38 DISEASES RELIEVED 



3. To PROMOTE SECRETION. 



In Amenorrhcea, considerable benefit is obtained by passing 

 shocks through the pelvis, from the sacrum to the pubis. 

 Dr. Pereira states that he has, in many cases, found the 

 practice successful. In the " Dictionnaire des Sciences Medi- 

 cales," there are recorded two cases of this nature. In the 

 former of these, the patient was seventeen years of age, and had 

 been suffering for eighteen months ; she was also subject to 

 spasms, which attacked her periodically. Menstruation was 

 restored after the fourth application of electricity, and for two 

 years afterwards remained perfectly regular, at the end of which 

 time she married. The second case was that of a patient 

 only fifteen years old. She was electrified for six months, at 

 the end of which time, menstruation was restored. From the 

 length of time, however, which elapsed, it appears doubtful 

 whether her restoration to health is to be attributed to electricity. 



Electric friction or slight shocks have also been proposed for 

 the promotion of biliary action, but there are at present no authen- 

 ticated cases of its efficacy. 



4. To PROMOTE ABSORPTION. 



In Indolent Tumours, electricity is often employed in the 

 form of sparks, slight shocks and friction. Mr. Carpue states 

 that he has met with many cases which have thus been 

 relieved. The most numerous cases recorded by him, are 

 those of schirrous testes, and he relates some instances of the 

 successful dispersion of schirrous indurations of the breast. 

 He adds that ganglions have also been removed frequently from 

 the wrists or feet, by the application of sparks. Dr. Pereira has 

 tried electricity in several cases of enlarged cervical glands, 

 without observing any benefit resulting therefrom. 



Chilblains. Mr. Carpue states that electricity is a good 

 preventive against chilblains, and mentions two instances in 

 which they were removed by the action of electric sparks. 



Having thus enumerated those cases in which the application 

 of both Common and Voltaic electricity may be applied to 



