THE FARADIC TREATMENT 
OF 
% 
UTERINE FIBROIDS. 
BY 
J. T. EVERETT, A.M., M.D., 
STERLING, ILLS. 
Reprinted from the American Journal of Obstetrics and Diseases of 
Women and Children, Vol. XI., No. /., January, 1878. 
N E W YORK: 
WILLIAM WOOD & CO., 27 GREAT JONES STREET. 
1878. THE FARADIC TREATMENT 
OF 
UTERINE FIBROIDS. 
* BY 
J. T. EYERETT, A.M., M.D., 
STERLING, ILLS. 
Reprinted from The American Journal of Obstetrics and Diseases of 
Women and Children, Vol. XI., No. I, January, 1878. 
NEW YORK: 
WILLIAM WOOD & CO., 27 GREAT JONES STREET. 
1878. THE FARADIC TREATMENT OF UTERINE FIBROIDS. 
B1 
J. T. EVERETT, A.M., M.D., 
Sterling, Ills. 
Were we to form an opinion from the standard works on 
surgery, as to what constitutes the proper treatment of uterine 
fibroids, that opinion would be that the proper treatment is to 
let them alone. But, thanks to a few progressive minds, the 
profession is rapidly emerging from the shadows of the past, 
and daring to think and act for itself, using such therapeutic 
agents as common sense and experience suggest. 
According to the universal testimony of the leading authors, 
surgical interference with subperitoneal and interstitial fibroids 
has caused grave results. But ergot has been used endermi- 
cally, per orem, and also thrown into the substance of the tumor 
with marked success, by such men as Ilildebrandt, White, By- 
ford, Chroback, Jackson, and many other lesser lights. 
Judging, then, from analogy, we are led to the conclusion 
that the faradic current will also be a valuable agent in caus- 
ing the reduction and extrusion of these morbid growths. 
Having used it many times with entire success in cases of 
inertia uteri, placenta previa, and post-partum hemorrhage, and 
having been annoyed by the unsatisfactory and dangerous ef- 
fects of ergot, I was led to try the faradic current in a case of 
uterine fibroid, and the result was very gratifying. 
The principal objections to the use of ergot in these cases are : 
the difficulty of obtaining a reliable preparation ; its tendency 
to disturb nutrition and the secretions ; the alarming cerebral 
symptoms which frequently follow its continued administra- 
tion ; its tendency to produce local inflammations of the stomach, 
bowels, or uterus; the intense pain always, and the abscesses 
usually produced by its hypodermic administration. These, 
with other minor reasons, induced me to place my chief reli- 
ance upon the faradic current as the most desirable agent in 
the treatment of the following cases in my practice : 4 
Everett : The Faradic Treatment 
Case I.—July 1, 1872, I was called to see Mrs. H. S. W., aged 
37, multipara. I found patient much exsanguined and very 
weak. She had been troubled for two years with exhausting hemor- 
rhage, usually at the monthly epoch, but occasionally in the interval. 
For the last two months there had been no cessation, and it was now 
alarming. 
On making an examination, I found the uterus much enlarged, ex- 
tending half way to the umbilicus, and at the patulous os was pre- 
senting the apex of an ovoid fibrous polypus, with pedicle attached 
to the fundus uteri. As the patient had been already thoroughly 
ergotized, until the stomach rejected all medicine, by another physi- 
cian, who was treating her for a suspected miscarriage, electricity 
appeared to me to be the only admissible remedy, and I proceeded to 
use it in the following manner : 
Placing the negative electrode—a copper disc, protected by a mois- 
tened cloth—at the sacro lumbar j unction, I used my hand as the posi- 
tive, grasping the fundus of the womb, and pressing downward and 
backward, and passed a current from a double Smee cell through a 
Kidder helix. This treatment was continued for twenty minutes, 
during which time the enlarged uterus could be felt to contract 
strongly, and at the termination of the seance the flow had almost 
entirely ceased, and gave no further trouble during the treatment. 
The faradic treatment was continued daily, accompanied by the free 
use of iron and quinine as soon as the gastric irritability per- 
mitted. 
July 25th, the os being well dilated and the walls retracted, I 
seized the tumor with a pair of strong forceps, and twisting off the 
pedicle, removed the growth, which was the size of a goose's egg. 
No hemorrhage occurred after the operation, and the patient made a 
good, though slow and tedious recovery. She has since borne a liv- 
ing and healthy child. 
Case II.—I was consulted in the spring of 1873 by Mrs. II. S. 
B., aged 32, mother of two children, who complained of intense 
dysmenorrhea, with menorrhagia and severe general disturbance at 
the menstrual epoch. 
As no examination was permitted, I simply prescribed an anodyne, 
with alteratives and tonics. I saw the patient at irregular intervals 
during the summer and fall, but she was making no progress ; on the 
contrary, the symptoms of pain and hemorrhage became more marked, 
and a cachetic appearance gave rise to grave fears of carcinomatous 
degeneration. 
Late in the autumn, becoming disgusted with this treatment at 
arm’s length, I insisted upon either an examination, or a change of 
physicians. An exploration then being granted, I found the os very 
much ulcerated and indurated, and, in the anterior wall of the cervix 
and body, a tumor of the size of a pigeon’s egg. The os was treated 
locally and yielded promptly, and the patient was put upon a treat- 
ment of the faradic current as often as possible, in the same manner 
as in Case I., and, in addition, she was given the iodide and the of Uterine Fibroids. 
5 
bromide of potash and ergot. But, as the patient was very erratic 
in her habits, the sittings were not frequent. 
In June the patient moved to an adjoining county and came under 
the care of a skilful practitioner, who agreed with my diagnosis, and 
pursued the same course of treatment until the end of July, when the 
patient became pregnant and the treatment was suspended. 
At full term the patient was'delivered instrumentally, her labor 
being tedious. Hemorrhage of an alarming nature followed, which 
was controlled by the faradic current, which induced strong con 
tractile pains, expelling the placenta and a sub-mucous fibroid the 
size of a hen’s egg. 
The patient made a slow recovery, being troubled for a long time 
with chronic pelvic cellulitis. 
Case III.—I was called, May 24, 1874, to see Mrs. R. H. W., aged 
23, the mother of one child. The patient complained of a swell- 
ing in the left ovarian region, accompanied by severe pain and more 
or less profuse menstrual hemorrhage and leucorrhea. Examina- 
tion revealed a submucous fibroid of the size of a fetal head en- 
closed in the posterior uterine wall. As the patient was a strong 
advocate of homeopathy, and “ could not take strong medicine,” and 
as there was no urgent demand for medication, I decided to try the 
faradic current alone. 
This treatment was given daily for half an hour at each seance, with 
marked decrease in the size of the tumor, until the 28th of August, 
when an intense pain ruptured the mucous membrane of the uterus 
overlying the tumor, and expelled the growth, which had become 
atrophied by the constant pressure upon it. The patient made a 
rapid recovery. 
Case IV.—I was called, July 17, 1874, to see Mrs. H. Le F., 
nullipara, aged 42. I found the patient much exsanguined from the 
effects of profuse flooding, from which she had suffered at intervals for 
the last 12 or 14 years, but which during the last 10 months had been 
almost constant, accompanied by but slight pain and no disagreeable 
symptoms except weakness and prostration. On examination I found 
the womb extending upward to the ensiform cartilage, occupying 
two-thirds of the abdominal cavity. Internally I found a fibroid 
tumor, filling the entire pelvic cavity and presenting at the distended 
os. As the hemorrhage was alarming, I gave a hypodermic injection 
of the aqueous extract of ergot, which lessened the flow somewhat, 
and caused slight contractile pains. This was repeated several times, 
biit as painful abscesses were the result, I was obliged to desist; and, 
as the stomach rejected the ergot, I threw a solution of the extract 
into the uterine cavity, through a male catheter attached to a syringe ; 
the first two injections of this kind worked well, but the third pro- 
duced such grave symptoms of peritonitis, that I was forced to fall 
back upon the faradic treatment alone. 
July 28th.—I introduced four silver insulated needles three or 
four inches into the substance of the growth through the vaginal 
orifice, and connected these with the negative pole of a 20-cell bat- 6 
Everett : The Faradic Treatment 
tery, placing the positive pole, in shape of a copper disc, on the abdo- 
men. This treatment was followed by a free escape of serum, which 
gradually changed to fluid of a purulent character; the latter con- 
tinued for several days. This treatment was repeated upon the fifth 
day with like results, and by the 12th of August the bulk of the 
tumor was greatly diminished. August 20th I passed a platinum 
loop around the lower third of the growth, attached it to a galvano- 
cautery battery, and with gentle traction severed this portion of the 
tnmor and removed it. No hemorrhage or depression following, I 
continued the daily faradization. Sept. 25th, the tumor being 
greatly reduced in size and the os well dilated, I passed the platinum 
loop around the pedicle and removed the tumor entire, notwithstand- 
ing its enormous size. The patient made a rapid recovery, and is 
now enjoying good health. 
Case V.—1 was consulted in the spring of 1875, by Mrs. S. E. 
B., aged 42, mother of one child. The patient complained of in- 
tense pain in the right ovarian region and severe nervous disturbances 
at the approach of the monthly epoch, with nausea and vomiting, and 
pi’ofuse and often exhausting hemorrhage. 
Upon examination I found a submucous fibroid of the size of a 
goose’s egg, involving the posterior wall of the uterus. 
As the patient lived a long distance from the city, I simply pre- 
scribed iod. pot. and ergot, but, on account of the gastric irritability, 
I was obliged to stop this and advised her to come to the city and 
submit to faradization. June 1, 1876, after waiting a year, the 
patient came, and I commenced the faradic treatment daily, with 
general tonics internally. June 15th, the tumor has lessened in 
size considerably and the flow is entirely controlled. 
July 25th.—The os being well dilated and the womb pressed well 
down into the pelvis, a probe-pointed bistoury was passed up along 
the finger into the uterine cavity, and the mucous membrane along 
the entire length of the growth divided deep into the substance of 
the tumor. The induced current was at once applied, and the hem- 
orrhage from the incision controlled. 
On the 28th, during the treatment, a fragment of the tumor was 
expelled, and similar fragments continued to be extruded spontane- 
ously until August 8th, when the patient was compelled to leave 
town and return home. Treatment was suspended from this time on, 
and the patient was put on the use of ergot, which was now well 
borne. This was continued for some months, when, as the tumor had 
entirely disappeared, all treatment was suspended. 
Case VI.—1 was called in haste, July 19, 1876, to see Mrs. M. 
H., aged 38, mother of one child. I found the patient suffering with 
intense pain, which she called colic. Upon placing the hand over the 
abdomen, a tumor of the size of a child’s head was discovered in the 
right inguinal region, which upon further examination was found to 
be an interstitial fibroid. 
As the colicky pains from which the patient was suffering were 
induced by the contractions of the uterus, and as this was just what of TJterine Fibroids. 
7 
I wanted, the indications were to reinforce and assist nature. I there- 
fore applied the faradic current, and gave internally a capsule con- 
taining pulv. ergot and the syrup of ustilago mydis. This course 
was continued without interruption for seven weeks, with marked 
decrease in the size of the tumor; then, as the ergot disagreed with 
the stomach, it was left off, and the week following the ustilago was 
also discontinued, and the faradism continued for six weeks longer, 
when, as the tumor had nearly disappeared, all treatment was discon- 
tinued. 
Case VII.—I was called, August 15, 1876, to see Mrs. J. H., 
a Swede, aged 37, mother of four children. I found the patient ex- 
sanguined to the last degree. Examination showed a fibrous poly- 
pus depending from a pedicle the thickness of a man’s thumb, at- 
tached to the fundus uteri. As the patient was exceedingly weak 
and the flooding was profuse, not having a battery with me, I put 
the patient upon half-drachm doses of fi. ext. ergot, and ten-drop 
doses of tr. ferri chloridi alternately every four hours. Aug. 16th, 
the patient being but little improved, I used the induced current 30 
minutes, which stopped the flow at once and produced good contrac- 
tile pains. The daily treatment with the secondary current was 
continued for three months, with iron and quinine as needed. 
November 18th.—As the tumor had now contracted to the size of 
a hen’s egg and become hard and cartilaginous, and no improvement 
had been perceptible for the past few weeks, a silver ligature was 
passed around the pedicle, a probe-pointed bistoury passed up along 
the finger, and the pedicle severed with much difficulty on account 
of its density. The tumor was now withdrawn, and presented the ap- 
pearance of white fibrous tissue. 
The patient from this time on made a rapid recovery. 
Case VIII.—I was consulted in the spring of 1876 by Mrs. D. 
B., aged 58, mother of two children. The patient complained of a 
profuse hemorrhage which had been troubling her for some months. 
An examination was refused, and the patient was given an astrin- 
gent solution to use daily as a vaginal wash, and ordered to keep 
quiet. In order the more faithfully to follow these directions, the 
patient made the tour of the Centennial. On her return, much ex- 
hausted from the excessive hemorrhages which she had been sub- 
jected to during her journey, she came and requested an examina- 
tion. I found the uterus extending nearly to the ensiform cartilage, 
bound firmly to the right side, and quite immovable, completely filling 
the pelvic cavity. The probe passed into the uterine cavity 11£ 
inches, showing a submucous fibroid occupying the anterior wall, 
and measuring about inches in diameter, as nearly as could be es- 
timated. I at once commenced faradism, and gave ergot and usti- 
lago. This was continued for four weeks, with good results ; but at 
this juncture the stomach became rebellious, and the medicine was 
discontinued, and in its stead the aqueous extract of ergot adminis- 
tered hypodermically. But this caused painful abscesses, and was in 
turn discontinued. I next threw a quantity of the same preparation 8 
Everett : The Faradic Treatment 
into the uterine cavity, but this produced such alarming symptoms 
that I was compelled to fall back upon the faradic current as my 
last resort. Jamiary 1st, the tumor being greatly lessened in size, I 
thrust an insulated needle deep into the substance of the growth 
from the vagina, and used a strong induced current. 
At the commencement of this treatment the hemorrhage was pro- 
fuse, but after the current had passed for a moment it was checked. 
The mucous membrane soon ruptured along the most prominent por- 
tion of the tumor, and the mass bulged out into the uterine cavity, 
and soon became separated in the centre, remaining adherent at 
either extremity. 
January 28th.—I seized a portion of the mass with strong forceps, 
and twisted off several large fragments. The faradism was continued 
until March 28th, when, as no further improvement was manifested, 
and the os was very rigid, the patient was etherized by my colleague, 
Dr. S. W. Gillespie, and 1 divided the sphincter by a free incision. 
The tumor was then seized, and strong traction made, but without 
bringing it down much. The finger was then passed up along the 
side of the growth, and the various bands of adhesion broken up as 
far as the finger could reach. Another unsuccessful attempt was then 
made at enucleation, and as the tumor was so firmly bound down to 
the uterine wall, and that in turn to its pelvic surroundings, I then 
proceeded to tear off as much as possible of the substance of the tu- 
mor with strong forceps, and succeeded in removing in this manner 
about two pounds of tissue. As the patient now began to show 
symptoms of exhaustion, I concluded to suspend operations. The 
patient recovered from the effects of the operation with marvellous 
rapidity, and although there was a profuse purulent discharge, there 
was not the first symptom of septicemia. The patient is now coming to 
the office for treatment, the remains of the tumor being about the size 
of a goose’s egg, and the womb being quite movable in the pelvic cavity. 
Case IX.—Dec. 21, 1876, I was called to see Mrs. S. A. H., 
aged 48 years, mother of seven children, of fleshy, robust habit. I 
found the patient suffering agonizing uterine pains, with a profuse 
sero-sanguineous discharge from the vagina; feet and ankles edema- 
tous. I found a fibrous polypus of the size of an orange occupying 
the cavity of the uterus. 
The use of the faradic current was commenced, and continued 
daily until the 5th of January. In the meantime I attempted 
to use ergotine hypodermically, but the patient complained so much 
of the pain and inflammation attending the punctures, that after the 
fifth trial I was forced to discontinue their use. 
January 8th.—The tumor being greatly reduced in size, and the 
os well dilated, the tumor was seized with strong forceps and twisted 
off without difficulty. The patient stood the treatment remarkably 
well, and is now coming to the office daily for further treatment. 
The conclusions at which I have arrived, from a review of 
these cases and others which have been reported, are: of Uterine Fibroids. 
9 
1st. The faradie current, if judiciously used, is equally po- 
tent to produce uterine contractions as the preparations of 
ergot. 
2d. It is more easily controlled, can be begun or discon- 
tinued at a moment’s notice, and the dose can thus be more 
judiciously apportioned. 
3d. It never disturbs nutrition or the secretions, and does 
not interfere with digestion. 
4th. It never produces pain in distant organs, is followed by 
no cephalic disturbance or nervous shock. 
5th. It never produces inflammations or other local injury.