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F.LKCTRICITY.

(be cure of cl if eases by electricity, as well as by other means, yetthere would be a manifest defect in this branch of our subject,were we not to mention the particular method of applying theelectric fluid in several of the most common disease*, in whichmedical electricity has been found efficacious.

“ Rheumatic disorders even of lons> s'anding, “ says Mr. Ca-rallo, “ are relieved, and generally cpiite cured by onlv drawingthe electric fluid with a wooden point from the part, or by draw-ing sparks through iLmiel. The operation should be continued forfour or live minutes, repealing it once or twice every day.

“ Deafness, except when occasioned by obliteration, or otherimproper configuration of the parts, is either mlirely or partly curedby drawing the sparks from the ear with the glass tube director, orby drawing the fluid with a wooden point. Sometimes it is notimproper to send exceedingly small shocks from one car to theother. Whenever the ear is electriiied, the discharge of the waxis considerable promoted.

“ d he Toothach, occasioned by cold rheumatism, or inflam-mation, is generally relieved by drawing the electric fluid with apoint, immediately from the part, and also externally from thelace. But when the body of the tooth is affected, electrizationis of no use.

“ Swellings, in general, which do not contain any matter, arcmostly cured bv drawing the electric fluid with a wooden point.In some cases of white swellings, quite cured by electricity, eventhe hones and cartilages were disligured. The operation shouldbe continued for three or four minutes every day.

“ Inflammations of every sort are generally relieved by a verygentle electrization.

“ In Inflammations of the Eves, the throwing of the elec-tric fluid by a wooden point is constantly attended with greatbenefit; the pain being quickly abated and the inflammationgenerally dissipated in a few days. In these cases, the eye of thepatient must be kept open, and care taken not to bring the pointvery near it. Sometimes it is sufficient to throw the fluid with ametal point; for in these cases too great an irritation should heavoided. After throwing the lluid for about half a minute, a shorttime may be allowed to the patient to rest, and to wipe his tears:then the operation may he continued for another half minute, andso on for four or five times every day.

“ d he Gutta Serena has been sometimes cured by electri-zation ; but electricity has proved ineffectual in many such eases.The best method of administering electricity in such casts, is firstto draw the fluid with a wooden point for a short time, and then tosend aboul half a dozen shocks of one-SOth of an inch, from theback and lower part of die head to the forehead, very little abovethe e\e.

“All the cases of Fistula Lachrymalis, as far as I am in-formed, that have been electrified by persons of ability for a suf-ficient time, have been entirely cured. The method generallypractised has been that of drawing the fluid with a wooden point;and to take very small sparks from the part. The operation maybe continued for about three or four minutes every day.

•' Palsies aie seldom effectually cured by electricity, but aregenerally relieved to a certain degree. The method is to draw thefluid with a wooden point, and to draw sparks through flannel, orthrough the usual coverings, if not loo thick, for about live minutesper day.

“ Ulcf.rs or open sores of every kind, even of long standing,are generally disposed to heal by electrization. The general efleetsare a diminution of the inflammation; and a discharge of matter,which gradually lessens till tliesor: is quite cured. The gentlestelectrization must he mod. To draw or throw the fluid with awooden or metal point, for three or four minutes per day, is quitesufficient.

“ Cutaneous Eruptions have been successfully' treated withelectrization, but if the wooden point is kept too near the skin, soas to cause anv considerable irritation, the eruption will some-times spread more: but if kept at about six inches distance, theeruptions will be gradually diminished till they are quite cured.A warmth about the electriiied part is a s ; gu that the electrizationis rightly administered. N

“The application of electricity has perfectly cured various*ascs ol’b'x. Vitus’s Dance, or of that disease commonly called

so. Shocks of about one-1 Dili of an inch may be sent through thebody in various directions, and sparks may be taken.

“ Scrofulous Tumours, when just beginning, are generallycured by drawing the electric fluid with a wooden or metal pointfrom the part.

“ In Cancers, the pains only are mostly alleviated by drawingthe electric fluid with a wooden or metal point. 1 know' of onecase only, in which a most confirmed cancer of very long standing,on the breast of a lady, lias been milch reduced in size. 'Thispatient was so far relieved by drawing the fluid with a metal pointfrom the part, that the excruciating pains she had suffered for manyyears, did almost entirely disappear. When the electric fluid wasdrawn by a wooden point, the pains rather increased. This per-son, when 1 heard of her last, was still under the electricity, andthe cancer seemed not unlikely to be perfectly cured, contrary tothe expectations even of the judicious physician who electrifiedher.

“ Abscesses , when beginning, and when there is any tendencyto form matter, electrization dispersed. Latelv, in a case in whichmatter was formed upon the hip, called the lumbar abscess, the.disease was perfectly cured by electricity. 'The sciatica has alsobeen often cured by it. In all such cases the electric fluid mustbe sent through the part, by means of two directors applied to op-posite parts, and in immediate contact either witli the skin, or withthe coverings, when very thiu.

“In cases of Pulmonary Inflammations, when beginning,electrization has sometimes been beneficial; but in confirmeddiseases of the lungs, I do not know that it ever ailorded any un-questionable benefit.

“ Nervous Head-aciis, even of longstanding, are generallycured by electrization. The electric fluid must be thrown with awooden and sometimes even with a metal point, all round thehead successively. Shocks can seldom be used, because thenerves of persons subject to this disease are so very irritable, thatthe shocks, the sparks, &c. throw them into convulsions.

“ The application of electricity has often been found beneficialin the Dropsy when just beginning, but it lias never been of anyuse in advanced dropsies. 'The electric fluid is sent through thepart in various directions ; and sparks are drawn across the flannel,or eloaths, for at least ten minutes. Perhaps a simple electrization,(viz. to insulate the patient, and connect him with the prime con-ductor, while the machine is in action,) continued for an hour ortwo, would he more beneficial.

“ 'Phe Gout has been cured by electricity in various instances.'The pain has been generally mitigated, and sometimes the diseasehas been removed so effectually as nut to return. In those casesthe electric lluid has been thrown by a wooden point, thoughsometimes, when the pain was too great, a metal point only wasused.

“ Agues very seldom fail of being cured by electricity, so thatsometimes one electrization or two have heeu suffic ient. 'Themost effectual method is drawing sparks through flannel or fliceloaths for about ten minutes, either at the time of the fit, or a shortwhile before it is expec ted.

“ The Suppression of the Ordinary Periodical Fluxes ofwomen has often been cured by electricity, even when the diseasehas been of long standing, and alter the most powerful medicineshave proved ineffectual. Small shocks of one-20th of an inch maybe sent throu-h the pelvis; sparks may he taken through theeloaths from the parts adjacent to the seat of the disease; and theelectric fluid mav be transmitted by applying the metallic orwooden extremities of two directors to the hips, in contact withthe- e loaths. 'The number of shucks may be about 12 or 14. 'Theother applications may be continued for two to three minutes, re-peating the operation every tlav. But strong shocks should beavoided.”

We shall conclude this account of medical electricity w ith ol>'serving that there are two general effects of electricity on thehuman body, of which it should seem, that physicians might greatlyavail themselves. 'These are, that it promotes insensible perspi-ration and glandular secretion. 'The former is effected by simpleelectrification, and the latter bv taking sparks from the glands orparts contiguous to them on which it acts like a stimulus.

ELECTRICS,