A letter to Mr. George Adams on the subject of medical electricity; from Mr. John Birch, surgeon.

  • Birch, John, 1745?-1815.
Date:
1792
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A letter to Mr. George Adams on the subject of medical electricity; from Mr. John Birch, surgeon. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    without any relief: I then patted gentle fhocki in the fame direction, and in three hours after he was able to expel fome urine by the mufeu- lar power of the bladder. I faw clearly this was the mode to be purfued; I repeated the {hocks with daily advantage; in a fortnight the cure was completed, the patient rode on horfe* back, wrent a long journey, and has remained well fince, ' ’*• ■ ■ ■ ■ An elderly gentleman, whofe faculties were gradually leaving him, had a relaxation of the mufcular coat of the bladder, which rendered his company offenfive to his vifitors and attend- ants. As I forefaw the inconveniencies which would refult, being at that time called to him for excoriations, I propofed patting fome gentle ele&ric fhocks through the bladder, in hopes of rettoring it’s tone. I was permitted to carry my advice into execution : he went out in his carriage after the operation, and did not wet himfelf during his ride; the fhocks wrere rer peated in the evening, and he held his water the night; the next day, his pulfe was too quick, and his head cortfufed; 1 did not there- fore repeat the fhocks, concluding they had oc- calioned thefe fymptoms. Towards night thefe fymptoms abated, and, as the bladder had re.- . . cpvered