THE following is what I can at present recollect, relating to the
effects of electricity in paralytic cases, which have fallen under my
observation.
Some years since, when the news-papers made mention of great cures
performed in Italy or Germany, by means of electricity, a number of
paralytics were brought to me from different parts of Pensylvania, and
the neighbouring provinces, to be electrised; which I did for them at
their request. My method was, to place the patient first in a chair, on
an electric stool, and draw a number of large strong sparks from all
parts of the affected limb or side. Then I fully charged two six-gallon
glass jars, each of which had about three square feet of surface
coated; and I sent the united shock of these thro’ the affected limb or
limbs; repeating the stroke commonly three times each day. The first
thing observed was an immediate greater sensible warmth in the lame
limbs, that had received the stroke, than in the others: and the next
morning the patients usually related, that they had in the night felt
a pricking sensation in the flesh of the paralytic limbs; and would
sometimes shew a number of small red spots, which they supposed were
occasioned by those prickings. The limbs too were found more capable of
voluntary motion, and seemed to receive strength. A man, for instance,
who could not the first day lift the lame hand from off his knee, would
the next day raise it four or five inches, the third day higher; and
on the fifth day was able, but with a feeble languid motion, to take
off his hat. These appearances gave great spirits to the patients, and
made them hope a perfect cure; but I do not remember, that I ever saw
any amendment after the fifth day: which the patients perceiving, and
finding the shocks pretty severe, they became discouraged, went home,
and in a short time relapsed; so that I never knew any advantage from
electricity in palsies, that was permanent. And how far the apparent
temporary advantage might arise from the exercise in the patients
journey, and coming daily to my house, or from the spirits given by the
hope of success, enabling them to exert more strength in moving their
limbs, I will not pretend to say.
Perhaps some permanent advantage might have been obtained, if the
electric shocks had been accompanied with proper medicine and regimen,
under the direction of a skilful physician. It may be, too, that a few
great strokes, as given in my method, may not be so proper as many
small ones; since, by the account from Scotland of a case, in which two
hundred shocks from a phial were given daily, it seems, that a perfect
cure has been made. As to any uncommon strength supposed to be in the
machine used in that case, I imagine it could have no share in the
effect produced; since the strength of the shock from charged glass is
in proportion to the quantity of surface of the glass coated; so that
my shocks from those large jars must have been much greater than any,
that could be received from a phial held in the hand.