Third Day Meeting Notes of the Electro-Therapeutic Association

The Alternating Dynamo Current. - Dr. F. B. Bishop presented a paper in which he described a simple step-down transformer for use in this connection. He said that he had treated several cases of writer’s cramp with this current. The patients had been previously treated with the galvanic current, and of their own accord had spoken of how much easier they felt after the alternating current. By means of the transformer the voltage was reduced from 104 to 4. The patient placed both hands in jars containing warm water in which salt or soda had been dissolved.

The Electric Arc Bath: A Clinical Report.- Dr. Margaret A. Cleaves presented in this report detailed clinical accounts of cases treated by the electric arc bath. Among these were cases of eczema, psoriasis, bronchial asthma, and pulmonary phthisis. Her observations in connection with the last-named disease were especially interesting. As she very pertinently remarked, it had long been known that sunlight was inimical to the growth of tubercle bacilli, and the value of sun baths had been demonstrated again and again. The electric-light bath closely approximated the sun bath, and, in addition, there was the production of ozone. A greater quantity of ozone was generated from the alternating current. She preferred the arc light because of this production of ozone, and also because of the fact that the rays from this light embraced a large part of the violet end of the spectrum. There could be no doubt, she said, that in man, as in plants, protoplasmic activity was increased by exposure to electric light. Her cabinet, she said, was six feet long, two and one-half feet wide, and seven feet high, and was lined with zinc, painted white. At each end were glass compartments containing the electric arc lights. The patient reclined on a wire-mattress cot. Each lamp had a reflector which allowed focussing the light on special parts. The patient was preferably nude, and the eyes were protected by dark glasses. The maximum of nutritional activity was usually observed at the end of the second week, and this would be expected from theoretical considerations as to the action of ozone.

Dr. Nunn said that the paper was interesting as emphasizing the old-time truth regarding the sanitary value of sunshine. Of course, where sunshine could be readily obtained, it must be admitted to be superior to artificial light. As modern chemistry had shown the atmosphere to be such a complex substance, it did not seem to him wise to say very much regarding ozone.

Mr. John J. Carty, electrical engineer, suggested that some of the effect might be due to radiation and some to emanations from the arc. In the latter connection it should be borne in mind that the carbon rods were commonly of complex composition, and not pure carbon, and, furthermore, that they were coated with copper.

Dr. F. B. Bishop said that he had had an opportunity of seeing the working of Dr. Cleaves’ cabinet, and had been impressed with the rapidity with which the ozone had been generated and its quantity. As he had himself secured some excellent results in the treatment of the early stages of pulmonary phthisis by means of the ozone bath, he was inclined to attribute Dr. Cleaves’ success chiefly to the ozone generated in connection with the arc light.

Dr. Massey spoke of the striking effect of sunlight on the vegetable world, and the mistake of modern civilization in so generally excluding the sun from dwellings.

Dr. Cleaves, in closing the discussion, said that she wished it to be understood that she did not know what it was that gave her these good results, though the clinical fact remained. In only the one case reported had there been a complete disappearance of the tubercle bacilli, but in all of the cases so treated there had been gratifying improvement.

Some Suggestions on the Possibilities of Cataphoresis. - Mr. John J. Carty, E.E., of New York, presented this paper, which was founded on some experiments that he had made regarding the use of cataphoresis in the attempt to secure painless dentistry. It did not seem to him that there was any part of the body which physicians should despair of reaching by cataphoric medication. A novel suggestion which he made was to use an O’Dwyer tube as the positive pole, and apply the negative pole to the neck in the form of a collar in cases of diphtheritic laryngitis.

Dr. Massey said that cocaine cataphoresis never failed in dentistry if properly conducted. The principal causes of failure were: (1) improper apparatus ; (2) imperfect technique, such as not properly drying the tooth cavity; and (3) lack of willingness on the part of dentists to give the necessary time to the use of this method. The suggestion about using the intubation tube seemed an excellent one, and if this tube was of zinc and was freshly amalgamated at the time, he thought it would prove still more efficient, as the oxychloride of mercury formed was one of the most powerful antiseptics known.

A High-Frequency Oscillation for Electro-Therapeutic Purposes. - Mr. Nikola Tesla, E.E., of New York, in a paper with this title described his now well-known experiments with high-frequency currents, dwelling particularly on the construction of the apparatus and the possibilities of the future in the therapeutic application of this form of electricity.

Officers. - The following officers of the association were elected: President, Dr. Francis B. Bishop, of Washington, D. C.; Vice-Presidents, Drs. Ernest Wende, of Buffalo, and W. H. White, of Boston; Secretary, Dr. John Gerin, of Auburn; Treasurer, Dr. R. J. Nunn, of Savannah, Ga.

The next meeting will be held in Washington, D. C., on September 19, 20, and 21, 1899.