A Treatise on Acupuncturation

by James Morss Churchill

The following cases are given by Dr. Haime, which he says support the Theory of Mr. Berlioz.

“Antoinette Boulard, 38 years of age, had experienced in April 1818, a severe attack of Rheumatism, which fixed on the inferior part of the left side of the chest; it gave way in 48 hours to the use of some sedatives, the tepid bath, and the application of a blister to the part in pain.

“Six weeks afterwards I was called to see this woman, who had fallen again into the same state. I found her with the trunk in a state of inability of action, the motion of the respiratory muscles extremely difficult, and the plaintive tone of voice indicated the violence of the pain, which drew from her cries on the least motion. The pulse was small and concentrated, but without sensible acceleration; the body was covered with cold sweats; and the unhappy patient, altogether, was in a state of inexpressible anguish. I thought it right to have recourse to the same remedies which had been successful on former occasions; but my hopes were deceived. Three days were passed in this state, and Antoinette obtained no relief: I determined therefore to practice acupunctuation. I introduced a needle[4] at the inferior margin of the cartilages of the false ribs. The instrument had hardly passed to the depth of a few lines, when the patient said the pain had changed its seat, and was descended into the abdomen, at the same time that it had lost much of its violence. I continued the introduction to the depth of an inch; by this means the pain was driven from the abdomen, and permitted the patient to breathe freely: however I maintained the needle in its place for five minutes, and then made a second puncture, and successively a third, in the place where the disease had taken refuge. This third puncture made the pain totally disappear, and the patient cried out that I had restored her to life. Sleep of eight hours duration and a state of perfect calmness succeeded this operation.

“However Antoinette sent for me on the following day, saying her sufferings had returned, but with less violence, and entreated me with much earnestness that I would repeat the operation “seeing” she said, “that it was only the sound,” (for so she named the needle) “which gave her relief.” The operation was this time still more successful. The treatment was now continued for four days, and the last puncture so entirely relieved the pain, that it has not since returned.”

In addition to the above successful case the doctor adds another not less so.

“A woman had suffered for several days with wandering Rheumatic pains, which continued daily to encrease in violence; there were however at all times fixed pains in the shoulder and in the right arm, which acquired such a degree of intensity by intervals, that the patient could not refrain from crying out. She was in this state when she came to consult me: finding, however, neither alteration in the pulse, nor encrease of heat, nor redness of the skin, nor tension, nor swelling in the part affected, I considered the case to be simple Rheumatalgia, and passed the needle to the middle of the arm, between the fibres of the Triceps Brachialis muscle; the place designated by the patient as the seat of the pain. The pain was driven into the fore arm, and the second puncture caused it to descend into the hand, and a third being made in this part, caused it totally to disappear, and the patient said with delight and astonishment, she was cured; and was so satisfied with this treatment, that she spoke of it to every body. I have not since seen her, although I requested her (and she promised) to return in the event of a relapse.” But the most remarkable case which has occurred to exemplify the triumphant effects of acupuncturation, was that of a girl of 24 years of age. She was naturally healthy and robust, and had enjoyed good health till she was 15 years old, at which time the signs of puberty were manifested. At this period the system became much disturbed, menstruation was established with difficulty, and continued with irregularity; she lost her cheerfulness, and symptoms of the nervous temperament became predominant.—Various nervous symptoms now evinced themselves, and amongst others an obstinate vomiting occurred, which subsided only during very short intervals. She continued in this state for two years[5]. From this time she gradually got worse, and in addition to the habitual vomiting which she had endured from the age of 16, she suffered extremely from violent general convulsions. Some medicines were now given which relieved the sickness, and the use of the cold bath suspended the convulsions. After the treatment had been continued two months, she was visited by Dr. Haime, (to whose description of this interesting case, I am indebted for these particulars,) who found her labouring under partial convulsions, with a disposition to vomit occasionally. The means which had been before employed were still continued, but the symptoms became more aggravated, but were a little subdued by blood-letting from the saphena vein. The convulsions were almost wholly removed, at least had become only partial; the spasmodic efforts being concentrated on the diaphragm and stomach; but a nervous hiccup supervened which acquired such a degree of intensity, that the unhappy patient experienced no intervals of ease. All the known antispasmodic remedies were now tried during the space of six months without any benefit. Blisters to the pit of the stomach afforded no sort of relief, and the cold bath gave but a short and temporary alleviation. Scarifications followed by the application of a cupping glass were made on the side of the Dorsal Vertebræ, and the situations corresponding to the pillars of the Diaphragm, which suspended the symptoms but for a few days: relief was only partially obtained by the cautery, and the hiccup returned with its original force accompanied with such a convulsive affection of the stomach, that this organ appeared to act like a pair of bellows, alternately receiving and expelling large quantities of air. At length when the hiccup ceased, it was replaced by partial convulsions or some other symptoms, and vice versa.

Seeing the want of success of all attempts to cure this obstinate disease, and reduced to the necessity of remaining a mere spectator of its dreadful effects, Dr. Haime consulted every book which he conceived might give him some information by which some other curative measure might be suggested; but his researches were totally unsatisfactory, until he met with Dr. Berlioz’s observations upon Acupuncturation, when, not less struck with the curious facts which Dr. Berlioz relates, than with the efficacy which it was reported to possess in nervous diseases, he resolved to try it as a sort of forlorn hope, upon his present patient: he accordingly proposed it to her, and readily obtained her consent to its performance. He communicated his intention to Doctor Bretonneau, Physician to the general hospital, who had seen the case with him, and had often spoken of it; and in his presence he performed the operation for the first time. A needle was introduced perpendicularly at the centre of the Epigastrium, and the two physicians soon became convinced of the astonishing promptitude of the remedy; for the instrument had hardly passed to the depth of a few lines, when the symptoms vanished as it were by enchantment. The operation not appearing to be painful to the patient, the introduction of the needle was continued to half its length, in depth from twelve to fifteen lines, where it was suffered to remain for five minutes. The result was a perfect calmness, and a total suspension of the hiccup for three days, when the same symptoms returning, the needle again was had recourse to, and with the same efficacious effect as at first; and the operation was performed again and again, at longer or shorter intervals, according as the symptoms re-appeared, and always with the same advantages. Dr. Bretonneau became convinced of its efficacy by himself performing it several times. The treatment of the case was thus continued, selecting the part for the introduction of the needle, according to the situation of the symptoms which each operation was intended to alleviate; and Dr. Haime asserts, it never once failed of success; for the convulsive motions of the head, the instrument was passed into the muscles of the neck; into the masseter muscle, to relieve constant gaping; and into the fore arm when these muscles were affected; and thus, by pursuing the disease as it were, the convulsive disposition was entirely removed, and the patient restored to health.

For the fidelity with which I have reported this case, I refer the reader to Dr. Haime’s own record in the 13th volume of the “Journal Universal des Sciences Medicales,” and should further evidence of the efficacy of this remedy be necessary from other authority, I have but to mention the experience of Dr. Demours of Paris, who has recently confirmed[6] the report of Messrs. Berlioz and Haime. He dwells with particular force upon its good effects in Ophthalmia, for which he directs five or six needles to be passed between the fibres of the supraspinatus muscle. His method of performing the operation I shall presently notice when describing this part of my subject. The following cases which have occurred in my own practice, I shall now lay before my readers, and I doubt not but I shall make it appear that the beneficial effects of the remedy employed, are sufficiently flattering to deserve the esteem I hold it in, and to justify me in bringing the subject into general notice.