ELECTRICITY.
This is also a valuable agent in the treatment of the pains, that are usually distressing. Sometimes the interrupted, sometimes the continuous current acts the best. As a rule, however, a powerful continued current (from ten to forty cells) is the most serviceable. The electrodes should be kept continuously moving up and down the limbs, and the current be occasionally reversed.
Dr. William F. Hutchinson relates the following interesting case[41] of cure by electricity: “About the first of January of the present year, I was requested by Dr. O. C. Wiggin, of this city, to see with him a lady supposed to be suffering with cerebral congestion in an advanced stage.
“A visit to Mrs. S. revealed the following history: Age thirty-nine; married; one child, aged six; and has had one miscarriage; weight about 150 pounds; and general appearance of contour and skin good. Patient kept up a low moaning, answering most of my questions intelligently, then relapsing into a semi-unconscious condition. Pulse 100, compressible; temperature 99°; no loss of control of evacuations; conjunctivæ congested and pupils contracted closely; perspiration starts upon the smallest exertion, which also causes pain in abdomen and excites vomiting, which has lately become persistent, accompanied with intense thirst. Hands and feet cold, with shriveled palms and plantar surfaces. No difference in temperature of head and axilla.
“Ophthalmoscopic examination gave retinal and choroidal congestion, with venous enlargement, slight optic neuritis and choked disk.
“There was constant pain, and sense of fullness in frontal region.
“The only family history that could be obtained bearing upon the case was the death of one sister, a year ago, from acute brain inflammation, the remainder of the immediate family being still living and in good health; and the present condition appeared to be the culmination of six years of almost constant pain and general nerve exhaustion, following the birth of a child, and aggravated by a subsequent miscarriage.
“At this visit no suspicion was entertained by me of any opium habit, and the case was diagnosed as passive cerebral congestion, dependent upon general neurasthenia.
“The next day Dr. Wiggin called and gave me the following additional items, which at once placed the case in its proper light and gave the key to many of the symptoms before cited. After her confinement, which was a long and painful one, she suffered severely from wandering pains in back and hips, for which her attending physician at the time ordered tincture of opium applied externally, giving at the same time ten drops by the mouth, and the ground was broken for the building of the habit. The dose steadily increased until she came under the charge of Dr. Wiggin, some six months previous to my seeing her, when she was taking four ounces of laudanum daily, internally, besides continuing external applications as before. Attempts were made to stop the pernicious habit, but it was too late for wise counsel to avail, and the usual cunning of opium eaters procured for her the drug in spite of every effort of both husband and physician.
“All forms of concurrent medication had been faithfully tried, but nothing was of use except the opium, to which it became absolutely necessary to resort occasionally, as without it the poor lady would arouse the neighborhood with agonizing screams and cries.