Galvanization of the sympathetic is strongly advocated by German writers—namely, Eulenburg, Dusch, Guttmann, Von Chvostok, Meyer, Leube—and in this country by Bartholow and others, as not only useful, but sometimes effecting a cure. The following extract from a treatise by Bartholow embraces rules for the employment of this therapeutic agent: "Recent cases treated efficiently by galvanism are relieved permanently or their course and progress much modified. During exacerbations, which constitute a prominent feature of the clinical history, the passage of a sufficient galvanic current through the pneumogastric immediately lessens the cardiac excitement. In the treatment for curative results a mild current is held to be most efficient (Chvostok). An electrode—the anode—is placed in the angle behind the jaw, and the cathode on the epigastrium, and a stabile current is allowed to flow for three to five minutes. The cervical spine should also be galvanized. It may be included in a circuit by placing the anode over the vertebræ in turn whilst the cathode rests on the epigastrium. Stabile may be varied by labile applications. The faradic current may be used successfully. An instance of this kind has come under my notice. The first published cases illustrating the curative value of galvanism were those of Chvostok (1871), who followed with a series of examples the next year, when Meyer also reported several cases. In 1874, I read a paper before the medical section of the American Medical Association advocating this plan of treatment, and illustrated its advantages by the details of five cases. In 1878, Vizioli, in a paper on electropathy, amongst others narrated several cases of Basedow's disease cured. In making the claim for the curative power for electricity the reader should understand that uncomplicated cases only are referred to."10 Rosenthal gives the following directions: "The ascending stabile galvanic current, from one to ten elements, is passed through the cervical sympathetic (the anode in the mastoid fossa and the cathode upon the upper cervical ganglion) for eight to ten minutes at a time. The current is also directed transversely across the thyroid tumor, or an ascending current may be applied to the cervical and upper dorsal vertebræ."11 Guttmann states that temporary reduction of the frequency of the heart's action is first produced, but by persisting in the electrical treatment the reduction becomes permanent, together with progressive improvement as regards the exophthalmia and the thyroid enlargement.12
10 Medical Electricity, by Roberts Bartholow, M.D., LL.D., etc., Philadelphia, 1881.
11 Clinical Treatise on the Diseases of the Nervous System, by M. Rosenthal, translated by L. Putzel, M.D., New York, 1878.
12 Vide article entitled "Basedowsche Krankheit," in Real-Encyclopedie, Wien and Leipzig, 1880.
DISEASES OF THE PERICARDIUM.
BY J. M. DACOSTA, M.D., LL.D.
Pericarditis.