Van Deusen/Kosinski Collection


be the consequence of withholding an emetic: but this has its rise in the stomach; the pain commences there, by reason of acculated sharp crudities, that irritate the region of the stomach, and by-and-by a sympathy strikes the sides: the doctor is called to a pleurisy; he lets blood, but to no essential purpose; it must abate the sympathy in the sides, but cannot affect the cause. In one case of this description, I was called; but all means were baffled, even the electric shock would only abate the sympathy in the sides for a few minutes; but as soon as a puke began to operate, the whole disturbance subsided. I have known but of one other case just similar: A doctor was called, at a late stage: he drew blood for a pleurisy; it availed nothing; the person expired in great agony in a few hours after bleeding.

St. Anthony's Fire.

This disease is attended with a total suppression of perspiration, equal to any retension in fever heat. It may be totally cured by electrifying; but it will be assisted by purges, &c. The method of treating by electricity, is to electrify freely throughout the whole system, as strongly as the patient can well bear; and this must be assisted by all those means prescribed to assist in promoting a rapid flow of perspiration in a fever; this must be kept up until perfect relief is obtained.

If the head is much affected, it must be covered, and the shocks passed from all parts round about the head, to the feet; this will promote perspiration in the head also, it being covered warmly, and will soon throw off the whole affection in the head and body. The covering on the head must be left off by little and little, or a cold will ensue.

Inflammatory Rheumatism.

With some people, rheumatism, rheumatolgia, or chronic rheumatism and gout, all pass for rheumatism: with such as do not discriminate these cases, my boasted cure of inflammation may, and undoubtedly will, fall into disrepute. Electricity hath, by many, been recommended in almost all chronic cases, or cases of debility, or deficient excitement; and from its known usefulness in such cases, it hath been adored by many. But to apply this elementary fire in cases of inflammation, of increased action of fever heat, would be to add fire to fire, fuel to flame. It hath been supposed, that nothing in nature could be more absurd, or more dangerous; that it would tend directly to increase an inflammation; but the contrary of all this is just the truth. I do not mean, however, that the electric shock is of no use in cases of deficient excitement; but that it is, as to some of the effects of deficient excitement, a direct remedy: but as to its being a stimulus, it is only indirectly such; and that

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FULL TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 Title page
2 Preface
13 Animal and Vegetable Electricity
15 Chapter 1 - Electric fire promotes the vegetable life, etc.
70 Chapter 2 - Of the Conductors
   97 Chapter 3 - Fever  [Medical Conditions]
108 Peripneumony 171 Cholic 210 Involuntary motion
      of the eyelids
111 Pleurisy 174 Asthma 210 Hemmorage
114 St. Anthony's Fire 176 Diabetes 217 Hemorroids
115 Inflammatory Rheumatism 178 Urine suppressed,
  bloody and hot
217 Ulcers and Abcesses
115 Inflammatory Sore Throat 182 Menses obstructed 220 Rickets
122 Madness 185 King's Evil 221 Locked Jaw or Joints
131 Ague 186 Cancers 224 Bruises
138 St. Vitus's Dance 194 Quincy 229 Nerves contracted
140 Hysterics 195 Head-ache 230 Sprain or Strain
144 Epilepsy 196 Deafness 231 Felon or Whitlow
149 Consumption 197 Inflammatory Eyes 231 Pains in different parts
153 Palsy 197 Film 232 Wounds, etc.
158 Dropsy 199 Gutta Serena 234 Drowning
164 Gout 207 Cataract 237 Suppressed Perspiration
166 Dysentery 209 Fistula Lachrymalis 237 Burns and Scalds
242 Chapter 4  [Equipment]
277 Thoughts on the Times
INDEX
Electricity, or Ethereal Fire, Considered is presented here for historical purposes only, and should not be interpreted as medical advice.





        
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