The method of action of the galvanic current in gynaecological work is little understood. Much of the beneficial result obtained in uterine ionization is, I believe, due to the action of the current on unstriped muscle.

In spite of the fact that the late Dr Sloan, of Glasgow, the pioneer of the subject in Britain, published papers on this branch of electrical work as long ago as 1906, this method of treatment is still but little practised here.

Much of the unpopularity of the treatment is due to the fact that those who know how to apply the electrical methods are not sufficiently trained in gynaecology to be certain of their diagnosis, or to be adept at the manipulation of instruments required for intra-uterine therapy. On the other hand, those who are adept in gynaecological work are naturally more conversant with other methods of treatment than electrical, and hence consider surgery as less laborious.

It was the failures of surgery which led Dr Sloan to perfect his gynaecological work by the introduction of electrical methods. In France, gynaecological electrotherapy has been well known for over 20 years, but Dr Sloan’s work was entirely independent, inasmuch as he did not read French.

Cases of gonorrhœcal and other infections of the cervix which I cured by copper and zinc ionization carried out after Dr Sloan’s methods, were published in The Practitioner in 1914. Many electrotherapeutic workers have cured similar cases of long-standing discharge of the vagina, cervix and body of the uterus.

Uterine haemorrhage

Less well recognized is the electrical treatment of uterine haemorrhage. I have had several cases since the war which lead me to believe that the good results obtained are not due solely to the fact of electrolytic action on diseased membrane and local medication by zinc or copper ions. It would appear that the galvanic current has an effect on the uterine muscle itself: a refreshing, tonic, and calming effect when applied in small doses for a short time; and a tiring, irritating effect when given in too large doses for too long a time.

I have observed this in cases of very varying types, such as, for example, cases of so-called cerebral and spinal neurasthenia, and cases of atonic dyspepsia with dilated stomach without nervous symptoms. Wherever there is fatigue of nerve, brain and voluntary and involuntary muscle, small doses of the galvanic current appear to give fresh life.

Rejuvenation of the womb

A case was sent to me by a gynaecologist with a diagnosis of fibrosis of the womb. The patient was a married woman, aged 36, who had lived for many years in the tropics. Her periods came fairly regularly, but were very profuse and very painful. She came only for three weeks, during which she had only six treatments, administered twice a week, with a platinum sound, 20 m.a. for eight to ten minutes. The sound was introduced only 0.5 to 1 inch; it could not be pushed further into the cervical canal. After ten minutes of stable treatment, I gave rhythmical galvanism for eight minutes, with the negative pole attached to the sound. Some months after treatment, the patient wrote that her periods had become normal in amount and painless.

The gynaecologist told me that the womb was ‘rejuvenated’ in this case. Owing to the fact that in this case the periods were almost regular and there was no discharge, the local electrolytic effect of copper zinc ions was not attempted. The muscular tissue of the womb became healthier than it had been for years.

I have had three similar cases with identical reports by a gynaecologist at the end of treatment. Had the patient been able to remain longer for treatment, her sterility might have been remedied.

The importance of this fact of rejuvenation of the womb is the bearing it has on the question of sterility. No case of sterility should be regarded as hopeless until electrical treatment has failed.

In 1915, I was able to bring about pregnancy in a woman of over 30, who had considered it was a hopeless impossibility. She had always remembered profuse and painful periods; and the first sign of improvement after 12 treatments was the occurrence of a painless period – the first painless flow she had experienced for over 14 years. 

In that case I had begun with half a dozen applications of a secondary faradic current, and followed with a rhythmic galvanic current of 7 to 15 m.a. for 12 minutes, the positive pole in the womb and the negative on the abdomen.