en Mr. S. came to consult me, he had but lately returned from
Europe, whence, he stated, his physicians had sent him home to
die. His complexion was sallow, sickly; skin of face plentifully
wrinkled; features wearing the air of suffering and anxiety that
so frequently accompanies painful chronic conditions. He had for
some time past suffered from excessive cerebro-spinal
irritability, for the relief of which cantharidal collodion had
been employed in the cervico-spinal region (the same had also
been used in the hepatic region, to meet the diagnostic views of
some one of his medical attendants). He had a remittent chronic
intestinal catarrh, with--noticeably during the periods of
exacerbation--abundant discharge of a glairy mucus. The appetite
was very capricious--not to say poor, and he was obliged to be
exceedingly careful in his diet. He was not capable of any
continued mental application. The muscular system was weak and
flabby. All the vegetative functions were more or less impaired.

On June 3d, 1874, Mr. S., by my directions, took an electric
bath. 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; color gradually returned to his
cheeks, etc. He continued the baths with more or less regularity
until the close of the year, taking in all sixty-one baths. He
was then in a better condition than he had been for many years.
Thinking a trip to Europe would benefit him, I advised him to go
there and remain a few months. He left early in January and
returned in the beginning of April, 1875. He had been very well
during his absence, until within a few weeks prior to his
departure from Europe, when he experienced a severe attack of
cerebro-spinal congestion, which caused him much suffering. On
his return he resumed the baths, and continued them throughout
the spring, continually gaining in strength and weight. At the
beginning of last summer he was practically well. He has
re