on Medical Eledridiy. i69 



hinls ; and will now state one class of diseases, in which I 

 have found, hj repeated experiments, beneficial effects to 

 result from the use of electricity hy ivay of insulation. 



The kind of complaints to w^hich I allude, is that peculiar 

 soreness and pain which result from what we commonly 

 call, the taking of cold. This soreness and pain, we all 

 know, are often very troublesome, and difficult to be re- 

 moved ; and are usually seated in the joints, in the head, 

 and muscular parts of the body. They are very common 

 in cases of influenza, and very troublesome. I have tried 

 insulation, in the manner just stated, on several persons af- 

 fected with these complaints, and do not recollect that it 

 ever has, in a single instance, failed of giving speedy relief. 

 In every instance, I believe, the pain and soreness have been 

 completely removed. The cough and expectoration still 

 continue, but have generally subsided soon, and seem to 

 yield more readily to the medicines commonly given for 

 these complaints. Perspiration at once becomes more free, 

 and the breathing less obstructed. These facts have been 

 known to me for a considerable number of years ; but such 

 have been the general prejudice against the efficacy of elec- 

 tricity, on the one hand, and the inflated encomiums on its 

 virtues made by empirics on the other, that I have seldom 

 ever suggested them even to myfriends. I however considerit 

 ray duty now to do so ; and hope that the suggestion may 

 contribute to the relief of some, at least, who may hereaf- 

 ter be afflicted with these complaints. In cases of influ- 

 enza this relief is often of great importance ; and it is to 

 these cases, in a special manner, that the remedy seems to 

 be adapted. — I have never yet known, and I have often 

 made the experiment, that electricity has proved beneficial 

 in nervous diseases ; unless spasms, of certain kinds, are 

 considered as properly belonging to that class. In sojuc- 

 spasmodic affections, I have seen essential benefit result 

 from electricity. What effect this fluid may have on pain 

 and soreness, arising from other causes than the taking of 

 cold, and that, whatever it is, which produces- influenza, 1 

 am unable to say. It is proper that I should state further, 

 that notwithstanding I have often made the experiment, I 

 have never known the least benefit to result from giving 

 electric shocks in any case whatever. Still I by no means 

 intend to deny that shocks may be useful in certain diseases. 



Vol. Ill No. 1. 22 



