Medical electricity : a practical handbook for students and practitioners / by W.E. Steavenson and H. Lewis Jones.

  • Steavenson, W. E. (William Edward), 1850-1891.
Date:
1892
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Medical electricity : a practical handbook for students and practitioners / by W.E. Steavenson and H. Lewis Jones. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    obtained good results in cases of post-hemiplegic weak- ness, in chronic myelitis, and in exophthalmic goitre, and both currents can be felt in the bath. The con- stant current of the full strength of 200 milliamperes may be used at the same time with a strong current from the coil, which is worked from a separate battery. 192. Hot air or vapour electric bath.—In America electricity has been applied to patients when in a hot air or vapour bath. This form of application is said to possess certain therapeutical advantages. Patients who suffer depression and are in other ways unable to take the water electric bath can often bear the hot air or vapour electric bath. The bath is given in a cabinet constructed for the purpose. There is a stool connected to one pole on which the patient is seated, his head being outside of the box or cabinet. The other pole of the battery can be connected either with the floor of the cabinet, which is lined with zinc, or with special elec- trodes to be applied to different parts of the body. The cabinet contains a hot water coil which is connected with a boiler and heating apparatus outside. The patient being seated on the stool the hot air or steam is admitted into the cabinet. The vapour is used at a temperature of 900 to ioo° F. It produces perspira- tion and is used for chronic rheumatism, stiffness of the joints, and skin diseases. It is also used at a higher temperature when employed for internal congestions. The vapour bath cannot be borne at such a high tem- perature or for so long a time as the hot air, 1060 to no0 F. is the usual limit, but the hot air can be borne up to 130°. The neck is surrounded by dry warm towels to prevent the escape of the heat. There are holes with doors in the side of the cabinet through which the medi- cal man can pass his hands for the purpose of adjusting