Cured with sparks: History of Electrotherapy for
functional neurological symptoms:
Functional disorders are
one of the most common reasons for attendance at the neurology clinic. These
disorders — at other times and in other places called psychogenic, non-organic,
conversion, or hysterical — encompass symptoms such as paralysis, tremor and
other abnormal movements, gait disorders, and seizures.
The Leyden Jar was invented in 1745-6: a portable device for storing and discharging sparks. The earliest descriptions of medical use of the Leyden Jar include reports of sudden cures of weakness and contractures which are highly suggestive of modern functional disorders.
By the mid 19th century many large hospitals had electrical departments with Leyden jars, batteries (developed by Galvani and Volta between 1791 and 1800), and after Faraday’s discovery in 1831, electromagnetic induction machines. Some advocated localized faradization, applying electrical current to the functionally weak body part.
The Leyden Jar was invented in 1745-6: a portable device for storing and discharging sparks. The earliest descriptions of medical use of the Leyden Jar include reports of sudden cures of weakness and contractures which are highly suggestive of modern functional disorders.
By the mid 19th century many large hospitals had electrical departments with Leyden jars, batteries (developed by Galvani and Volta between 1791 and 1800), and after Faraday’s discovery in 1831, electromagnetic induction machines. Some advocated localized faradization, applying electrical current to the functionally weak body part.
Full article in Oxford
university Press Blog: http://blog.oup.com/2015/05/history-electrotherapy-functional-neurological-symptoms/
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