Part 9

Take B D current, forceful as the patient can bear, and treat briefly--say five to seven minutes, several times a day, until relief is experienced.

Place N. P., long cord, low on back of neck, and move P. P. over all the upper part of the lungs. Then remove N. P. to the lower dorsal vertebrae, just above the kidneys, and treat with P. P. over the lower part of the lungs. If typhoid symptoms attend, follow the above with placing P. P., medium force, on back of neck, close below the cranium, and N. P. at coccyx, two or three minutes.

PULMONARY PHTHISIS. (Consumption.)

After tubercles have been formed extensively in the lungs, and have softened down over considerable area, carrying down the pulmonary tissue with them into a state of pus, there is commonly but little hope of successful treatment. But where they are restricted to comparatively small extent, and no ulceration exists, they may be decomposed and absorbed away, or be thrown off in expectoration, and the affected parts be healed.

If the case be a recent one, and acute fever, combined, perhaps, with more or less inflammation, appear in the lungs, use the A C current, in moderate force, yet all the patient can bear without special distress. Place N. P., long cord, upon the upper dorsal vertebrae for treating the upper part of the lungs, or upon the lower dorsal vertebrae for treating their lower part. Then pass P. P. over all the affected parts. Treat in this manner five to eight minutes, daily, until the inflammation is suppressed, which will be indicated by an abatement of the extreme sensitiveness and lancinating pain under the electrode. Then, if feverish action continue high, remove the N. P. to the coccyx, or to the lower part of the sacrum, taking the B D current, mild force, with cords of equal length, and treat, as before, with P. P. over the affected parts, and also over the thorax generally, and along down the spine to the lower dorsal vertebrae. Continue this treatment ten to fifteen minutes, daily, until the fever is removed, or nearly so. For this part of the treatment, it is best to use the hand as the P. electrode, and to diffuse the current over the whole palm of the hand wherever special soreness appears. It is better, also, that the patient receive the treatment in bed, secure from any chilliness or current of air, so as to facilitate perspiration.

If the case be one of long standing, and more or less of pus, or pus and tubercles, be raised in coughing, take the A D current, with equal cords and very mild force. Reduce the quantity of battery fluid if necessary. Now place P. P. at the coccyx and treat with N. P., (the hand is here much the best), over all the diseased parts. Change occasionally by removing P. P. to back of neck with long cord. The object is to bring the diseased parts under a very light force of the A D current, such as is especially healing in old ulcers and chronic irritation. But if this action should at any time increase fever or inflammation in the lungs, the poles must be reversed for one or two treatments. In this stage of the disease, treat ten to twelve or fifteen minutes, daily, for three or four days, and after that, three times a week.

NEURALGIA AND RHEUMATISM OF THE HEART.

If neuralgia, use B D current; if rheumatism, use A D. In either case, treat the heart with P. P., moderate force, placing N. P. at lower dorsal or upper lumbar vertebrae. Treat five to eight minutes, daily, until relief is gained.

Rheumatism of the heart may be distinguished from neuralgia by its occasioning irregularity in the cardiac contractions, commonly a sense of soreness and pain under pressure by the hand, and often perceptible enlargement of the organ, which neuralgia does not, and also by its pains being more constant--less fitful--than those of neuralgia.

ENLARGEMENT, OR OSSIFICATION OF THE HEART.

Treat these two affections in the same way. Take the A D current, moderate force. Place N. P. at the coccyx, or alternately there and, with long cord, on the spine opposite to the heart. Manipulate with P. P. over the heart. Treat five to eight minutes, three times a week.

PALPITATION OF THE HEART.

This is commonly a symptomatic or sympathetic affection--rarely idiopathic--and disappears on cure of the disease from which it proceeds. It usually denotes nervous weakness, and often general debility. General tonic treatment is indicated, as far as can be given without interfering with the proper treatment of any local affections on which the palpitation depends.

TORPID LIVER.

Take A D or B D current, full medium force. Treat with N. P. over the liver, at the right side, immediately below the short ribs, and thence backward and a little upward, as far as to the spine, holding P. P. on the left side, close under the ribs, for about four to six minutes. Then remove P. P. to the spine, on back of neck, two or three minutes. Next, go with the P. P. to coccyx two or three minutes; continuing, as at first, to manipulate with N. P. over the liver. Let the whole treatment occupy some eight to twelve minutes. Repeat the sittings about three times a week.

HEPATITIS. (Inflammation of Liver.)

Use the B D current, with what force the patient can bear. Place N. P. at the coccyx, and also somewhat on the trunk, opposite to the inflammation. Then manipulate with P. P. over the inflamed and sore part. Treat five to eight minutes, once or twice a day.

ENLARGEMENT OF LIVER.

Take A D current, with medium force. Place N. P., some three to five minutes, on left side, over the spleen; and then as much longer at the coccyx. Manipulate with P. P. over the liver. Treat about three times a week. If the enlargement be recent, it will subside; if of long standing, its restoration will be slow, and somewhat uncertain.

BILIARY CALCULI. (Gravel in Liver.)

Take A C current, strong as can be borne; and treat the inflamed and painful part with P. P., while N. P. is upon the right end of the duodenum. Treat eight to ten minutes, daily.

INTERMITTENT FEVER. (Ague and Fever.)

Use the A D current. First, give general tonic treatment. (See page 95.) Then close the sitting with a strong current, running from spleen to liver--P. P. upon spleen, in the left side, just below the ribs, and N. P. upon liver--best reached in the right side, close under the ribs, and around backward and a little upward as far as to the spine. The spleen is morbidly positive, and probably enlarged, while the liver is too negative. Treat spleen and liver in this transverse manner about five minutes.

If the chills occur on alternate days, treat on the intervening days; if every day, treat about two hours before the chill is expected.

NEPHRITIS. (Inflammation of Kidneys.)

1. Acute. If the urinary secretion be reddish and scant, with or without sedimentary deposit, let the inflammation be regarded as acute; and use upon it the B D current of good medium strength, or a little more, if the patient can bear it. The pain from the current will probably subside somewhat, and perhaps altogether, under treatment. Place N. P. at the coccyx, and manipulate over the inflamed and sore parts with P. P. Treat five to eight minutes, twice a day, if the case be recent, or once a day, if it be of some weeks standing.

2. Chronic. If it be an old case, and attended with a brownish or a brickdust-like sediment in the urine, it may be considered chronic, and should be treated with a moderate A D current, once in two days. Place P. P. at the coccyx, and treat with N. P. over the affected kidneys. There may be no sense of soreness or swelling, but dull pain. Treat six to ten minutes. But if the inflammation should rise to an active or acute state, reverse the poles.

RENAL CALCULI. (Gravel in the Kidneys.)