540 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



by poisonous gases. The galvanic cm-rent also restores respiration in 

 cases of poisoning by ether or chloroform, even when recovery seems 

 hopeless. Surgeons who understand this effect, remember it whenever 

 chloroform seems dangerous to the patient under its influence. 



Electricity is transformed into heat with great ease. If an intense 

 current is passed through a very short metallic wire, it heats, reddens, 

 and sometimes vaporizes it. This property has been taken advantage 

 of by surgeons for the removal of various morbid excrescences. They 

 introduce a metallic blade at the base of the tumors or polypi to be 

 extirpated, and when this kind of electric knife becomes incandescent, 

 under the influence of the galvanic current, they give it such a move- 

 ment that the diseased part is separated by cauterization, as neatly as 

 with a cutting instrument. This method, which avoids effusion of 

 blood, and is attended by only slight pain, has yielded excellent re- 

 sults in the hands of Marshall, Middeldorpf, Sedillot, and Amussat. 

 Besides this application, in which heat plays the chief part, electricity 

 has been used to destroy tumors, by a kind of chemical disorganiza- 

 tion of their tissue. Crusell, Ciniselli, and Nelaton, have made deci- 

 sive experiments of this nature. Petrequin, Broca, and others, suggest 

 the same method to coagulate the blood contained in sacs, in aneu- 

 risms. If this novel surgery is not so widely known and used as it de- 

 serves to be, the reason is that the manipulation of electric instruments 

 requires much practice and dexterity, and surgeons find the classic use 

 of the scalpel more convenient. 



This rapid historical view shows that the method of treatment by 

 electricity is useful in very many diseases. Whether resorted to to 

 modify the nutritive condition, to quicken or check circulation in the 

 small vessels, to calm or excite the nerves, to relax or stimulate the 

 muscles, to burn or detach tumors, electricity, if managed rationally, 

 is destined to do distinguished service in the healing art. The range 

 of treatment by heat is less considerable, yet of some extent. The 

 examination of the medical value of treatment by light has scarcely 

 begun, nor has much been done toward the study of weight or press- 

 ure, in their relations to medical science. At all events, there is now 

 forming and gaining increased development, alongside of the medicinal 

 use of bodies, a medicinal use of forces besides the physic of drugs, 

 a physic of powers. It is impossible to say at present which of the 

 two will definitely prevail more probably both will be called on to 

 render valuable services to art. 



The first savants who studied the action of galvanic electricity on 

 dead bodies, and saw them recover motion, and even an appearance 

 of sensation, supposed they had touched the secret of life, likening to 

 the vital principle that other force which seems to warm again the 

 frozen organs, and restore their springs. Slight reflection on the facts 

 collected in the foregoing pages reveals the thorough illusiveness of 

 such a hope. Not only is electricity far from being the whole of life, 



