STATIC ELECTRICITY. 9 



and which excites muscular contractility and sensibility in a more 

 energetic and effectual manner than the former, without any of 

 the inconveniences that I have described. I purpose to point out 

 in the sequel the cases in which its employment will be useful or 

 necessary. 



It is, however, incontestable that static electricity, which for 

 many years was used exclusively in medical practice, has wrought 

 some cures seemingly marvellous. These results shew only that 

 certain paralyses are always cured by electricity, in whatever form 

 and manner it may be employed. Unfortunately, these cases have 

 been so rare that this mode of using electricity has not borne the 

 test of time, and has been many times laid aside by physicians 

 after having been taken up with some degree of enthusiasm. 



[Friction electricity is used somewhat largely at the National Hospital 

 for the Paralysed and Epileptic. It has been found in the practice of this 

 Hospital, and in private cases coming iinder my own observation, of consider- 

 able value in the treatment of the following affections : — 



(a) Facial Neuralgia, which has resisted other modes of treatment, is 

 occasionally relieved with rapidity, and permanently, by drawing sparks 

 along the tracks of the affected branch or branches of the trifacial nerve. 

 Occasionally also, but less commonly, electrization by sparks has partially or 

 altogether relieved obstinate sciatica. 



(b) Facial Spasm. — A remarkable instance of the effect of electrization by 

 sparks in reUeving facial spasm (tic convuhif) occurred in the case of a 

 hospital patient under the care of Dr. Eadcliffe. The patient was a female 

 forty-eight years of age, and she had suffered for thirteen years from spasm of 

 the muscles of the left side of the face. The distortion produced by the 

 spasm was very great, and was apt to be so much exaggerated by slight 

 emotion, even such as would be caused by having to address a stranger, as to 

 make speaking difficult, and to prevent projjer attention to her occupation as 

 a small shopkeeper. Dr. Eadcliife directed an experimental trial of electriza- 

 tion by sparks along the lines of the nerves distributed to the affected 

 muscles. After the third application the spasm was manifestly relieved, the 

 distortion being diminished, and the consecutive paroxysms occurring less 

 frequently. By persisting with this treatment thrice weekly over a period of 

 two months so great an amoimt of relief was obtained that little distortion 

 of the face remained, and the patient was able to pursue her business with 

 comfort. 



(c) Hysterical Aphonia. — Electrization by sparks over the larynx has 

 proved in the practice of the hosi^ital so effective in the relief of cases of 

 emotional aphonia, even those of long standing, that it is now almost 

 invariably used in the treatment of these cases before having recourse to 

 induced electricity. In six or seven recent cases, electrization by sparks 

 repeated twice or thrice effected a complete cure. One of these cases was of 

 nine, another of six months' di;ration. The remainder had lasted from four 

 weeks to three months. The seventh case did not receive any benefit from 

 the use of static electricity, and the other forms of the agent proved equally 

 ineffective. The case recovered slowly under general treatment. 



(d) Hysterical Jty2^erctsthesia. — Electrization by sparks over the affected 

 spot has often proved of great benefit in removing the localized excessive 

 sensitiveness not unfrequently found in hysterical cases, particularly in the 

 spinal region. 



(f) Tremor, whether general or local, is sometimes largely relieved by 

 insulating the patient, and charging him with positive electricity for a 



