ELECTRIZATION 
IN THE TREATMENT 
OF THE 
DISEASES OF THE ORGANS OF 
DIGESTION. 
BY A. D. ROCKWELL, M . D. 
Reprinted from the Columns of “The Medical Gazette” 
of January 7th, 1871. 
NEW YORK-1871. ELECTRIZATION 
IN THE TREATMENT 
OF THE 
DISEASES OF THE ORGANS OF 
DIGESTION. 
BY A. D. ROCKWELL, M. D« 
Reprinted from the Columns of “ The Medical Gazette ” 
of January 7th, 1871. 
' -. - fv4’Qn y' 
NEW V O 1 i K-L S 7 1 . ELECTRIZATION 
IN THE TREATMENT OF THE 
poetises of % ©rpns of digestion. 
Among the diseases of the organs of digestion for 
which Electrization has been successfully employed 
are—Dyspepsia, Gastralgia, Vomiting or Regurgi- 
tation, Jaundice, Constipation, Chronic Diarrhoea 
and Abdominal Neuralgia. 
These symptoms may be divided into two classes, 
those which depend on actual and recognizable 
disease of the organs, and those which are of a ner- 
vous character. Dyspepsia, gastralgia and vomit- 
ing may arise from weakness, congestion, inflam- 
mation, ulceration of the stomach; jaundice, from a 
variety of morbid states of the liver; constipation 
and chronic diarrhoea, and abdominal neuralgia, from 
disease of any or all of the organs of digestion, 
from the stomach to the intestines. 4 
On the other hand, all these symptoms may exist 
independent of any recognizable disease ot the re- 
spective organs. Such cases are to be classed among 
the nervous; they occur usually in nervous consti- 
tutions, and are symptomatic of disease of the nerve 
supply of the organs, of the spinal cord, of the sym- 
pathetic, or of all combined. These two general 
types of disease are sometimes associated. 
Electro-Diagnosis.—Irritable conditions of the 
stomach, liver and intestines are sometimes revealed 
by their sensitiveness to the electric current. 
Pains must be taken to distinguish the sensitive- 
ness of the skin from that of the internal organs. 
An anresthetic condition of the liver is sometimes 
exceedingly marked. In two of our cases the whole 
power of our Faradic apparatus was not painfully 
felt, when localized through the liver, by large 
sponge electrodes. Irritability or ulceration of the 
large intestine is sometimes indicated in a very 
marked manner. For the diagnosis of diseases of 
these organs, the Faradic current, on account of 
its superior mechanical effects, is preferable to the 
galvanic. 
General Principles of Treatment.—Electrical 
treatment is serviceable in the diseases of the organs 
of digestion in two ways: First, by the mechanical 
influence of the current on the tissues of the organs ; 
Secondly, by its tonic influence on the spinal cord, 
sympathetic, and entire nervous system. In the first type the former influence, in the second type 
the latter, is indicated. The tonic influence on the 
nervous system may be obtained by galvanization 
of the spine, brain, sympathetic and pneumogastric, 
and by general electrization. The mechanical in- 
fluence on the tissues of the viscera may be obtained 
by general or localized Faradization. 
A fundamental fact of great importance in the 
treatment of disorders of the digestive tract is this> 
that for direct applications to the abdominal viscera, 
stomach, spleen, liver, intestines and uterus, the 
Faradic current is far preferable to the galvanic. 
The reasons for this are two-fold. 
1. The Faradic current acts more vigorously on 
the contractile fibre cells of the organs than the 
galvanic, and therefore produces more powerful 
mechanical effects, with passive exercise of all .the 
deep tissues. 
2. These parts are so situated anatomically, and 
are so liberally supplied with warm saline solutions, 
that they conduct the Faradic current under all 
conditions with perfect ease. 
In the brain, and spinal cord and sympathetic) 
these conditions are reversed, and they are best 
treated by the galvanic current. 
Localized Electrization of the Abdominal Vis- 
cera.—The stomach and liver may be indirectly gal- 
vanized through the pneumogastric in the neck; the 
stomach, liver, spleen, kidneys and intestines may be 6 
directly Faradized by applying large electrodes 
with very firm pressure over the back and abdomen, 
so as to pass the current directly through the organ 
that we wish to affect. 
Except in cases of disease, these organs will bear 
with very strong currents without severe discom- 
fort. 
Either stable or labile applications may be used 
without regard to the direction of the current— 
from three to ten minutes, or even longer. 
Cask 1.—Dyspepsia, accompanied by a voracious 
APPETITE, AND A CONSTANT BURNING IN THE STOMACH, 
DEPENDENT PROBABLY ON VASCULAR IRRITATION OF ITS 
mucous membrane. Approximate recovery under 
treatment by general Faradization. The case of Mr. 
S., aged 31, presented symptoms of the old fashioned 
variety of indigestion—although this appearance 
did not indicate any special or annoying disease. 
A year previously he began to experience an 
uneasy feeling in the epigastric region after eat- 
ing a hearty meal. This symptom gradually became 
more aggravated, until it was a source of serious 
annoyance. He had been advised to limit himself 
to a spare diet, and had attempted to regulate the 
quantity and quality of his food. In this he failed 
because of another symptom—viz : boulimia—in 
other words—a voracious appetite which refused to 
be controlled. 
The enormous amount of food which he devoured 7 
at every meal was but partially digested, and a 
considerable portion was occasionally vomited. 
When his meals were withheld a short time, he 
experienced an indescribable “sinking” at the 
stomach, impelling him to seize voraciously on 
articles of food. He complained especially of a 
constant sensation of heat, or a burning pain in the 
epigastrium, which was aggravated by the ingestion 
of food. We ascribed this symptom to an excessive 
vascular irritation of the mucous membrane of the 
stomach. An unequal circulation was manifest by 
cold extremities during the day and hot feet at 
night. 
Derangement of the hepatic function was evident 
by the light clay-colored stools, while the urine was 
invariably almost colorless. The patient had been 
accustomed to the habitual use of alcoholic stimu- 
lants, but never to the point of intoxication. He 
had used strong coffee and tea to excess, but had 
for some months abstained from them altogether. 
The Faradic current was acutely felt over the 
stomach, but over the body generally he bore a 
current of more than ordinary intensity. 
Three applications given in the course of a week 
appreciably lessened the irritation of the diseased 
organ. This effect was evinced by a decrease in the 
burning sensation, which was mentioned as a dis* 
agreeable and marked symptom. The vomiting 
was effectually controlled after two weeks of treat- 8 
ment. Twenty applications administered during a 
period of two months resulted in an approximate 
cure. The voracious appetite was in a great 
measure subdued, and it was only after some indis- 
cretion in diet, that any of the old local symptoms 
returned—sufficient to annoy the patient. 
Nervous Dyspepsia (Dyspepsie Asthenique). 
Under this somewhat vague term are included a 
large and diverse variety of symptoms that depend 
on some irritation or morbid condition of the nerves 
that supply the organs of digestion. This morbid 
condition may probably be peripheral as well as 
central. Much more frequently than is supposed, 
the symptoms are due to spinal irritation, or to some 
diseased condition of the central nervous system. 
Among the leading and distinctive symptoms of 
nervous dyspepsia are distress and uneasiness in 
the stomach during or after eating, or when the 
stomach is empty; pain or spasm in the stomach 
from emotional causes; sick headache; constipation, 
or sometimes diarrhoea; deficiency of thirst, mental 
depression and general debility. Any one of these 
symptoms may arise from some inflammatory con- 
dition of the stomach, or other portions of the 
digestive tract,; but all of them together, when 
found in a nervous constitution, point to a nervous 
origin. The important fact to be considered is that 
nervous dyspepsia, so far from being a merely local 
disease of the stomach, is simply one of many mani- 9 
festations of the nervous diathesis, and is developed 
by whatever causes tend to debilitate the nervous 
system, and may variously alternate with almost 
any conceivable phase of nervous disease in any 
part of the body. Our object, here, however, is not 
to enter into any detailed description of the symp- 
toms and cause of this so very familiar malady, but 
merely to indicate the rationale and the results of 
its treatment by electrization. Although but little 
known and scarcely recognized on the Continent of 
Europe, nervous dyspepsia is certainly very fre- 
quent in the United States, and is found in nearly 
every family. 
Electro-Diagnosis.—In nervous dyspepsia there 
is frequently a peculiar and very unpleasant tender- 
ness in the epigastric region, so that only a very 
mild current can be borne. In some cases a thrill, 
with a sinking sensation, is felt when the electrode, 
with a strong current, is passed down the spine; in 
other cases the application of a strong current at 
the cilio-spinal centre, or on the crown of the head, 
causes a feeling of nausea. The spinal irritation, 
on which nervous dyspepsia so often depends, is 
indicated by tenderness of the dorsal vertebr* on 
pressure or on application of the current. 
Treatment.—We know of no treatment so sure 
to relieve the leading and concomitant phenomena 
of nervous dyspepsia as general Faradization. In 
connection with this we sometimes use galvanization 10 
of the sympathetic, the pneumogastric, and spine. 
General electrization relieves nervous dyspepsia, 
not so much by virtue of its influence on the 
stomach—although it directly affects the stomach— 
as by its influence on the nervous condition of 
which the dyspepsia is a symptom. 
Prognosis.—The results of the treatment of nerv- 
ous dyspepsia by general Faradization alone are 
some of the most remarkable in therapeutics. Cases 
of nervous dyspepsia, with their complications, are 
on the whole the best tests that can be offered for 
this method of treatment, not only are the purely 
dyspectic symptoms relieved, but there is great im- 
provement in sleep, in strength of muscle and brain, 
and in some cases very marked increase in weight. 
Case 2.— Nervous Dyspepsia, associated with 
PERIODICAL ATTACKS OF HEADACHE AND VOMITING. AP- 
PROXIMATE RECOVERY AND RAPID INCREASE IN WEIGHT 
follow general Faradization. A young man con- 
sulted us in the fall of 1866 for a persistent form 
of nervous dyspepsia. 
He was of a weak, nervous organization, and pre- 
sented a remarkably aniemic and emaciated ap- 
pearance. Every month or six weeks he was 
prostrated by a severe attack of headache and 
vomiting, from the effects of which he would not 
recover for several days. In administering a 
general application of the Faradic current, it was 
found that the liver was relatively the most sensi- 11 
tive to its influence. So exhausting was the sensa- 
tion produced by the electricity in this organ, that 
very decided symptoms of faintness followed. He 
soon rallied from its effects, and when he visited us 
two days subsequently, he expressed himself as 
having experienced very marked and gratelul relief. 
At each sitting he was able to bear a more intense 
current over the digestive organs and body gener- 
ally. 
The beneficial effects of the applications were 
soon manifest by a more natural and lively appe- 
tite, relief of constipation, by greatly increased 
vigor of mind and body, and by the non-recurrence 
of his usual paroxysm of headache and vomiting. 
The first application was given October 24th, and 
the fifteenth and last in the early part of Decem- 
ber. During the treatment the weight of this 
patient increased from 106 to 115 pounds. 
Nervous Constipation, Chronic Diarrikea, and 
Jaundice.—Constipation, associated with and con- 
stituting a part of nervous dyspepsia, is, like dys- 
pepsia, disposed to yield rapidly, and often perma- 
nently, to general electrization, even when no 
special attention is given to the lower part of the 
back or the abdomen. This is the form of constipa- 
tion that ismost prevalent. Next ;o insomniait isthe 
symptom first to yield, even though there may be 
subsequent relapse. It not unfrequently happens 
that a strong application is followed, the next or 12 
even the same day, by a freer alvine discharge than 
usual. 
Constipation, much more frequently than is sup- 
posed, depends on an irritable, exhausted or con- 
gested condition of the spinal cord. That myelitis 
and the more serious lesions of the spinal cord are 
accompanied by a deranged condition of the 
bowels—either constipation or diarrhoea—is fully 
recognized; it is not, however, so well understood 
that spinal irritation, even in its milder degrees, 
may have constipation for one of its symptoms, and 
that this symptom will disappear with the removal 
of the cause, by treatment directed to the spine. 
For those cases that result from incurable disease 
of the brain or spinal cord, only temporary relief 
can be obtained. In such cases relapse usually 
occurs as soon as the treatment is discontinued. 
Electrization may therefore be said to relieve 
constipation in several different ways :— 
1st. By its general tonic effects on the system at 
large, on the same principle that it relieves nervous 
dyspepsia. 
2d. By its tonic effects on the central nervous 
system, and especially on the spinal cord. On ac- 
count of the fact that very many cases of constipa- 
tion depend on a morbid condition of the cord, 
special attention should be given to the spine, 
whatever may be the method of electrization em- 
ployed. 13 
3d. The mechanical action of the Faradic current 
especially gives tone to the stomach, liver and in- 
testines, markedly increases the hepatic and intesti. 
nal secretions, and aids the peristaltic action of the 
intestines. In regurgitation, the prognosis appears 
to be very encouraging. In jaundice, the results 
of our limited experience have been more favorable 
than the reverse. In chronic diarrhoea we have 
succeeded in three striking instances. The treat- 
ment of all these conditions is worthy of far more 
attention than it has thus far received from electro- 
therapeutists. 
In the hands of the laity many of these symp- 
toms have been treated by Faradization, with 
various results, for many years. 
Case 3.— Habitual Constipation for fifteen 
years. No permanent benefit from medication. 
Rapid improvement under general Faradization. 
Mr. N., aged 30, a printer employed in the 
office of the JV. Y. Times, was sent to us by 
Dr. St. John Roosa. For fifteen years he had 
suffered from constipation. So persistent were 
the symptoms, that neither well directed medica- 
tion nor such hygienic measures as he could com- 
mand were of any avail. The appetite was good, 
and the sleep moderately sound and refreshing. 
The patient complained of a sense of weight or 
oppression in the abdomen, of flatulence, and occa- 
sionally of a slight feeling of nausea. The evacua- tions often came away in knotty lumps, after much 
straining and an unpleasant distension of the anus, 
and as a consequence of this torpor of the intes- 
tines, his health had become considerably im- 
paired. He complained of a general feeling of 
malaise, and a disinclination to engage in any active 
effort. Above all, however, he suffered continually 
from most painful mental depression. The mono- 
tony and confinement of his occupation, together 
with the unnatural method of life, of working at 
night and sleeping during the day, served doubt- 
less to aggravate the character of his disorder. 
He received but three applications of the Fara- 
dic current, resulting in an extraordinary improve- 
ment in his general symptoms. After the first 
seance the bowels moved freely, and continued to 
do so every day while he visited us. He was com- 
pletely relieved of his mental and physical depres- 
sion, and in every respect was more vigorous than for 
many years before. The bowels continued regular 
for several months, when the old symptoms gradu. 
ally returned. The patient again applied for treat- 
ment, and was relieved as effectually as before. 
We have heard nothing further concerning him, 
and are hopeful that he was more permanently 
benefited. 
Case 4.—Life-long Constipation, Apparent Re- 
covery UNDER GENERAL FARADIZATION. Another 
case, sent by Dr. Roosa, presented symptoms in 15 
many respects similar to the first. Even so long as the 
patient could remember, his bowels had uniformly 
acted in a sluggish manner. He seldom had a pas- 
sage oftener than once in two days, and frequently 
a week would intervene from one evacuation to the 
next. As in the former case, the stools were hard 
and scanty, but the general health was not impaired 
to the same extent. The first application of the 
Faradic current was given Oct. 24,1867, and re- 
sulted during the day in an evacuation every way 
more easy and natural than usual. After the 
fifth seance, his stools became quite liquid and fre- 
quent. This condition was, however, remedied by 
omitting the applications for a few days. He visited 
ns subsequently but two or three times, when he 
discontinued treatment, having, as far as we could 
judge, experienced perfect relief. 
In some cases of very obstinate constipation it is 
of advantage to localize the current by internal ap- 
plications. This may be accomplished by means 
of a rectal electrode (Figs. 1 and 2). They may 
Fig. 1. 
Fig. 2. 
either be non-insulated, or insulated up to a point 
near the tip. A very powerful current may be 
borne in the rectum without discomfort. 16 
Ileus (Invagination).—Althaus reports two cases 
where powerful Faradization availed to cure con- 
stipation, when the ordinary remedies had been 
tried in vain. The negative pole was applied to 
the spine, and the positive passed over the ab- 
domen in the region of the large intestine. In 
three minutes a very abundant evacuation appeared. 
The second case was severe, but not as long 
standing as the other. The patient passed much 
blood at stool, and was fast becoming exhausted. 
The same application brought relief, though not so 
speedily as in the preceding case. Dr. Clement, 
of Frankfort, states that he has successfuly treated 
invagination, by first administering one or two 
tablespoonsful of metallic mercury, which settled 
down to the seat of the invagination. The nega- 
tive electrode was applied over the supposed seat 
of the disease, and the positive in the rectum. 
Voltaic alternatives were used.* 
Case 5.—Chronic Diarrhoea of six months stand- 
ing, ASSOCIATED WITH GENERAL NEURALGIA. MARKED 
TENDERNESS OVER THE TRANSVERSE COLON. TREATED 
BY GENERAL FARADIZATION, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE 
TO THE TENDER SPOT. RECOVERY IN THREE WEEKS. A 
lady aged 35, a patient of Dr. H. H. Gregory, of 
this city, was directed to us because of a general 
neuralgia, from which at times she suffered exces- 
sively. 
Electricity. Althaus, p. 603. 17 
The Faradic current was applied over the whole 
body, and produced no discomfort, excepting when 
it was sent through a certain part of the intestinal 
tract. The tender spot was located in the right 
side directly over the transverse colon. Over no 
other portion of the abdomen was she at all sensi- 
tive to the electricity, but at this point a very 
moderate current produced a disagreeable, sharp 
burning pain, similar to that caused by making 
the application to a raw surface. Upon inquiry, 
the patient stated that for six months she had 
been annoyed by a diarrhoea, which persisted in 
spite of persevering and judicious medication. She 
was obliged to exercise the utmost caution in her 
diet, for the least indiscretion in eating was cer- 
tain to aggravate her disorder. We now directed 
the applications more especially to this tender spot, 
and soon observed some amelioration of her diar. 
rhceal symptoms. The stools assumed a firmer con- 
sistency and a more healthy color, and in propor- 
tion as she improved in these respects, the tender 
spot became less sensitive to the influence of the 
electric current. Eight applications, extended 
over a period of three weeks, resulted in complete 
recovery. 
Regurgitation and Vomiting.—For those cases of 
vomiting that are of an obviously nervous character, 
galvanization of the sympathetic and pneumogas- 
tric, or strong Faradization through the stomach, is sometimes of important service. Successful results 
have been obtained by Peper and Bricheteau. The 
latter treated with success three cases of vomiting 
of pregnancy. His method of application was to 
place the electrodes on the epigastrium at the com- 
mencement, middle, and close of the meal. 
Flatulence.—Flatulence is a symptom of disorder 
of the digestive organs, and frequently yields readily 
to electrical treatment. It demands the same 
treatment as dyspepsia and constipation. 
Those very frequent cases that are dependent on 
spinal irritation and congestion, and on hysteria, 
need central galvanization or general Faradization; 
cases that depend on an attack of acute indigestion 
may be advantageously treated by internal applica- 
tions, one pole being applied to the rectum by the 
rectal electrode, and the other to the spine or 
abdomen. 
Sea Sickness.—In October, 1869, Mr. Le Coniat, 
a French surgeon, presented a method of treating 
sea-sickness before the N. Y. Medical Journal 
Association. Subsequently, a detailed account of 
the method was published by Dr. Dwinelle* who 
had experienced the good effects of the treatment 
on his own person in a passage across the Atlantic. 
His method was to apply first a quantity ot solution 
of atropine—one gr. to the ounce—to the epigastrium ; 
then to apply a flat disk, connected with a Faradic 
* New York Medical Journal, 1869, p. 390. apparatus, over the pyloric extremity of the stomach, 
while a moistened sponge connected with the posi- 
tive pole was passed over the surface, from the 
cardiac to the pyloric orifice. Vigorous contractions 
of the muscles appeared during the applications, 
which were followed by agreeable repose. Le 
Coniat claims to cure by this method 90 per cent, 
of his cases. The statements made by Coniat and 
Dwindle lose much of their scientific as well as of 
their practical value from the fact that the atropine 
was combined with the Faradization. There is 
little doubt that the passage of the electric currents 
through the body facilitates the absorption of liquid, 
placed beneath the electrodes. Then again atropine 
is a remedy so powerful that tut or even .jot of a 
grain is sufficient to powerfully affect the nervous 
system, when administered hypodermically. 
Furthermore, it is a remedy for sea-sickness and 
sick headache, as has been shown by those who have 
employed hypodermic injections of this remedy 
combined with morphine. A dose containing Tot 
of a grain of atropine and i of a grain of morphine, 
is sufficient in certain cases to relieve the nausea 
and vomiiing, and produce sleep—the same effects 
that are produced by the operation of Le Coniat. 
From all these considerations, taken in connection 
with the further consideration that sea-sickness is 
probably not a disease of the stomach alone, but 
of the central nervous system, of which the nausea 20 
and vomiting are frequent but by no means neces- 
sary symptoms, we are strongly inclined to the 
belief that the result obtained by Le Coniat’s pro- 
cedure could have been obtained with much less 
difficulty by hypodermic injection of atropine. 
The true way to settle the question experimentally 
would be to treat a large number of patients by all 
three different methods—some by the procedure of 
Le Coniat, others by the same method without the 
atropine, and others by hypodermic injections of 
atropine. Electricity must be proved to have some 
very potent influence over sea-sickness in order to 
persuade patients and physicians to attempt its use 
on shipboard.