NEURALGIA. 323 



ralgia that were cured at my clinic by the induced current. Since 

 then, my experience in the result of this treatment has greatly in- 

 creased, and I may combine the results in the following propositions : 



1. In treating neuralgia with the induced current, it is best to em- 

 ploy the metallic electrodes known as the electric brush : while one 

 electrode containing a moistened sponge is held in one of the patient's 

 hands or against any part of his body, we stroke the brush along the 

 course of the affected nerve ; if there are any points douloureux we 

 allow the brush to remain over them rather longer (electric moxae). 



2. Many cases of neuralgia, which had been previously treated with- 

 out benefit by the most varied remedies, were completely and perma- 

 nently cured in from twelve to twenty applications, or even sooner. 

 In other cases no benefit or cure was effected. 3. The first sitting 

 shows whether the neuralgia can be cured by the induced current. 

 We can only expect a cure where the pain is decidedly relieved or 

 entirely disappears immediately after the first electrization, even if 

 it should only be for a short time ; if this temporary result do not take 

 place, the continuation of the treatment will also prove ineffectual. 

 The application of the induced current as above directed is very pain- 

 ful ; and it is only after the patient has actually experienced benefit 

 that he suffers it with patience, and even then he moans and whimpers 

 during the application. An erythema, that lasts for some time, forms 

 where the current is applied. I shall not attempt to decide whether 

 the induced current acts by derivation to the skin like the linear cau- 

 terizations advised by Valleix, or as blisters and irritating frictions, or 

 whether it acts in some other way. 



The constant current is far more effective than the induced in neu- 

 ralgia. Some cases that have been treated without result by the 

 induced current have been cured by the constant, while I have never 

 seen the reverse. I place both poles along the affected nerve, and, 

 without attending to the course of the current, hold the zinc pole on 

 the most painful part, and on those parts where the nerve approaches 

 nearest to the surface, as at the supra or infra-orbital foramen, or at 

 the zygomatico facial foramen, or at the sciatic notch. If it be possible 

 to get the nerve between the poles, as in the cheek or nose, I introduce 

 one pole into the mouth or nose to the point whence the pains radiate, 

 while I place the other at the corresponding point on the skin. At 

 first, the application of the constant current is not particularly painful, 

 but an unpleasant, burning, piercing pain soon commences and grad- 

 ually increases ; where the number of elements is large, it may become 

 unbearable. The changes induced in the skin at the point of applica- 

 tion of the constant current, if the electrodes be applied for a length 

 of time, are far greater than those caused by the induced current 



