In a London medical work entitled _The Doctor_, are given the particulars
of an interesting case of neuralgia, or _tic douleureux_, which, it
appears, after having been treated with the usual medicines for more than
two years, with little or no remission of the painful symptoms attending
it, yielded at length to a new and extraordinary remedy, in the shape of
a _metal magnet_. The experiments tried upon the occasion promise results
of such considerable interest and practical importance to the health
perhaps of thousands, that we shall offer no apology to our readers for
copying the history of the cure and the accompanying details into our
columns, premising only, that while we individually place every reliance
on the good faith of the witnesses who attest the facts recorded, we do
not consider ourselves bound to vouch for their statement authoritatively
to others, or draw any inference of a positive kind with respect to a
remedy, of the nature and effects of which, after all, it is properly the
province of the faculty alone to form a judgment.
"Our readers (observes the writer) will remember the
interesting case of neuralgia of the finger, at St Thomas's
Hospital, upon which Dr Elliotson stated, in a clinical
lecture, that he had exhausted his store of remedial agents,
without developing a shade of improvement. [The remedies
resorted to primarily were, carbonate of iron, cyanuret of
potass, strychnine, croton oil, hydrocyanic acid, and extract
of belladonna.] A more severe case, probably, was never
subjected to treatment. The man left the hospital for a time,
totally unrelieved, but soon afterwards returned, when, in
accordance with a suggestion, as Dr Elliotson has since
observed, of a correspondent of our own, the _colchicum
autumnale_ was tried in the case, without, however, the
slightest benefit being derived therefrom. The sedative powers
of the _lobelia inflata_ then suggested to Dr Elliotson the
propriety of giving the patient the chance of that medicine.
The grounds on which it was employed proved to be in some
measure correctly founded. The man took the _lobelia_, in
increasing doses, every hour, beginning with seven drops of the
tincture, and adding a drop to each progressive dose, until as
large a quantity had been reached as could be taken without
deranging the functions of the stomach. Some amelioration of
the affection followed this treatment. The patient, who was
before unable even to cross the ward, or bear without
excruciating agony the slightest contact with his finger-nails,
and had become emaciated to the extremest degree, from pain and
sleeplessness, was now enabled to walk a little way and enjoy
intervals of rest, partly recovered his good looks, and became
comparatively cheerful.
The relief, however, was very far from being either perfect or
permanent. In fact, the continued exhibition of the medicine
was demanded to secure any portion of rest.
A short time since, however, a new remedial agent presented
itself, in the form of the _magnet_. The hospital was visited,
first by Dr Kyle, and subsequently by Dr Blundell, who followed
up the application begun by Dr Kyle. The _lobelia inflata_ was
allowed by Dr Elliotson to be suspended, and the effect of the
magnet tried. That effect was, to the surprise of all who
witnessed it, a most decided one; the pain was, on every
application of the instrument, removed, and continued absent
for several hours.
On Tuesday last [in June 1833], Dr Blundell attended the
hospital at the hour of Dr Elliotson's visit, when, in the
presence of the pupils and our reporter, he drew forth the
magnet, and commenced its application to the patient's finger.
The instrument is of the horse-shoe form, about ten inches in
its long axis, and five in its short, composed of five layers
of metal, the central being the longest, and the whole bound
with stout ribbon. The patient was at the time apparently
suffering considerable pain, _and unable to use his hand_. The
_north_ pole of the magnet was gently passed five or six times
down the sides and back of the middle finger, and then rested
on the central joint. The result was such an immediate
cessation of suffering, that he could gnash his fingers into
the palm of his hand with ease and comfort, and he declared
himself to be entirely relieved. The power of the instrument,
however, did not cease here. Dr Blundell showed that it
possessed the means of reproducing the pain in the most intense
form. The _south_ pole of the magnet was directed along the
finger. At the third pass the patient began to bite his lip and
close his eyes with an expression of pain. At a few passes
more his chin was spasmodically buried in his breast, and his
wrinkled features expressed the acutest suffering. This was
allowed to continue for a few seconds, when the _north_ pole
was again presented to the finger, and the agony speedily
subsided. The spectators then left the man lying with a
countenance perfectly tranquil.
At the extremity of the ward lay an elderly lady, a martyr to
_tic douleureux_ in the lower jaw, extending to the ear, and
affecting a large portion of the head. The disease, she stated,
was of more than nine years' duration, and had never ceased to
afflict her for a day during that period, up to her entrance
into the hospital. Her appearance was proportionably miserable.
The magnet had also been applied in her case, and with similar
advantage, as she stated. On the present occasion it was found,
on approaching her bed, that she was in consequence free from
pain on that morning, and the further aid of the magnet was not
needed. 'But cannot you show its power by producing the pain?'
inquired a bystander. The suggestion was acted on. The _south_
pole of the magnet was passed from the centre of the chin along
the lower jawbone up to the ear. At the third pass the poor
woman indicated that the _tic_ was commencing, and in a few
seconds more the affection was experienced intensely. The
process was then stopped, as the experiment had been carried
far enough to satisfy all present of its consummation; and
after a brief space the presentation of the _north_ pole wholly
freed the sufferer from pain. The operator subsequently stated,
that by continuing the passes he could have carried the pain on
to the production of delirium.
There is a female patient in another ward, who had suffered
intense toothache for three months, when, a fortnight since,
according to her own evidence, which we have no reason to
doubt, it was instantly cured by _one application_ of the
magnet, through the medium of a key, and had not returned in
the slightest degree up to the period of the visit of which we
have given the details.
These are very interesting facts. We submit them to our readers
unaccompanied by comment. The specific name given to his
instrument by Dr Blundell, is that of 'mineral magnet.' How far
its application to disease admits of extension, we are at
present ignorant."
A SOLVENT BANK.--The best _bank_ ever yet known is a bank of earth; it
never refuses to discount to honest labour; and the best _share_ is the
plough-share, on which dividends are always liberal.
AN IRISH BULL OF 1630.--Nowe that Ireland doth give birthe to strange
sortes of men, whose too greate quicknesse of thoughte doth impeede
theyre judgmente, this storye whiche I have heard, will shewe. A wealthie
lord of the countie of Corke there had a goodlie faire house new-built,
but the broken brickes, tiles, sande, lime, stones, and such rubbish, as
are commonlie the remnantes of such buildinges, lay confusedlie in
heapes, ande scattered here ande there; the lord therefore demanded of
his surveyor, wherefore the rubbish was not conveyed awaie; the surveyor
said, that hee proposed to hyre an hundred carts for the purpose. The
lord replied, that the charge of carts might be saved, for a pit might be
digged in the grounde, and soe burie it. "Then, my lord," said the
surveyor, "I pray you what will wee doe with the earth which wee digge
out of the said pitt?" "Why, you coxcombe," said the lord, "canst thou
not digge the pitt deepe enough to hold rubbish and all together?"--_From
the works of Taylor, the Water Poet._
CAROLAN'S LIBERALITY.--Carolan never prostituted his muse to party
politics or religious bigotry, though attachment to the ancient faith and
families of Ireland was the ruling principle of his heart; yet he could
discern the virtues and celebrate the praises of those who dissented from
the one, or claimed no connection with the other.--_Hardiman's Irish
Minstrelsy._
FULLER.--The well-known author of "British Worthies" wrote his own
epitaph, as it appears in Westminster Abbey. It consists of only _four_
words, but it speaks volumes, namely, "Here lies Fuller's earth."
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