THE TREATMENT OF 
Marasmus, Whooping-Colrgh, and Debility in Children, 
ELECTRICITY. 
GEORGE M. BEARD, M. D., NEWYORK CITY. 
Reprinted from Detroit Review of Medicine and Pharmacy, October, 1874. 
For several years past, I have been experimenting with the 
treatment of very young children by electricity. My first experi- 
ments were made with the young, not of human beings, but of 
dogs. I found that, of a litter of four puppies, the two that were 
submitted to general faradization grew very much faster, and at 
the end of a month were decidedly larger, as proved by weight 
and inspection, than the two that were not so treated. I subse- 
quently made the same experiments on a litter of rabbits, but with 
unsatisfactory results; for the reason, mainly, that the details of 
the applications were committed to untrustworthy hands. The 
applications were overdone. I then carried out the same line 
of experiment with babies and children of various ages, between 
one month and ten years. By preference, I selected those cases 
that were, from any cause, debilitated, and treated them by the 
methods of general faradization and central galvanization. In 
some of the cases, there was no specially localized disease, but 
simply weakness, poor appetite, and, on the part of the babies 
indisposition to nurse with vigor and satisfaction. I very soon 
found that my experiments tended to establish two important 
facts: 
1. That very young children, even in the first half of the first 2 
ELECTRICITY— BEARD. 
year, could bear electricity—at least the faradic current—in as 
large doses as adults, without apparent injury. 
The infant can bear as much general faradization as the mother 
in whose arms it rests. 
2. That all the sedative and tonic effects of electricity—improve- 
ment in sleep, in appetite, in digestion, and in muscular growth, 
and increase of capacity for work—are realized by children as 
markedly as by adults, and with fewer apparent exceptions and 
fewer injurious effects.* 
The experiments that led me towards these provisional conclu- 
sions were made mostly on the children of patients in my public 
practice, and in the families of my friends. I subsequently carried 
out the same line of experiment in a systematic and extended 
manner in the “ Sheltering Arms ” institution, Brooklyn. I was 
enabled to do this through the courtesy of my friends, Dr. Jerome 
Walker and Dr. Frank Rockwell, physicians to that institution. 
The experiments were begun in the autumn of 1873, and con- 
tinued for several months. There happened to be, at that time, a 
large number of cases of whooping-cough in the institution, and 
these were all at once put under electrical treatment. The details 
of the applications were carried out at first by myself exclusively ; 
and subsequently, under my direction, by Dr, Sterling, to whom I 
am indebted for the notes of the cases. The cases of whooping- 
cough were treated by the methods of central galvanization, and 
galvanization and faradization of the pneumogastric (external f 
application) ; and, in cases where great debility existed, by general 
faradization. The applications were made, on the average, three 
times a week, and were from five to ten minutes in duration. In 
* The powerful sedative and tonic effects of the methods of general faradization 
and central galvanization, so long insisted on in America, have been fully confirmed 
in every detail in Germany, by Dr. R. Vater, of Prague. (See a series of articles by 
him in the Allgemeine Wiener Medizinische Zeitung, for May, June, July, August, 
1874.) He states that “general electrization will surely and speedily be used by all 
electro-therapeutists.” 
tThe pneumogastric is sometimes faradized internally by placing an electrode in 
the pharynx. This method is most disagreeable, and can be used only with inter- 
ruptions or very mild currents. In the American Practitioner, for August, Dr. Jno. 
O’Reilly, of Louisville, reports cases of whooping-cough successfully treated by 
external faradization of the pneumogastric. ELECTRICITY— BEA RD. 
some of the cases, central galvanization was used at one seance 
and general faradization at the next, and so on; or one method 
was used one week and another the following. I soon confirmed 
the results of my previous experiments in that 
children could hear very large doses of electricity, without traceable 
harm. Even children but a few weeks old could be treated by 
general faradization, with a current of moderate strength, for five, 
ten or fifteen minutes, and only good effects were observed. Quite 
frequently the child would go to sleep soon after the application, 
and, after a.short course of treatment, it would develop the now 
well known tonic effects of that method of electrization—increase 
of appetite and of physical vigor. It would nurse more ener- 
getically, exhibit greater liveliness, and, in time, would show a 
general improvement in nutrition. 
Even under the galvanic current, whether used in the method 
of central galvanization, or confined, as far as possible, on the 
pueumogastric, no bad results appeared ; but, for theoretical rea- 
sons, I treated the head with caution. It is, of course, entirely 
possible that some of the disagreeable effects that follow 
electrization of adults may have been experienced by some of 
these infants; it is possible that the malaise, the tiredness, the 
muscular soreness, and the nervous irritability that annoy adults 
who have been over-electrized, may be experienced also to some 
degree by infants, for they have neither the intelligence to observe 
nor the voice to accurately express their feelings. All these 
unpleasant sensations may temporarily follow over-treatment of 
adults, even when the permanent effects are only good. As a rule, 
however, when patients sleep, and eat, and digest better after elec- 
trical treatment, there are no accompanying or complicating evil 
symptoms; and hence I conclude that infants are not as susceptible 
to electrization as adults; that there is some quality in the infantile 
constitution that renders it capable of bearing electricity, and that the 
necessity of adapting and dividing the dose according to the age does 
not hold of electrical applications, whether local or general. 
Besides these facts of the tolerance of electricity and the general 
tonic influence of the treatment, special improvement in the 
whooping-cough soon became apparent. The paroxysms became 4 
ELECTRICITY— BEARD. 
less violent and distressing and were diminished in frequency, and 
the, whoop was modified in quality. These effects were observed 
early in the treatment, and in all the cases. It should he added 
that all the cases had been treated by usual medication—some of 
them by quinine and belladonna—and that this was suspended 
when the electrical experiments were begun, or a very few days 
subsequently. In some of the cases, the duration of the disease— 
at least of the violent stage of it—was clearly shortened; in others 
this effect was not apparent; but in all cases there was rapid 
relief. At first, general and local faradization was tried, but it 
was subsequently found that central galvanization was more 
effective, and then that method was used exclusively. 
Case I.—Annie Parks, age two years, had just recovered from 
diphtheria and pneumonia, when she was taken with whooping- 
cough—cough very bad at night, raises great quantity of phlegm ; 
considerable fever; cheeks very red and flushed; does not sleep 
well at night. Commenced treatment, January 17th, by central 
galvanization, every other day. The 22d inst., the nurse says the 
cough is better; does not cough so hard; sleeps better; continued 
to improve slowly until 26th, when the nurse said she coughed 
only half as often as at first. Every time she has a bad spell, her 
bowels move and she vomits. February 2, about the same, but, 
after this application, she began to improve; February 14th, has 
slept well for the last two nights, and did not cough all night; 
19th, only whooped twice during the day—at, night perfectly free 
from cough; 23d, has. not whooped in two days, but has a little 
irritating cough ; February 28th, discharged cured. 
Case ll.—Florence O’Neil, age twenty months; has had a 
cough for a week, but has only whooped the last two days; 
cheeks very red and quite feverish ; is very restless; cannot sleep 
at night, in consequence of a severe, tearing cough ; has a whoop- 
ing spell about every hour; is a yery nervous child, and has a 
sullen, disagreeable disposition; her mother is in the lunatic 
asylum. Florence has had intermittent fever, and considerable 
trouble with hpr stomach and bowels. Commenced treatment, by 
central galvanization, January 22d—central galvanization every 
other day; January 29th, has not whooped more than three times 5 
ELECTRICITY— BEARD. 
since last application, but she has that tearing cough almost all 
the day and night, though she does not raise anything; it annoys 
her so that she cannot sleep at night; February 7th, continues 
about the same, only she is getting very weak from loss of sleep 
and no appetite; skin hot and dry, and when in bed she is continu- 
ously turning her head from side to side; February 14th, does not 
sleep or eat, but the cough is somewhat better; February 16th, 
cough improving; February 19th, has not whooped since last 
application, but she appears to be failing very fast; has a fever 
which comes on every night, lasts all night, and keeps her awake 
until near morning, when she gets a little sleep; her bowels are in 
very bad condition, frequent discharges of a greenish hue occur- 
ring ; stomach very irritable; vomits almost everything taken; 
stimulants always make her warm. During the last thirty-six 
hours of her life, has had fourteen convulsions. Died, February 
23d, 1874. 
Case 111.—Johannah Smith, age twelve months—a very small 
child of her age, and very delicate; has very light eyes, hair and 
complexion; her father is dead, and her mother is in the insane 
asylum; has just taken the whooping-cough; only whoops two or 
three times a day, but has a tearing cough, which bothers her 
nearly all night. Commenced treatment, by central galvaniza- 
tion, February 26th ; February 28th, nurse thinks she is better, 
but she whoops as often as before; March 7th, continues about the 
same, only whooping three or four times in twenty-four hours; 
March 9, her tearing cough as bad as ever, but only whoops about 
twice in twenty-four hours; March 12, has not whooped since last 
application ; cough is much better during day, but bad at night; 
16th, about the same; 19th, whooped once since last application, 
but her cough is much better; March 29th, has continued to 
whoop once during the day, but cough much better; sleeps all 
night; April 13th, has not whooped since last application ; cough 
disappeared. Discharged cured. 
resume of sixteen cases op whooping-cough, treated by 
CENTRAL GALVANIZATION. 
1. Frank Klebt, age seventeen months; commenced treatment, 
October 24th; made three applications ; October 27th, recovered. 6 
ELECTRICITY— BEARD. 
This case was complicated with congenital syphilis and great 
debility, for which general faradization was used. 
2. William Kien, age five years; commenced treatment, Octo- 
ber 24th ; made fourteen applications ; November 24th, recovered. 
3, Lulu Ellis, age two years and nine months; commenced 
treatment, October 24th; made sixteen applications; November 
24th, recovered. 
4. Mary A. Graham, age four months; commenced treatment, 
October 26th ; made fourteen applications ; November 24th, 
recovered. 
5. Fredda Schmidt, age four years; commenced treatment, 
October 26th ; made sixteen applications ; November 28th, 
recovered. 
6. Louisa Brown, age five years; commenced treatment, October 
27th; made fourteen applications; December Ist, recovered. 
7. Virginia Brown, age two and a half years; commenced treat- 
ment, October 27th; made twelve applications; November 24th, 
recovered. 
8. Alice O’Grady, age nine months; commenced treatment, 
October 26th ; made thirteen applications ; November 26th, 
•recovered. 
9. Katie Brady, age one year; commenced treatment, October 
26th ; made twenty applications; December 12th, recovered. 
10. Isaac Smith, age five years; commenced treatment, October 
26th; made sixteen applications; December sth, recovered. 
11. Lillie Asian, age two mouths; commenced treatment, Nove- 
mber 11th ; made four applications; November 24th, recovered. 
12. John Oakley, age six weeks; commenced freatment, Novem- 
ber 21st; made two applications; November 26th, recovered. 
13. Alice Duncan, age two months; commenced treatment, 
November 24th ; made twelve applications ; December 20th, 
recovered. 
14. Annie Parks, age two years; commenced treatment, Janu- 
ary 17th, 1874; made eighteen applications; February 28th, 
recovered. 
* 15. Florence O’Neil, age twenty months; commenced treatment, 
January 22d; made thirteen applications to February 19th; 
February 23d, died. 7 
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16. Johannah Smith, age twelve months; commenced treatment, 
February 26th; made twenty applications ; April 13th, recovered. 
Maximum number of applications 20 
Minimum number of applications 2 
Average number of applications 13