MEDICAL NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14145, 21 August 1909, Page 6 (Supplement)

MEDICAL NOTES.

THE BENEFITS OF THE COLD BATH. Cold water applied externally is a matchless tonic. Like other remedial agents, it is not adapted to every case. There are conditions of health as well as disease when a cold bath might be fatal in effect. Peculiarities of temperament and disposition and individual susceptibilities must bo considered in water cures. Generally it is a wholesome habit to acquire, and one that is rarely carried to excess. A cold bath is most beneficial taken when the system is relaxed by indolence, sleeplessness, or mental unrest. During convalescence its cautious use is productive of the happiest results. A cold shock from a shower of water is often beneficial for constipation, while in catarrhal and liver troubles cold water is an essential in the treatment. Of course, attention to details is of the greatest importance. Done in five minutes in a comfortable temperature, and the whole body rubbed or brushed into a glow of warmth, the desired results should be obtained, whereas delay, negligence in making the toilet, and ignorant exposure to chill, will make the bath hurtful instead of beneficial. People who take cold easily will find a daily cold bath an effectual prevention. For those unfortunates designated as nerve prostrated, habitual cold dips before breakfast or after any great strain upon the nerves or emotions in business, domestic, or social intercourse, promise the best results.

NERVOUS BREAKDOWN.

At the present time, owing, no doubt, to the increasing strain of modern life and partly to tho enervating effects of our yearly influenza epidemic, doctors are being confronted with a remarkable number of cases of nervous trouble, varying in degree i from slight nervous debility to complete nervous breakdown, with all its attendant miseries of depression and weakness. Physicians who have been in practice thirty years or so tell me that they have noted a really astonishing increase in the number of their " nerve" cases during the last decade, and, moreover, say that the general "nervous" tendency of all classes of society is steadily increasing. Consequently, ©veryadvance made in the treatment of these nervous disorders is of the utmost importance, as, short of prescribing prolonged rest, doctors have been at a loss to successfully treat a very great many of the unfortunate victims of the struggle for existence; but rest for several months is usually the very hist thing that a harassed business or professional roan can take, and what is badly wanted is somo form of treatment that" will revive flagging energies without upsetting the daily routine of life. These requirements appear to be met, in part at least, by a form of electrical treatment strongly advocated some little -while back by Professor Stephane Ledue, of Nantes/the celebrated authority on medical electricity, and • which has lately come into more frequent use in this country. This treatment is nothing more nor lose than active galvanisation of the brain by sending through it a powerful electrical current; this can he done with perfect safety and excellent results if particular atten- • tion is given to certain technical details. Professor Ledue's investigations have shown that'a much more powerful current than one might have supposed ean be used for this treatment, provided that it is sent through the brain from back to front, or vice-versa, in an absolutely straight direction, so as to ensure that each half of tho brain receives tho same amount of current; for if the brain cells on one side are galvanised more than those on the other, unpleasant and sometimes serious symptoms result. Another very important point is that all sudden .shocks t must be avoided, which can be done by slowly increasing the electric current through the brain from nothing up to tho required maximum, and at the end of the treatment as slowly and .(steadily reducing it again. It would bo very dangerous to suddenly apply a strong current to such a sensitive organ as the brain, and just as bad to suddenly cut off a strong current which was passing through it.

In actual practice the patient is seated in a reclining chair, with one pole of the electric battery applied to the forehead and the other at the nape of the neck; a very weak current is then turned on, and slowly increased to a maximum, at which it is left running for a-quarter of an hour or longer, after which it is steadily weakened again. The whole sitting lasts for about half-an-hour, after which patients feel refreshed and better able to cope with mental problems. It is very probable, judging from results already reported, that this treatment by galvanisation of the brain will shortly come into very common use in the treatment of nervous break-down.