It will be seen that the few therapeutic effects which I have here enumerated, are in reality nothing more than intensified physiological effects, there being about them nothing that might be termed specific. It may be asked in reply: why then did I devote any space to them at all? I will answer that I thought best to point out some general therapeutic USES for which electric baths may be made available, and the indications for which are furnished by so great a number of pathological conditions, that omitting special reference to them would have led to a great deal of tautology in the chapter on “special therapeutics.”
Before leaving the subject of “general uses” of the baths, I will dwell for a moment on their admirable adaptability as a
PROPHYLACTIC.
Every physician is fully aware of the fact that disturbances of the circulation constitute one of the most frequent causes of disease. There are, indeed, comparatively few pathological conditions that do not bring with them congestion of some more or less important organ. A remedy then which more than any other has a tendency to equalize the circulation, and thus counteract a condition which as cause or effect, or both, is an almost universal concomitant of disease, and which in addition to this is so admirable and physiological a stimulant and tonic, can hardly be surpassed as a prophylactic by any other uncombined remedy.
Footnotes:
[9] Dr. Hermann Nothnagel: Handbuch der Arzneimittellehre. Berlin, 1870.
CHAPTER V.
SPECIAL THERAPEUTICS AND CLINICAL RECORD.
I have thought it best for practical purposes, to accompany the consideration of the treatment of special diseases by the histories of illustrative cases, where I had such at command.
Before entering on the subject proper, I wish to offer some general considerations that may influence and guide us in determining when, where and why to employ electric baths as a remedy.