Next to strychnine come Iron and Quinine, and a combination of the three drugs, as in Easton's Syrup, affords the best routine method of prescribing these agents in the later stages of all types of diphtheritic par alysis. Arsenic is recommended, but the peculiar dangers of the case should prohibit its administration, since this drug of itself produces a form of peripheral neuritis akin to the diphtheritic.
Belladonna is supposed to counteract the action of the poison on the cardiac nerves and muscle, and may be given in full doses alone or with strychnine.
Electricity is valuable, but, like massage, exercise and strychnine, it should not be resorted to in the very early stages of the neuritis. It may be used in different ways.
(r) A weak continuous current may be passed from the spine to the affected muscles. (2) The healthy contractility and irritability of the muscles should be maintained by placing the kathode of a continuous galvanic battery upon the skin over the motor points, and then rapidly making and breaking contact by alternately applying to and withdrawing the anode from the skin over some indifferent place near to the affected muscles. (3) Local Faradisation of the muscles may be practised with
beneficial results. (4) A weak continuous current may be sent through the peripheral nerves of the affected limb or region. The applications of electricity should be only made from 5 to to minutes once daily. (5) Static electricity may be employed. Massage and exercises may be resorted to in chronic cases where the wasted muscles fail to respond to electrical treatment. The best results are obtainable, as in all other forms of muscular wasting, by resistance exercises, the resistance being gradually increased till true hypertrophy is made to take the place of atony. These exercises may be carried out in conjunction with electrical treatment and small parenchymatous doses of strychnine.
Counter-irritation by Chili Paste, or other suitable skin irritant, may be tried, and some practitioners believe in repeated blistering by Cantharides.