39
  CASE XXXVII.—Mr. ----,  aged 24,  of a  sanguine
billious temperament, was attacked June 20th, 1843, with
billious fever.   June 23d, I  visited him and found him la-
boring under the following symptoms: intense pain over the
eyes and posterior part of the head, dull, heavy aching of
back and limbs, tongue thickly coated, eyes tinged of  a
yellowish hue, skin dry and  hot, and, pulse ranging at  103
strokes per minute.  Electricity was employed at his re-
quest, by placing  his feet in a basin of cold water, along
with the positive pole, while the negative was passed down
beside the spine, and  applied  particularly to the origin of
the nerves proceeding to the stomach and liver.   This,
within a few minutes, induced a most insupportable nausea,
retching  with  slight  emesis, and a profuse perspiration,
followed in five minutes by an evacuation from the bowels.
The aching of the bones, &c, was entirely relieved and the
pulse soon  moderated down to 85 strokes per minute.  I
then prescribed a cathartic dose of Cook's pills.  In the af-
ternoon, the fever rose and the pain of the  head  and back
returned, though less violent  than before.  These were re-
duced by the means employed in the morning.  June 24th,
found the patient free from fever,  but complaining of con-
siderable acidity of the stomach.   The pills  had acted free-
ly during the  night.   Prescribed magnesia  and applied
electricity.   The fever  returned  slightly during  the even-
ing, but soon subsided.  In a day or two, without the use
of other medicines, he was about  eft able to attend to his
usual occupation.

   CASE XXXVIII.—Mr.----,  aged 32, was seized  Au-
gust 12th, 1843, with a sudden and severe chill, accompa-
nied with the usual symptoms of the common or congestive
fever of the country.   During the continuance of the ague, 
40
NEURALGIA.
 electricity was powerfully applied to the system and along:
 the course of the spine.  In the course of ten minutes a free
 perspiration was induced and the chill checked.  An active
 cathartic was administered and the use of quinine directed.
 An hour afterwards a high fever succeeded, attended with
 intense pain in the head and limbs.  These gradually sub^
 sided, and the next morning I found the cathartic had ope-
 rated properly and he was free from fever.   There being
 symptoms of a return of the chill,  electricity was again ap-
 plied,  which removed  them  and produced perspiration.
 This was continued twice a day for four days, without the
 use of other remedies, when he was able to attend to his
 ordinary employment.

   It would appear from the above, that this remedy may
 be of valuable service, if employed in the commencement
 of fevers; but what influence it may exert in its advanced
 stage, I am unable to say.

                    NEURALGIA.

   Ordinary affections of this character are often met with
 and readily yield to the influence of magneto-electricity.
 Severe paroxysmal cases of tic doloreux are, however, less
 manageable without the strictest attention to the habits of
 the patient and the aid of adjuvant medicines.   Many cases
 have been treated by the, all of which were relieved, and
 those who  made  a  fair trial entirely cured.   Among the
 following are sketches of those least relieved and the treat-
 ment employed.

   CASE XXXIX.—Mrs. ----,  some years since, in at-
tempting to catch a falling  sash, thrust her right hand 
NEURALGIA.
41
through a pain of glass, which partially severed the super-
ficial palmar artery and accompanying nerves.  The bleed-
ing was staunched and the wound  healed after the usual
manner, but was soon after followed  by an aneurism of the
injured artery.  This was reduced by compression. From
the date of the  first healing of the  wound, there was an
acute sensibility of the fingers, which produced such exqui-
site pain upon touching any thing, that she frequently fain-
ted.   This was her situation when I saw her on December
the 11th, 1842.   Upon the first application, by means of a
moist sponge, along the course of the nerves as in amauro-
sis, syncope ensued from the severity of the pain.  Daily
employment of the remedy for three days resulted in the
entire removal of the neuralgia, and  she was able to make
any ordinary use of the hand, to  sew, &c.  In March fol-
lowing, she received an injury of the  wrist, which provoked
a return of the affection.  This was  promptly removed by
the same agen-t, and she has  remained until now entirely
free from any neuralgic symptoms.

   CASE XL.—A young lady applied to a dentist of this
city to extract a tooth, having suffered for several days, as
she declared; from the toothache.  He examined her  teeth
and finding them entirely sound,  advised her to  call  upon
me, which she immediately did.   She  complained  of a
throbbing pain, shooting  upwards to the canine tooth on
the left side of  the under jaw.   This she had drawn and
replaced a few days previous, without any mitigation of the
pain.   As it was evidently a neuralgic affection of a branch
of the inferior dental nerve, I  placed my finger upon the
mental foramen and passed a succession of shocks through
it for the space of a minute and  afforded her entire relief.
She has had no recurrence of the attack.
                                           4* 
42                    NEURALGIA.
   I have had a multitude of nearly similar cases  of tooth-
 ache, as they are termed, and  all are promptly  relieved,
 unless they are attended with inflammation about the roots
 of the teeth.   If  so, little if any  benefit is produced until
 this obstacle  is removed.

   CASE XLI.—-Was that of  a  young lady, aged 17, of
 delicate constitution, but enjoying  good general health, who
 was suffering under a neuralgic affection of  the left infra
 orbital nerve, of two  days standing, and which was com-
 pletely removed by two applications.
   From frequent  trials, I have found that nervous kinds of
 cephalalgia, such as  those commonly termed sun  pains,
 periodical,  sympathetic, or sick headache, are mostly  re-
 lieved by one or two applications of electricity, unless there
 is considerable congestion of blood to the head, or indiges-
 tible food in the stomach.

  CASE XLIL—Mr. ----,  aged  21,  called on me  for
treatment of  an anomolous  neuralgia, affecting at various
times his arms, legs, or scalp.   This distressing complaint
had continued with more or less severity for several years.
It was located in the posterior portion of the left side of the
scalp, on the  22d September,  1842, when I applied electri-
 city, by means of a moistened sponge, directly to the cer-
vical nerves,  supplying the  affected part.  Three  minutes
application was sufficient to  effect  a dislodgment of the
pain.   On the 29th, he called again.  The neuralgia had
now changed its locality to the right hip joint and appeared
more  of a rheumatic character.   Ten minutes application
to the limb and joint also relieved this attack.   Slight symp-
toms of the neuralgia, however, made their appearance on
 the scalp again, on the 10th of October, which another ap~ 
              NEURALGIA--TIC DOLOREUX.            4&

plication removed.  This  was now continued daily for a
week afterwards, and chiefly through the spinal cord.  So
effectual was this continued use of it, that he has had no
return of the complaint.

  CASE  XLIII.—Mrs. -----.   This patient, a married
lady, aged 35, resides about twelve miles out of the city—■
is of robust constitution and enjoys good health, aside from
a neuralgia of the glosso-pharyngeal nerve, which manifest-
ed itself by shooting pains through the tonsils.  The pain
was generally most excruciating,  and she  was under ap-
prehension lest it should prove to  be the nucleus of a can-
cer, from which disease her father had died, although phy-
sicians  had informed her  to the contrary.   The affection
was of some two years standing.   The act of deglutition,
during  the intermissions of the exacerbation, was attended
with acute lancinating pains, extending in the direction of
the external orifices of the ears.   She had been under the
usual medical treatment, but had  derived from it no relief.
Upon examining the palate and tonsils, no change indicating
disease was apparent.  Applied electricity during an exa-
cerbation,  which procured for her a speedy relief of the
symptoms.   As it  was a case of long standing, I advised
her to remain some weeks;  but she  thought it impossible
to leave home, and  so left town the same day.  Four days
afterwards  she returned, suffering from  another  attack,
which was removed as before.  Returning home, on horse-
back, after this application, she was overtaken by a heavy-
shower and thor >ughly drenched.   This produced a return
of the neuralgia, and she called on me again two days after.
 I once more relieved her, but refused  to do so again unless
 she would stay in the city and make a fair trial of the ben-
 efits of the machine.  She left on  the  evening of the  same 
44
NEURALGIA-—TIC DOLOREUX.
day, and I have seen her but once since.   The neuralgia
was much removed, and she only occasionally felt it in the
palate, and declared her intention of coming to remain un-
der my care until she was permanently cured.  Her not
returning, is evidence that the affection is  either cured or
greatly mitigated.

  CASE XLIV.—Mr.----.   This  patient was about 60
years of age, and for a considerable time had suffered from
tic doloreux.  For six weeks previous to my being called
in, he had  been under medical  treatment in this city, and
had obtained no apparent relief of the paroxysms.   These
wore  periodical, occurring regularly at  2 o'clock in the
morning and continuing six hours, then intermitting until 5
o'clock in the  evening, and then returning  for two hours.
Narcotic medicines had  been freely given to allay the pain,
until the digestive functions were deranged  to a considera-
ble extent.   After exhibiting the usual remedies relied upon
in such complaints, without effect, the attending physician
proceeded to sever the frontal branches of the fifth pair of
nerves.   This produced a temporary relief in the course of
the divided nerves and somewhat mitigated the pain in the
other branches, probably from the loss of blooel caused by
severing the accompanying arteries.  However, the attacks
soon returned  with undiminished violence, and I was  sent
for on the Gth of July, 1843.  I found him in the midst of the
morning paroxysm-.   Shooting pains were constantly dart-
ing in almost  every  direction through the  scalp, forehead
and eyeballs.   Tears flowed freely;  extremities cold, and
the pulse feeble  and intermitting every fourth stroke.  (I
have found this last symptom to be an almost invariable at-
tendant in  severe cases of tic  doloreux.)   I  first  applied
electricity through the whole system, to equalize the circu- 
              NEURALGIA--TIC DOLOREUX.            45

fation, and then by means of a moist sponge along the course
of the affected nerves.  The paroxysm was removed in
about five minutes, and did not return until two hours later
than usual on the 7th.  This I also broke in the same man-
ner as before, and to restore the nutritive functions of the
system I prescribed  a mixture of comp. syr. sars. 0 oz., hy-
driodate potassa, 2 drs., to be taken in table-spoonful doses
thrice a  day,  and enjoined  the  strictest quiet.  July 8th.
Has had no paroxysm.  Continued the  before mentioned
adjuvant and the electricity.  In the evening, contrary to
my injunction, he rode out to a  relative's, five miles in the
country.  On the 10th, he returned suffering very severely
from the neuralgia.  The exacerbations had now no regu-
lar periods, but  were induced by the slightest exercise.—
Relieved him as usual by a  single application.  Prescribed
the following  pill: oxide argent.  10  grs., ext. apocyn.  and
sulph. quinia,  aa. 20  grs., ft.  pil. xxx; dose one, repeated ev-
ery four hours.  July 11th.  Feels an occasional lancinating
pain in the scalp.  Continued the applications for two days,
and as there was no pain, omitted it for three.   On the 17th,
contrary to my advice, he went up the country to his plan-
tation.   Was absent twenty days; when he returned the
complaint having, renewed its appearance apparently with
undiminished  violence.  On  this occasion, the pain was more
obstinate and refused to entirely cease its  exacerbations
until the fifth application.  I then placed him under a course
of tonics and  mild alteratives, and again enjoined quiet.  I
did not again visit him.   He shortly returned to his planta-
tion, and for  some  weeks  afterwards a slight paroxysm
 would be induced whenever he  took  any unusual and se-
 vere exercise; but is now apparently freed from  all symp-
 toms of the complaint.
   From the  history of these  last two cases, it is apparent 
40       PARALYSIS--HEMIPLEGIA--PARAPLEGIA.

that as much care is requisite to prevent a relapse in this
complaint, as would  be in that of intermittent fever, especi-
ally as regards active or severe exercise. t In all instances
of intermittent neuralgia  which I have observed, exercise
has either induced a return of or much increased the inten-
sity of the paroxysms.

                    PARALYSIS.

  I have treated many cases of this complaint in its various
forms of hemiplegia, paraplegia, and the partial or complete
paralysis of one or  more muscles of the body or limbs.
That electricity is a most invaluable remedy, if not the only
certain one, in this helpless affliction, may be strongly ar-
gued from its general happy effects in the cases here sub-
mitted, and also affords us just grounds for doubting whe-
ther recovery from the horrors of palsy is as hopeless as we
arc accustomed to consider it.

  CASE XLV.—Mr.----, a young man aged 25; histo-
ry is as follows:  From exposure to cold, damps, and vari-
ous hardships, whilst travelling in company with some emi-
grants to Texas, seven years since, he was  prostrated In-
complete hemiplegia of the right side,  which destroyed his
speech and much impaired his mind.   By means of medi-
cal treatment he was able to hobble  about to some little
extent and to mutter very indistinctly.   He applied to me
on the 25th September, 1842.   He could not then articulate
so as  to be understood, except by his brother, nor manage
to control and masticate his food without the aid of his hand;
and complained of a constant heaviness and oppression over
his eyes.   The limbs of the  affected side were much atro-
phied and retracted, and  entirely devoid of sensation.  He 
         PARALYSIS--HEMIPLEGIA--PARAPLEGIA.       47

had a slight control over the muscles of the leg, which was
exerted in his attempts to hobble along.  I made daily ap-
plications through the affected side for two months, with  a
gradual and constant improvement; sensation was partial-
ly restored to the  whole side, he articulated much more dis-
tinctly and  ate with less difficulty, the limbs became nearly
of their natural size, and the control over the affected leg-
was increased so much that he walked with ease, but very
awkwardly.  He now left for home, but returned on the
20th of March following, without having lost any of his
former improvement.   Indeed, he had continued to gain,
though slowly.  Continued electricity during his stay, which
was until the 10th of June.  Result: the heaviness and
oppression over the eyes entirely removed  and intellect
clear, increased improvement in his gait and partial control
of his arm regained.  He attended a school during the latter
part of the time and manifested good improvement in wri-
ting and arithmetic; but his articulation,  though greatly
amended, was still imperfect.

   CASE XLVI.—Mr.----,  aged 38, received  an injury
in the back four years since, which produced an immediate
and entire paralysis of the nerves of sensation  and voluntary
motion, below the last dorsal vertebra.   His fecal and uri-
nary passages were made involuntarily and without warn-
ing, the palsied parts were wasted away, he suffered from
dyspepsia,  and from the point of paralysis a  tumid and ex-
quisitely painful ring surrounded his  body.   This was his
deplorable condition when I commenced making applica-
tions of electricity through the affected parts,  on the 15th of
June,  1842.  These were continued  for fifteen minutes,
three times per day.   June 18th. Sensation restored down
to the upper third of the thighs.  Discontinued the applica- 
48       PARALYSIS--HEMIPLEGIA--PARAPLEGIA.

tions from the soreness occasioned by the number and seve-
rity of the  shocks.  June 25th. Resumed the  use of the
machine.  July 10th.  Found the limbs enlarged and exhi-
biting the appearance of cellular dropsy.  Prescribed a hy-
drogogue cathartic.   July 15th. Having neglected to fol-
low my prescription, he was to-day seized with a violent
diarrhea.  Being  absent myself, Dr. Guild was called in,
who prescribed calomel and Dover's powders; this relieved
him.  July 18th.  Has regained control over the sphincter
ani, urinary passages, &c.   Limbs have resumed their nat-
ural size and  sensation is gradually  extending down the
thighs, and digestion much improved.  Shortly after this,
by  my aid, he made a machine and  removed  from under
my care.   I  have, however, called  on  him occasionally
since, and found his general health excellent and sensation
restored to the whole paralyzed limbs.  There his improve-
ment seems to have ceased, and from several symptoms it is
evident that there is a pressure upon the spinal cord, at the
point of the original injury, which cannot be removed, as
this point is continually very sensitive and liable to be in-
flamed at every change of weather, or at least to become
more irritable.

  CASE XLVII.—Mr.----, a painter by trade, from the
effects of the white lead used in his occupation,  had lost the
use of both arms,  or rather he had what is termed  dropped
arms.   If any thing was placed in his hands, he could grasp
it apparently as firmly as ever, but had no farther control
over them.  This situation had continued for several years.
June 22nd, 1843, I commenced applying to the  affected
limbs continuous  and powerful shocks, twice per  day, for
about ten minutes each application.   The paralysis was
gradually removed, and on the 14th day he was discharged
from my care entirely restored. 
PARALYSIS.
49
  CASE XLVIII.—Was a negro woman who called on
me the 25th of July, 1843.  Her right shoulder had been
dislocated upwards and forwards, nearly three months be-
fore, in which condition it remained for three weeks.  She
then applied to Dr. Haywood of this city, who reduced the
dislocation.   The arm, however, continued in a paralytic
state after the reduction, and was consequently useless.   I
made six semi-weekly  applications of about five  minutes
duration each, through  the affected limb, as severe as she
could well endure, which entirely removed the paralysis.

  CASE XLIX.—Mr.  ----, aged about 55, formerly  of
intemperate habits.   His right leg had been  paralyzed for
fourteen years, and was much atrophied ; the left had been
in a similar condition for five years, and the  right  arm for
seven.  These were wasted  to a considerable extent-
Control and  sensation  of the genital  organs and urinary
passages were entirely lost.  ILs bowels were constantly
consLpatcd, and  were regularly moved by means  of laxa-
tives.  In this truly lamentable condition, 1 applied electri-
city through the system, as well as the affected parts, on
the 1st of December, 1842, and continued it  semi-weekly
for two months,  with the following result.  On the fourth
application sensation and  control were restored to the blad-
der and genitals, and Ins  constipation yielded.  At the ex-
piration of two months, his usual health appeared so good,
and the paralysis was so  far removed from  the right arm
and left leg that he determined to remove to his farm in the
country, under the impression that the moderate exercise of
superintending it would perfect their restoration.   His ex-
pectations, however, have not been realized, though he has
slightly improved.  He has since applied to me for a ma-
chine, under the impression  that its constant use will at
length effect a cure.                            5 
50                   RHEUMATISM.
  The most difficult cases are above described, that have
come under my care, except the one under the head of apo-
plexy.   In several other instances of partial paralysis, elec-
tricity was employed, and generally with complete success.
Its beneficial powers in such complaints are undoubted.

                  RHEUMATISM.

  During the last eighteen months,  I have treated about
forty cases of this complaint, of sufficient severity to deserve
recording.   The results in the majority of these cases were
most satisfactory, and in some of them extraordinarily so.
Enough at  least has been demonstrated in these instances
to warrant  the  assertion that in  this affection magneto-
electricity is a sovereign remedy;  one that speedily and
most effectually controls this  distressing and painful affec-
tion in  all its common  and in a vast majority of its uncom-
mon forms.  In recent cases of nervous rheumatism, unat-
tended with inflammation, only a few applications have been
found necessary to effect a cure, and in many instances but
a single one has proved sufficient.  Others of long standing
and more deeply seated in the fibrous  tissues, were more
e>bstinate, requiring occasional applications for several weeks
and a  few  adjuvant medicines.   The instances  cited are
among the most difficult ones, and will  serve to illustrate
the general success and mode of treatment employed in the
rest.

  CASE L.—Mrs. ---, aged about  35,  and mother of
four children, has been afflicted with a rheumatic  affection
since 1832.  This  has  so affected the muscles of the back
as to produce a great distortion of the spine, which led to the
suspicion that it was a spinal, instead of a rheumatic affec-
tion.   I visited her first on the 10th of January, 1843, and 
RHEUMATISM.
51
found her suffering from acute lumbago.  After ascertain-
ing that this did not arise from uterine derangement, I had
the patient's feet placed in a vessel of tepid water, contain-
ing a conductor from the positive side, while  I  with the
other passed a rapid succession of shocks along the whole
length of the  spinal cord  and branches, but particularly
through the lumbar region.  By this means a profuse per-
spiration was produced, and relief obtained within the space
of five minutes.   Jan. 11th.  Found the rheumatic pain had
returned, but was less  violent, and confined entirely in its
location to the left hip  joint.  Repeated electricity in the
same manner as on the 10th, which  afforded complete re-
lief.  This continued for several weeks, when the affection,
from a sudden  change of weather and exposure, returned
and seated itself in  her right shoulder.  This was  also re-
lieved in the manner above stated.  Since then she has oc-
casionally used electricity as a preventive, and has had no
farther symptom indicating a return of the complaint.

   CASE LI.—Mr.----, about 40 years of age,  has suf-
fered from a rheumatic affection for  several years, which
has been chiefly  confined to his ancle joints.  Applied  to
me on the 12th of November, 1842.   He then complained
of lumbago; his ancles were stiffened so as to entirely pre-
vent the turning  of the soles of the feet inwards, and he
walked with considerable difficulty.   The rheumatism was
most severe in damp weather.  He was dyspeptic and in
the daily habit of resorting to aperients to relieve the con-
stipated state of his bowels.  Ten minutes use of electricity
removed his lumbago.  Two days afterwards, he again ap-
plied, for a sciatic affection of the left hip joint.   I now ap-
plied electricity through  the stiffened ancles, and  the hip,
with the usual happy  effect.  I found, upon enquiry, that 
52
RHEUMATISM.
the previous application had aroused the liver* from its tor^
pid condition, and superseded the use of aperients.  The
remedy was continued semi-weekly for several months-,
which has resulted in the entire cure of his rheumatism.—
His ancles are perfectly sound, the tone of his digestive or-
gans restored* and his general health vastly improved*

  CASE LIL—Mr;----, called on me December 9th, 1842:.
He had been attacked, six months  previous, by an acut«;
inflammatory rheumatism of the right arm and  leg.  The
pain was soon removed by the usual course of treatment in
such attacks; but the extensor muscles of both limbs were
left entirely paralyzed.   From this cause the leg was flexed
towards the thigh, and when standing upon the other could
not be brought within six inches of  the floor.   The hand
and forearm was doubled inwards and drawn up towards
the axilla.   I  applied electricity through the affected mus-
cles for six weeks; but only  semi-weekly.   At the expira-
tion of that period, he was able to straighten, and use his
arm to some considerable extent, and to walk without the
aid of crutches.   At the expiration of this time  he left.   I
have heard from him recently, and learn that he is- almost
entirely recovered and in excellent health.

            BILLIOUS RHEUMATISM.

  CASE LIII.—Mr.----, a man of irregular habits; con-
stitution impaired from the too free use of mercury in a ve-
  *I have observed that this effect is produced in a  majority of
the instances where the agent has been applied, especially upon
its first and second employment.   In several, cases of chronic
hepatitis, it h&s proved highly beneficial, and seems particular-
ly useful in giving effect to the ordinary remedies  of this dis-
ease. 
                 BILLIOUS RHEUMATISM.               53

nereal disease.   Was called to visit him on the 14th Feb-
ruary, 1843.  He complained of excruciating rheumatic
pains, affecting all his limbs and back, which were greatly
aggravated upon the slightest motion.  His pulse was rapid
and full, and other symptoms of active synocha were pre-
sent.  I proposed the administration of a mercurial purga-
tive;  but he obstinately refused, declaring he would sooner
die, nor would he permit  venesection.   I then placed one
electrode of the machine, wrapped in a wet cloth to the soles
of his feet, and the other in his clasped hand, and transmit-
ted as powerful and hasty shocks through the system as he
could endure, until  moisture was produced in  the palm of
his hands, then shifting the electrode from  his hands to his
neck, I passed it down the spine.   The pains were removed
in about, ten minutes.   Prescribed a mixture of equal quan-
tities  of tinct. apocynum and vinum colchici,  to be taken
in doses of a table-spooful  three times a day, the quantity to
be increased if nausea was not produced. Feb. 15th. Found
the patient free from general fever, though the rheumatism
had returned, but was confined to  the right hip joint,  which
was somewhat tumid and extremely painful.  Applied elec-
tricity as  before, and mullin leaves steeped in vinegar, to
the inflamed hip.  Continued the mixture.   Feb. 16th. Tu-
midity of the hip reduced, but some slight soreness remained,
attended with a partial paralysis of the neighboring muscles.
Applied the machine to the affected limb and muscles for
five minutes, and as the mixture had operated  freely upon
the bowels, directed its discontinuance for two days.   Feb.
17th.  Free from most of his former symptoms; continued
the electricity.   Feb.  18th. Walked half a mile and  called
at my office  for the usual application.   This was made for
eight  days  longer, and the mixture was also continued in
half doses; when his perfect cure was effected.
                                            5* 
54              BILLIOUS RHEUMATISM.
   CASE LIV.—Mr.----, an Irishman, 35 years old, had
 an attack of billious remittent fever; became convalescent,
 but from imprudence relapsed twice.   I was called in upon
 the second relapsa, March 7th, 1843, and found him labor-
 ing under a high lever, and  rheumatic pans over h s entire
 body and l.mbs.  These last were so violent as to produce
 spasms and  short .nterrupt ens  of  cansc ousness.  Pulse:
 quck  and tense, sk n dry and hot,  and h.s tongue thickly       1
 coated, cxc.pt the cdgvS, wh.ch were intensely red.   Had
 his feet placed  n a foot bath of as h.gh  a temperature as
 could be boriec, and employed elect r c ty through  h s whole
 system, as powerful as ce>uld be c ndurcd.  In e.ght m nutcs
 free perspratcn was  nduced and the pans ceased.  The
 nervous rrtab.Ity bong quelled, the patent  .immediately
 dropped ,»to a qu.et sleep, and ten m nutes after the appli-       t
 cat on lis pulse  was reduced to eighty strokes per m nute.
 Directed a p ll centa n ng qu n ne, cxt. apocynum  and pulv.
 rhei., each 1 gr., to be taken every hour dur ng the .ntcrmis-
 sion of the fever.  Employed electr.c.ty for four days  n the
 ma»ner dccscr.bed above, when he was able to walk  about,
 and on the seventh day  he returned to h.s ord nary occu-
 pation cnt.rcly c^red.

   CASE LV.—Mr.----, aged about 30, applied to me en
 the 16th March, 1843, hav ng suffered for several months
 with wander ng rheumatc pans, princ pally  affect ng  his
 spine, neck, shoulders and ancles.   To rel eve the severity
 of these pains, he had  made free use of op.ates.  These had
 produced much derangement of h.s d gcst.ve organs, and he
 was consequently labor.ng  under dyspeps.a.   To restore
 these to their appropriate functions, I proscribed  the daily
.use of decoction sarsaparJla and hydriodate of potassa, in
 addition to electricity. This was continued for three weeks, 
RHEUMATISM.
55
when he left apparently cured.  I have heard from him
lately and he stll remains so.

  CASE  LVI.—Mr.----, applied to me on the 9th June,
1843;  had suffered for some months from sc.at.ci of the left
hip, which was much stiffened.  He walked w.th censider-
able d.ffieilty by the aid of a  cane, and wes totally unable
to ride on horseback.  I made one apple -ton through the
affected part by patt ng the foot in a bath and piss ng shocks
through te- the lumbar  region.  This single  operation re-
lieved h m in eight minutes.  As a pree-f of his perfect cure
I may  add tint four months afterwards  he rem away te>
Texas, start ng  in the n'ght on horseback, and evaded all
pursuit.   I have been equally sueeessful in several similar
ce.s~s with a s.ngle appl.cation. 
 
CONCLUSION".
  From the preceding abstract of cases that have occurred^
»x> me during so limited a period as that embraced, it cannot
be denied but that magneto-electricity is most efficacious in.
the various diseases enumerated, and that too to an extent
hitherto generally unknown.  Both my means and advanta-
ges have been circumscribed, so that it has in many instan-
cies been impossible for me to pursue my investigations as
far as was desirable;. consequently, a mass of facts has ac-
cumulated upon my hands  which will require much time,
comparison, and classification, before they can be reduced
to the harmony of  a rational arrangement, and made the
supporters of any existing, or the  demonstrators of a new
theory, respecting the remedial qualities of this agent, or the
particular mode of its action.  What is here crudely pre-
sented to the public, is not for the purpose of an ostentatious
and empirical display; but  simply to induce  an interest in
favor of the remedy, among others, better qualified than the
writer, by  their talents, attainments and opportunities, to
pursue inquiries upon so important a subject to their true
and legitimate results.  This is, now, a pursuit not unwor-
thy the attention of the highest order of intellect of which
the profession can boast, and the solution of. even one of the
problems involved in its renovating action upon the diseased
organism, will confer lasting honor upon the  demonstrator,
however humble his present station may be.  Heretofore,
there has existed* an unaccountable apathy upon the entire
matter under consideration, on the  part of the profession..
A vague idea that it was possessed of.some salutary pro-- 
58
CONCLUSION.
perties, seems to have been prevalent: but this has led to
few if any practical results.  Even where there is sufficient
proof afforded of the remedial powers of magneto-electri-
city, and its superior advantages over the old forms, there
still seems to exist great incredulity and a manifest unwil-
lingness upon the part of  the majority to take any active
measures  to make themselves fully acquainted writh  the
truth, or in their practice to avail themselves of its ad wanta-
ges.   It is to  be earnestly7 hoped that intelligent men will
not permit themselves to be deluded into the idea that our
ancestors have discovered all that is valuable in medicine,
and that, consequently, there is nothing remaining for us to
do, but to follow  out their prescriptions.  It seems to  me
that from the recent discoveries in organic chemistry, and
the advancing state of other sciences, there is thrown open
to the physiologist an almost unlimited sphere for the free
scope of his entire.powers, the active employment of which
cannot fail of evolving  the most practical, beneficial, and
highly important truths.   Advancement in knowledge is
characteristic  of our age, beyond all others, and the rejec-
tion of any facts, or salutary truths, simply because of their
recent discovery or application, appears to me exceedingly
irrational and  unwise, aside, frequently, from its  extreme
folly and baneful effects.   An  undue  precipitancy in  the
adoption of assumed premises, and of theories arising there-
from, are equally injurious.  It is, therefore, much desired
that those who may peruse the writer's remarks, should en-
deavor, by  such means as may be in their power, to test, to
their own satisfaction, the  merits of this powerful agent by
a personal employment of it in the various diseases in which
it is here stated to have been successfully or unsuccessfully
exhibited.  That it is deserving of especial notice, at  the
hands of the profession, is my decided though humble opin- 
CONCLUSION.
59
ion.   That this is also the opinion of others, distinguished
for their efficient labors in behalf of medical science, I am
happy to be informed.
  The following notice of the writer's efforts and experi-
ence, from the able pen of Dr. Daniel Drake, the senior ed-
itor of the Western Journal  of Medicine and Surgery, is
extracted from the  editorial columns of that valuable  peri-
odical, page 472.   It exhibits the favorable view in which
he regards the subject, and is here submitted as an additional
inducement in favor of its more extended consideration by
the profession and the public.
  "Electro Magnetism.—In Tuskaloosa we were asked to
look at a small electro-magnetic machine,  which an inge-
nious citizen of that  place, Dr. Nelson Walkly, had  con-
structed, and was applying to the cure of diseases.   Dr.
Walkly was an inquisitive and scientific mechanic who
turned his attention to medicine, which he studied for the
purpose of making a systematic trial of electro-magnetism
in the treatment of diseases.   Within the last twelve or
eighteen months, he has used  it in chorea, epilepsy,  neu-
ralgia, palsy, chronic rheumatism, deafness, torpor of the
liver  with constipation, amenorrhea a, dysmenorrhea a, and
several other complaints.   Of his success and his failure,
he gave us a detailed account, apparently  with great can-
dour; and we  feel  it a duty to  say that he seems to  have
effected a cure, or  afforded palliation in several cases of
those very intractable affections.  It must  certainly be ad-
mitted, that the profession has not yet made a full and fail-
trial of this agent, and we  take great pleasure in commend-
ing Dr. Walkly's enterprise to the patronage of the physi-
cians, and of the community in general, through this coun-