increased or diminished. The induction of local activity, by overcoming stasis, contributes in all inflammatory conditions to the removal of the cause.

Clinical experience with many conditions has demonstrated the following facts (I quote largely from Dr. W. B. Snow, of New York, whom many of you may know):

The static modalities remove stasis, promote absorption of plasma, thereby lessening pain and swelling, removing deposits of fibrin in the vicinity of joints, inducing reabsorption of organic and inorganic salts which have become locked up in the tissue, the result of faulty metabolism; they produce a general equalization of the blood currents, the lowering of arterial tension, which lessens the probability of local congestion. There is positive proof, that a local expression of blood takes place by the production of mass contraction and contraction of the muscular walls of the arterioles.

Therapeutically the static modalities meet in most satisfactory manner the indications in inflammatory conditions not characterized by the presence of micro-organisms, some foreign or necrosed substance: To the effect upon acute congestions we turn from the greatest triumph of modern electro-therapeutics.

The modalities influencing these conditions are the wave current brush discharge and sparks.

Normal functional activity is induced, stasis is promptly removed. There is a marked lowering of arterial tension, which is most prompt, when sparks are administered and. most prolonged after the administration of the wave-cur

rent.

Pain promptly disappears from the first, and will not return if administrations are frequent enough to control the congestion.

Most of the painful neuroses can be relieved and a

larger part of them cured by the use of static electricity, if they have not become too chronic and there is no organic lesion.

The greatest obstacle to treatment is a thick layer of fat between the surface and the seat of trouble. The various types of neuritis and congestions arise from exposure to cold or heat, trauma, strains or from complicating inflammatory conditions. Any nerve may become the seat of neuritis. Neuritis is the condition present in so many socalled neuralgias and myalgias.

Neuritis of the sciatic is the most common and subborn of all forms when treated by methods other than static. Before outlining the method of diagnosis, mode of treatment, bridging, etc., I will ask you to bear in mind that when treating regions of congestion, muscular contractions of the coats of the vessels and the muscles surrounding them induce normal circulation and overcome stasis by forcing on blood stream.

The diagnosis of the site of a neuritis, except within the cavities, is easily made by applying spark, the brush discharge or high frequency discharges with glass vacuum electrodes along the course of the nerve, noting the patient's facial expression, thereby outlining where the pain begins and ends, at the same time comparing the effect on the opposite side of the body. A spark over a nerve is always painful, but when applied over the part of the nerve which is the seat of a neuritis, the pain is intense. The prognosis of uncomplicated neuritis, when accessible, is very good.

The treatment will vary with the condition of the case. In acute cases, when the patient is not too fat, the wavecurrent will effect a cure in a few days. The mode of application of wave-current, when effected region is located, is as follows: Place over same an electrode of soft

metal 4x4 (rarely larger) and see that it is firmly held to the surface, otherwise it will burn. The current is increased by lengthening the spark-gap and it should be increased until sedation is complete. Seance should last 15 to 20 minutes. This sedation will, in all probability, last for 24 hours, and if the treatments are given daily a cure will result in a short time. The matter of bridging should be carefully looked after; never allow your patient to go without treatment long enough to have a return of his trouble. All acute recent cases should be treated daily, if the pain returns before next treatment, why, treat twice daily. In cases of longer standing the wave-current may fail to relieve your patient; if such be the case, apply long sparks over the effected nerve until sedation is complete. Have the patient test the muscles near the effected nervę and keep your sparks going until relief is complete. The brush discharge may assist in relieving those who are not too fat, or cases that are not too chronic.

Always make the spark-gap as long as possible without causing muscular contractions in the effected area. When using the wave-current, the same general plan will apply to the treatment of all cases of neuritis.

It will be impossible for me to describe to you in detail the methods of applying the different static modalities. The success in treatment will depend upon the skill of application. This you can only gain by personal experience, but I will make the statement, that it will be impossible for you to do any harm with the static modalities. The potential is high, but the quantity of electricity is so small that we have no instrument delicate enough to measure it.

Those who decry the use of static electricity do so from ignorance. They know very little, if anything, concerning the manner of administration, etc.

In a paper limited, as this must be, I can tell you very little of the various uses of the static machine, and those of you who wish to pursue the science further must do so with the help of those who have made it a study, ever keeping in mind that the science is still in its infancy. If you will bear with me a little longer, I'll give you (not in detail, however,) the history, treatment and results in a few cases of neuritis and congestion taken from my notebook for the past two months, not selected, but taken in their regular order as treated at our office.

Case No. 1.-Mrs. J. C. E., white, female, age about thirty-eight. History: Inability to use right arm and hand on account of pain; pain worse at night when arms were at rest; could not sleep; thought she had rheumatism. This condition of affairs had persisted for five weeks, although anti-rheumatic remedies had been given. Diagnosis: Neuritis (brachial). She applied for treatment February 4th. On this day she received the brush discharge for 15 minutes, and 2-inch sparks for 5 minutes, with complete relief. She was treated again on the 5th and 6th, and discharged cured. There has been no return of the trouble.

Case No. 2.-C. J., white, male, age forty. Applied for treatment February 8th. History: For the past nine weeks he had suffered with pain in the left arm, shoulder and hand; inability to use same at his work on account of pain; the arm feels heavy and a feeling of pins and needles sticking in the palm of hand. Diagnosis: Brachial neuritis. He was given the same treatment as the first case, with complete relief after first treatment. He received the treatment daily until 13th, when he failed to show up at office. I saw him on the streets and he said he was all o.k. But I knew better than he. I knew that his trouble would return, as his treatment had not been con

tinued long enough. February 26th, he again applied for treatment, his old trouble having returned. The same treatment was given him with complete relief. He continued treatment until March 12th. I then lost sight of him. This case will illustrate the necessity of continued treatment in chronic cases.

Case No. 8.-Mrs. W. D. O., white, female, age twentyfive. Applied for treatment March 1st. Severe pain in right shoulder of three week's duration; no relief from medication. Diagnosis: Neuritis. She received three treatments, same as Case No. 2, and was discharged cured. No return of trouble to this date.

Case No. 15.-Geo. W., white, male, age forty-eight. Neuritis, sacral, of three or four year's standing. Comes periodically; pain in back so great that patient could not stoop down or sleep. Ex. urine, negative: This patient received the wave-current to sacral region for 20 minutes with metal electrode 6x6, and then 3-inch sparks for 5 minutes over same region, avoiding bony prominences. This treatment was instituted February 14th. First treatment gave complete relief. He received treatment daily until February 27th. He then discontinued treatment, saying that he was well, and no persuasion could induce him to continue. He will have a return of his trouble and apply for treatment again. No chronic trouble of such lengthy duration can be relieved in a few days.

Case No. 18.-H. C., white, male, age fifty. Applied for treatment March 3d, with the following history: Pain in right scapular region extending to pectoral region, of such a character as to prevent the patient following his avocation. He gives a history of recurrent attacks. Present attacks of one weeks' standing. Diagnosis: Brachial neuritis. Treatment: Brush discharge for 15 minutes and 3-inch spark for 3 minutes. Complete relief. He did not return for further treatment, as his trouble did not return.