Electric bath

“ Before entering into details, it is necessary in the first place to inquire in what respects electric baths differ from other methods of electrization—especially those recently introduced as “general”—that their physiological effects should merit individual consideration. They differ in two ways. One of these is self-evident. To the effects of electricity are superadded those of the warm bath. The effects of the warm bath per se are too familiar to every physician [33] to require comment. Its effects in combination with electricity, however, may not be so generally known ”

“ There is no rule without its exceptions, and I freely admit that in many instances where persons are, as the saying is, “run down,” a sojourn in some mountainous region or a course of sea-bathing, etc., would do them more good than anything else, electric baths included. The results obtained from these last are however sufficiently uniform to justify us in looking for very favorable results in every case. ”

“ Pre-supposing, then, that electricity exercises the favorable influence on rheumatism which clinical results would appear to demonstrate, it follows that the electric bath, while it furnishes symptomatic (local) treatment equally well with local applications, does something more; it meets the indicatio morbi likewise. The warm bath no doubt contributes its due share in bringing about the favorable results obtained.—Where the disease then does not confine the patient to bed, the electric bath will be found a most valuable remedy. ”

“ Where the action of the bowels is normal, it is not modified permanently by the electric bath, although we often have, as an immediate consequence, a cathartic effect that manifests itself as a more or less watery evacuation, either a few hours after the bath or on the succeeding day. ”

“ Certain phenomena connected with the administration of electric baths having forced upon me some doubts in this respect, I made very careful experiments, both with and without the aid of the galvanometer (Bradley’s Tangent) , to satisfy these. Without wearying the reader with details, I will state that the result of my experiments leaves no room for doubt that water at the temperatures stated—and still more so at 981⁄2°—is superior to the human body as a conductor of electricity. I do not mean to be understood that water is a better conductor than every constituent of the human body ”

“ Those who are familiar with the pre-eminent qualities as a neurotic of electricity, will not be surprised to be told of the beneficial effects in the condition under consideration of electric baths. It is not only in general nervous exhaustion, however, that electric baths exercise this salutary influence, but in the condition known as cerebral exhaustion likewise. ”

“ Electricity is generally acknowledged to be a powerful remedial agent; but its use requires costly apparatus and much skill in application. It is necessary that the operator should not only understand the nature of diseases and the proper methods of applying electricity in treating them, but he must also thoroughly understand the general laws of electricity. The electric bath is as badly abused by quacks and charlatans as the Turkish bath. It should not be employed by unskillful persons ”

“ In this respect wood deserves the preference over all the others mentioned. Where economy is to be studied, it has a further item in its favor.
The tubs, which I have now in use for nearly three years are made of wood, and I find them to answer very well. It must not be forgotten, however, that a wooden tub requires to be well painted on the inside, in order to prevent its becoming water-soaked, because in that event it would become a conductor of electricity, and interfere to some extent, with the administration of the electric current in the bath. ”

“ Baths in electric light and in sunshine strengthen the system of one negatively sick, just as a strong current of inductive electricity gives augmented force to a machine operated by inadequate electric power. The responsive reaction need cause no surprise, for every popular sea-beach shows with what wonderful electrical results a salt water bath is attended when followed by a sun bath in the sand. ”

“ GENERAL INVIGORANT AND TONIC the electric bath can have few if any superiors. In the healthy organism, however, the stimulant and tonic effects of the baths are much less marked than they are where the general condition is “below par.” In health there is little or no margin for improvement. The results obtained are temporary stimulation, and a permanent invigoration which partakes more of artificial development than anything else. It is analogous to the development by gymnastic or other exercise of a previously healthy set of muscles. ”

“ Then, stumbling about blindly among the rose spray cabinets, electric baths, and other apparatus—for Conover’s private bathroom was equipped with every known variety of dinkus intended to separate man from bodily dirt—I found the source of the blinding vapor. It came from the vapor bath, a cabinet sunk in the floor! With difficulty I located the knobs and shut off the hot vapor. Then, by dint of Horrocks’ help, I managed to clear the air somewhat by swinging my jacket like a fan. ”

“ ELECTRIC BATH. Electricity may be more efficiently applied in connection with water than by itself. Water is a better conductor of electricity than the dry skin, and hence facilitates its communication to the body. The ordinary method of applying electricity is by attaching one pole of the battery to a metallic plate, placed in contact with some part of the body, while the circuit is completed by the application to the patient of a moist sponge connected with the other pole. ”

“ A series of baths will however produce more or less marked and permanent improvement in the sleep of individuals, where this has been below the normal standard. And this is among the most invariable of the effects of the electric bath, whether galvanic or faradic.
I have formed a theory as to the rationale of this influence, which I will offer as its probable explanation. We all know that sleep is a process designed by nature for the recuperation of the system after a certain period of activity. ”

“ With respect to the frequency of the applications, I will say that while there are some cases where a bath twice a week is sufficient, and others where a bath every day is imperatively necessary, in far the greater majority of cases suitable for electro-balneological treatment, a bath every alternate day is sufficient, but a bath every day is better—it leads to more rapid as well as certain results. ”

“ I will answer that I thought best to point out some general therapeutic USES for which electric baths may be made available, and the indications for which are furnished by so great a number of pathological conditions, that omitting special reference to them would have led to a great deal of tautology in the chapter on “special therapeutics.” ”

“ Where we add substances to an electric bath with a view of producing some special action on the skin, we may be guided by the same principles that govern ordinary balneology. Thus to obtain counter-irritant effects, we may add mustard or common salt; to render the bath alkaline, bicarbonate of potassa or soda, etc., etc.
An important object to be furthered by the addition to the galvanic bath of chemicals, is the elimination from the system of certain metallic substances. It will be found here that in practice we have to deal chiefly with two substances, viz: mercury and lead. ”

“ Where, then, we are able accurately to diagnose a case, there cannot be much doubt as to the appropriateness or not of electrical treatment, and in cases whose origin is obscure, which may be considered practically functional and therefore treated more or less empirically, electricity holds out as much or more hope than any other remedy. Whether electricity should be employed locally or in the form of baths, must depend on the features presented by each individual case. ”

“ I have already (p. 47) spoken of the comparative merits in this disease of local and general electrization. A few years ago I was ignorant of the [107] good effects of the baths in male impotency. I came to test and employ them here from two causes. In the first place, patients were sent me specially for electro-balneological treatment, ordered by their physicians; and, second, I began, when I became familiarized with the effects of the baths, to have recourse to them in cases where with local electrical and other treatment I had been unable to accomplish anything. ”

“ It will also be most beneficial to take a very hot, or even a Turkish or Russian, bath after a sleepless night, in order to eliminate toxic products by abundant perspiration. An electric light bath may give better results, using principally the blue rays, as such have a soothing effect upon the nervous system, besides creating a free sudorific action. ”

“ It is equally true however, that in all the cases medicinal treatment without the baths had proved of no avail. The best method of employing the bath is as follows: For the first ten minutes a constant current of medium intensity should be passed, one pole communicating with the [81] head-electrode, the other connected with the surface board, applied for five minutes to the epigastrium, five minutes to the sacral region. In anæmic persons the current should be descending, in all others, ascending. ”

“ The patients seem to live up anew under their influence. While in many if not most other complaints that come under electro-balneological treatment, a certain number of baths are requisite in order to get discernible effects, in the disease under consideration each bath, except perhaps the first, is followed by more or less immediate improvement, which, if the treatment is persevered in, remains permanent. ”

“ Where we meet with atonic conditions however, with debility, malnutrition, want of energy or general asthenia of an obscure nature, and amenable to electric influence, the tonic effects of the baths become striking and brilliant. ”

“ This is so marked that I have seen persons in the bath tub who could bear no more than six Hill cells, diffused as was the current from these through the water and over the entire body; while on the other hand I have met with male patients on whom a current from thirty-two Stöhrer cells made not the slightest impression, and where I was compelled to supplement the current by that from a ten-cell quantity battery (zinc carbon elements 6 in. long by 41⁄2 wide) in order to make them realize the presence of a current. These gentlemen had no cutaneous anæsthesia. ”

“ He continued the baths daily for some weeks; then every two or three days, all the time steadily improving. He had some adjuvant medicinal treatment, probably similar to what he had already had in Europe. He states, however, that his improvement commenced with the first bath he took; and the baths certainly constituted the main treatment throughout. He gained daily in every respect. Mind and body were invigorated; his muscles increased in size and hardness ”

“ Electricity is used for lighting throughout, but a small gas plant, which has been installed in the premises for heating and cooking, can also be used for lighting in case of emergencies. The house has cold and hot water service right through, and is replete with the most modern European and American appliances in the way of sanitary and electric fittings, dumb waiters, septic tanks, water pumping, water filtration, telephones, &c. ”

“ In reality, however, it is only from door to door that the currents exist exactly as shown at the diagram, Fig. 11, there being a secondary circulating process in each room.
This circulation of air will exist in any bath heated on the modern system—that is to say, where freshly-heated air is passed in in sufficient quantity. It is a natural result, and tends to distribute the heat more equally. The back-flow is only objectionable when a door is opened direct from the heated shampooing rooms to a cooler apartment, as the plunge bath chamber. ”

“ Not only the rooms may be heated by electricity but the beds themselves. An electric pad consisting of a flexible resistance covered with soft felt is connected by a conductor cord to a plug and is used for heating beds or if the occupant is suffering from rheumatism or indigestion or any intestinal pain this pad can be used in the place of the hot water bottle and gives greater satisfaction. There is a heat controlling device and the circuit can be turned on or off at will. ”

“ I will turn to the more agreeable subject—the operation of the bath, which is quite luxurious. The sensation experienced on first entering the hottest chamber is almost overpowering—the heat is extremely oppressive; and at first I believed that I could not long support such a temperature; but after the first minute, I was relieved by a gentle, and afterwards by a profuse perspiration, and no longer felt in any degree oppressed. It is always necessary for each lady to send her own bathing-linen, a pair of high clogs, a large copper vessel for hot water, two copper bowls, and towels. ”

“ For although there is something to be said in their favour, in that the head is free and one can breathe cooler air, there are serious objections to their use, as the lamps employed burn the air, and there is also an absence of that rapid aërial circulation which is so much to be desired. Besides the actual objections to their use, more or less inconvenience attends the employment of the sheet and lamp (or cabinet and lamp) baths, and there is little of the luxury of a true sudatorium about the extemporised bath, admirable as it may be as a hydropathic expedient. ”

“ The vapor bath can be borne much better than the water bath, the temperature often ranging from 120 degrees to 150 degrees Fahrenheit. Various forms of steam or vapor cabinets are advertised in the popular magazines at small prices. The Russian Vapor Bath consists of a vapor bath of high temperature, followed by a cold douche, and is useful where a quick reaction is desired. The Galvanic Bath and the Electro-magnetic Bath consist merely of a bath of water through which a gentle current from a battery is passed. ”