APPENDIX.

In the following Appendix I have massed together observations on the value of electricity as a therapeutic agent, made by many independent observers, at home and abroad, of past times and of the present day; and it affords me much pleasure in being the medium of introducing to the profession several very important and interesting original communications, by gentlemen who are working silently around us, and who, unappealed to, would perhaps bury their valuable experience with them.

I may draw attention to the effects of the electro-magnetic current upon the bladder and rectum, as reported by Mr. Simon, Surgeon to St. Thomas's Hospital, and Medical Officer to the General Board of Health.

Also the case of paraplegia recorded by Dr. Joseph Bullar, of Southampton, a well known and conscientious observer of nature's laws.

Dr. Charles Taylor, Medical Superintendent to the Walton Lodge Asylum, Liverpool, has also most kindly allowed me to publish his valuable and original observations.

Aldini, in his work published in this country in 1803, recommends galvanism as a remedial agent, and gives cases of cure of melancholy madness and deafness; in amaurosis he states that benefit was derived under the galvanic current, but none under electricity.

M. P. Sue, Ainé, in his "Histoire du Galvanisme," Paris, 1805, gives so many, and such remarkable cures with the

aid of galvanism, that it is extraordinary to me how so valuable a remedy could have fallen into oblivion: success must to a great extent depend upon the operator, as otherwise it could not have done so.

As the opinions of impartial, uninterested observers, are always of extreme value in giving weight to your own, I have pleasure in extracting the following excellent cases recorded by Dr. Buxton in the twenty-fourth volume of the Medical Times and Gazette, page 311. Dr. Buxton prefaces his cases by a few remarks upon apparatus, which are unnecessary here. He concludes, by stating those diseases which are most amenable to treatment; and, as I fully concur in the method of treatment he recommends (except in one or two instances, I should have used the continuous current instead, or at the same time as the electro-magnetic), I shall insert them as they stand.

"The complaints in which I have found electro-magnetism useful, are those characterised by local torpidity of nervous action not arising from organic disease. Instances of this kind are amenorrhoea suppressionis, paralysis e plumbo, partial paralysis consequent on rheumatism or other enfeebling diseases, or resulting from a strain or other local injury, some cases of indigestion, with their consequences, as tic doloreux, and some instances of asthma. cases in which we cannot suppose nervous action to be deficient, but rather abnormal, or in excess, it alters it, so as to subdue pain. By its stimulating powers it also produces resolution of some indolent tumours, and has been of use in chronic varix.

In some

"I am inclined to the opinion, however, that asthma is more readily subdued by galvanism than by electro-magnetism; at any rate, I cannot lay claim to much success for the latter in the cases which have come under my care.

PARALYSIS OF THE ARMS FROM RHEUMATISM.

"I.-JAMES LATTEN, aged 45, cook to a sea-captain. "September 21st, 1844.-He arrived in England in the middle of last June, after a ten-weeks' voyage. During

this time he was exposed to much inclement weather, which brought on a sharp attack of rheumatism, so that he was confined to his bed the greater part of the voyage. He is now suffering from shortness of breath, general debility, partial paralysis of the arms, with much pain, especially at nights, and attributes these complaints to a severe course of salivation which he underwent on board ship. Since he landed he has been an out-patient at St. Bartholomew's Hospital, where he was ordered blisters to the nape of the neck and upper arms, and not finding himself improving rapidly, obtained other advice, and was ordered small doses of strychnine during a whole month; this proved of some service, both in relieving the pains and paralysis, and he was then recommended to be galvanised. At this time he felt low-spirited, nervous, and unable to use his limbs freely appeared thin, and the arms, but especially the hands and muscles of the thumb, were much shrunk. The electro-magnetic current was passed through the hands and arms pretty strongly for ten minutes. To leave off all medicine.

September 23d.-The hands feel somewhat stronger, and the nocturnal pains in the arms have been less. Repeat the electro-magnetism for a quarter of an hour daily.

"September 25th.-Has had no pains in the arms since the 23d, and feels stronger.

"Up to the end of October he attended regularly, being operated upon from twenty to thirty minutes daily.

"November 28th.-Has come occasionally this month, and now feels nearly as well as before his illness. The hands and arms have steadily improved from the first, and are very much fuller, although not quite so strong as formerly. He has entirely lost the nervousness and depression of spirits. August 8th, 1845.-Arms still are rather weak; in other respects he has been quite well."

"II.-WILLIAM EATON, aged 35, ship-musician, and healthy in appearance, was a messmate of Latten's, and his case was in almost every respect similar, having been taken ill with the same disease at the same time, and

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been treated, both on board and since landing, in the same way; he had not suffered so severely; his hands were less shrunk, and he was not so reduced. The patients always came together, but Eaton improved most rapidly, and left off the treatment about the beginning of December, 1844, at the same time as Latten, being perfectly well, and on the 8th of August, 1845, he could amuse in taverns with his fiddle as well as formerly."

"III. MR. RIORDAN, Ship Tavern, Saffron Hill, of middle age, and healthy appearance.

September 6th, 1845.—About a year ago he had an attack of rheumatism, lasting six weeks, and from which he gradually recovered, but the pains settled in the left hand and wrist. A month ago the muscles of the ball of the thumb were much shrunk; he complained of considerable pain in the arm, especially at night and in the morning, and could use that thumb and the forefinger but very imperfectly.

"He was subjected to the action of the coil, from the nape of the neck to the hand, five or six times last month, for twenty minutes each time. It quite removed the pain: the muscles have nearly regained their natural size, and he can use the hand as well as formerly."

MUSCULAR DEBILITY CONSEQUENT ON RHEUMATISM.

"IV.-MRS. PAGE, of 61, Provost Street, City Road, aged 40, married, and mother of nine children. Is of spare and

enfeebled habit.

"About ten years ago she became much heated from quick walking on a cold evening in December, and was then kept waiting outside her house for a quarter of an hour, which chilled her, and caused shiverings, followed the next morning by stiffness in the limbs, with swelling and great pain. This was the commencement of a rheumatic attack, which lasted four months, and left her very weak. Three years ago, soon after the birth of her last child, she again took cold, suffered from erysipelas of the face; the limbs afterwards became affected, and have been gradually getting worse since. The

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hips, and especially the loins, feel powerless; she has pains in the legs continually, and a sensation of numbness and debility extending even to the ankles; in other respects her health appears pretty good, digestion and the uterine functions being regularly performed, and the sleep undisturbed.

"September 22d, 1845.-Was subjected for twenty minutes to the action of the helix, the current being passed from the nucha to the feet.

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September 24th.-After her visit she walked home with much less difficulty than she had in coming hither, and continues to feel decidedly better.

"October 20th.-Has been attending about every second or third day, and is better, but still has soreness in the limbs. She has now and then had a slight relapse from over-exertion, or exposure to the weather.

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January 13th, 1846.—Has attended once or twice a week, and been steadily improving. She has lost the pain in the loins, and weakness and soreness of the limbs and ankles ; can walk further than during the last three years, and, except a little stiffness in the limbs, feels quite well."

PARTIAL PARAPLEGIA FROM DISEASE OF BLADDER AND

URETHRA.

"V.-M. P- a tailor, of spare habit and worn by disease, of about 45 years of age, came under my care on the 16th of August, 1844. Three years ago he became troubled with difficulty in passing water, could not always void it when he felt inclination, and it often came only drop by drop. He had also pain and a feeling of weakness in the back, which has gradually increased. Bougies and catheters have been employed about every three or four days during the greater part of the last two years, and aperients, alteratives, and tonics of various kinds resorted to, but without benefit. is now subject to frequent attacks of retention of urine; the loins and lower extremities are exceedingly weak and painful; he finds great difficulty in walking, and stoops much, being unable to stand erect. For the last eight months he has

He