The Electric Bath

by George M. Schweig

Atony of the muscularis of the intestine is admittedly the direct cause, in most instances, of constipation. It is the condition known as “torpor of the bowels.” It is ordinarily due to abnormal innervation of the parts. The inefficient innervation may be—and in females frequently is—reflex, or its cause may be sought for in the central nervous system. The condition of the voluntary abdominal muscles is likewise a factor in the alvine process. Sluggishness of the abdominal (portal) circulation is a not infrequent etiological concomitant of constipation, and, finally, the conditions grouped as “dyspepsia” may form the causative feature of a case. I have mentioned these different causes simply in order to account to some extent for the almost wonderful effects in this condition of electric baths. When we consider that in every one of the morbid conditions here enumerated, electricity is a very efficient remedy, and that for the resulting muscular atony it may be called a specific, it will not appear surprising that a mode of application which brings the electric influence to bear on both cause and effect—often on a combination of several of the causes enumerated, should be attended with such brilliant results. I have thus far met with no failure in the electro-balneological treatment of constipation.

In the majority of cases the following method has proven the most efficient. The first ten minutes of the bath should be devoted to the administration of a galvanic current, as intense as can comfortably be borne by the patient. The one pole should be connected with the head-electrode, the other, by means of the surface board, applied alternately, to the epigastrium, chiefly, and to the hypogastric region. The current should a portion of the time be ascending, the rest descending. Occasionally the current should be rapidly reversed by means of the commutator, the intensity however having been previously reduced, in order to avoid too severe a shock; this will cause efficient contractions of the abdominal parietes, and probably also of the intestinal muscularis. The second ten minutes of the bath should be devoted to faradization, employed in the same manner as the previous galvanization, only that here the direction of the current is immaterial, and no reversals are requisite. The current should be of sufficient intensity to produce energetic but not painful contractions of the abdominal parietes.

Case XXVIII. Mrs. * *, aet. 55, in average health, without however being robust, had suffered from constipation for about thirty years. She had had every possible medicinal treatment, with no avail. Nothing had ever ameliorated her condition. Without the aid of a cathartic, her bowels moved but once every week or ten days. She was of course compelled frequently to resort to laxatives. In the fall of 1873 I ordered her electric baths. She was not very energetic in anything, and this lack of energy caused her to take the baths less frequently than I desired her to. Had she taken them regularly, she would probably have been restored in as many weeks as it took months to effect her restoration. As it was, she took some thirty baths in the course of about fifteen months. For nearly a year past she has had a passage every day with the utmost regularity. No adjuvant treatment was employed in this case.

Case XXIX.* Emil Miller, a bright child two years of age, was brought for treatment July 7th, 1874. He had suffered from obstinate constipation almost from his birth. Had been under the care of several physicians, but had never received any benefit from treatment. Even with the aid of powerful cathartics, given in doses suitable for an adult rather than a child, defecation took place only once every three or four days, and was so exceedingly painful as to elicit cries of pain from the child. The feces were always hard and lumpy, and of an abnormally light color. A digital examination per rectum revealed considerable flaccidity. My diagnosis was paresis of the muscularis of the intestine. I ordered faradic baths. On July 12th the first bath was administered, and I must confess that the result was a perfect surprise to me. True, I had expected a cure to take place; but I had looked for gradual improvement, and was not prepared for a result such as was here obtained. From the time the first bath was taken, defecation took place regularly once a day, without pain; the feces became perfectly normal both as to color and consistency, and the boy continues to the present day to defecate regularly and in every respect normally. To insure permanency, the baths were continued, at first twice, then once a week. They have now been discontinued for upwards of a year, there being no occasion for their further use. No other therapeutic measures, internal or external, were resorted to in this case, nor was any change made in the diet of the child.

HYDRARGYROSIS.

The etiology of this condition requires no comment. I will simply relate a case illustrative of the eliminative effects of galvanic baths.

Case XXX.* Mercurial Stomatitis. Mr. S., about 35 years of age, came to me for treatment in the fall of 1872. He then had indurated chancre, two buboes and syphilitic sore throat. He had had the chancre for six weeks before applying to me, but had been, he said, ashamed to consult a physician. Before medication had had time to make any impression on the disease, roseola appeared. The syphilis was very obstinate in this patient, compelling me to keep him under the influence of mercury for a long time. In October 1873, the patient presented himself with a very aggravated mercurial stomatitis. The customary remedies, internal as well as external, made little or no impression on the affection. On November 11th, I discontinued all other treatment, and ordered a course of galvanic baths. He took his first bath on the same day. This was repeated every alternate day until six baths had been taken, when all symptoms of the disease had disappeared. He has had no mercurial trouble since then. The descending galvanic current from a zinc-carbon battery was used throughout.

LOCOMOTOR ATAXIA.

Were it not for the remarkable results obtained in the following case, I should not have felt justified in devoting any space to an allusion to this formidable disease. I insert the case as it was published in No. 216 of the “Medical Record.” I have to add that the patient, some six months ago, suffered a relapse, which however is not nearly as aggravated as his former condition, nor are the symptoms so pathognomonic. I had a letter from him about a week previous to my writing this, in which he states that he intends soon to come to the city for the purpose of taking another course of treatment. Even if the treatment however has not had the effect of curing the disease—and this I do not claim for it, it has been of sufficient importance if it has resulted in arresting for a time its progress, giving the patient temporary comfort, and prolonging life. Further trial may possibly have better results—in more recent cases—with respect to permanency.

Case XXXI.* Mr. W., aet. 48, came to consult me January 12th, 1874. He had then felt the symptoms of locomotor ataxia for about six years. Had been unable for several years to walk without the aid of a cane. When walking he dragged his right leg along in a semicircle, and was able to accomplish very short distances only. There were almost complete anæsthesia and great paresis of the bladder. The same conditions were observable in regard to the bowels. Anæsthesia of both lower extremities existed, complete in every respect in the right leg, almost so in the left. Dyspepsia and general debility and emaciation accompanied the disease. Treatment was begun on January 15th. I prescribed phosphorus and cod-liver oil, and passed a strong galvanic current through the spine for probably ten minutes. January 16th, a galvanic bath was administered. Towards the close of the bath (which occupied twenty minutes), patient thought he felt some sensation in his legs. The baths were taken every two or three days, alternating with strong galvanizations of the spine. While taking his second bath, patient remarked that “his right leg felt warm for the first time in six years.” The treatment as described was continued for about six weeks, during the latter part of which the local applications were gradually diminished in frequency, the baths being continued regularly. Medication was discontinued about this time. About the middle of March. Mr. W. was enabled to resume his occupation (paymaster’s assistant on the Erie Railway). His improvement had been rapid and steady. All the symptoms gradually disappeared, and in the beginning of April the patient was, with the exception of some feebleness, consequent on his protracted illness, as well as ever. He continues so to the present day.[17] He still takes two or three baths a month, but has had no other treatment since May (1874). He walks freely without a cane, and talks jocosely of running footraces. All functions are performed normally.