Nerve-vibration and excitation as agents in the treatment of functional disorder and organic disease.

  • Granville, J. Mortimer (Joseph Mortimer), 1833-1900.
Date:
1883
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Nerve-vibration and excitation as agents in the treatment of functional disorder and organic disease. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University Libraries/Information Services, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University.

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    the effect of the remedy in discolorations and affections of the skin generally, but I am exceedingly anxious that it should be thus tested, as I anticipate great results from its use in this important specialty of practice. The administration, to produce vaso-motor effects, should, I think, be made with the hammer or hard brush, and by preference to distant nerve vessels of some size, rather than locally, though for skin troubles it may be desirable, in addition to this special nerve-vibration, to throw the whole network of subcutaneous nerves into vibration by means of the large disc or the brush, passed slowly over the region of the morbid sensation or ap- pearance. For this purpose the force of the percussion should be very small, the percuteur being held with a light hand. When vibrating large branches of nerves, particularly if somewhat deeply set, it may be necessary to make firm pressure, but the protecting vulcanite tube, through which the hammer passes (D, Fig. 2, p. 58) should be carefully adjusted by screwing, so that the hammer may have full play and strike the skin with its entire force. Neurasthenia. I have no intention of dwelling upon the pathology of this most distressing malady, though I should like to contend that it is, in the outset at least, a purely functional disorder, consisting in disturbance of the rhythm of the vibration of the nerve elements, such as that which is apt to be set up by slight concussion of the spine in a railway accident. The agitation, consequent upon the first disturbance, whatever it may be, grows worse as time passes, and in the issue organic disease may be induced. I think it is of the highest practical