320 Sckmific Newtf Actotints of Boois^ isf-C. 



EffeB of Galvanifm in a Cafe of Paral^s of the Mufcles of the Left Side of the Fact. 



By Citizen Halle *. 



A man whofe mufcles of the left fide of the face, and the interior mufcles of the globe 

 of the eye on the fame fide were paralyfed in confequence of a cold, had been eledlrified 

 feveral times. He experienced no fenfation nor contrail ion when the affected part re- 

 ceived the fpark, and there was fcarcely the flightefl; contradtion in the zygomaticus major 

 ■when the eledlrtc fhock was applied. This man was fubje£l:ed to the galvanic aftion of a 

 pile of fifty fetts, by forming a communication between the different points of the difeafed 

 fide of the face, and the two extremities of the pile by means of metallic excitators. 



At the moment of contaft all the mufcles of the face became contracted. The patient 

 felt pain with a very difagreeable fenfation of heat, the eye became convulfed, tears flowed 

 involuntarily, and rednefs with fwelling was perceived on the different parts which were 

 touched. 



Thefe experiments, which appear to afford fome means of comparing the effects of gal- 

 vanifm with electricity, were repeated feveral fucceffive days at the fchool of medicine, 

 and on the 26th of Prarial Citizen Halle gave an account of the fame to the National In- 

 ftitute. He obferved, that the mufcles remained contracted for fome minutes after the 

 galvanic commotion, and that the left eye even followed the motion of the right. 



In this application of galvanifm to the human body, Citizen Halle obferved fome very 

 fingular anomalies. The pile was often very long before it communicated its effeft ; fome- 

 times it ceafed to produce any eflFe£t for feveral feconds together. In both thefe cafes it 

 feemed as If the fluid met fome obftacle in its courfe. For in thefe circumftances it was 

 iiecefTary to moiften the fkin, to rub it, and to change the relative pofition of the rings, in 

 order to make the communication. In general it was obferved, that in order that the fen- 

 fation fliould be fpeedy, it was not enoueh that the fkin fliould be wetted, but that it mufl 

 be, as it were, foaked and foftened with the water. He himfelf, as well as feveral other 

 perfons, made trial of the fenfation which the galvanifm produces. It refembles in fome 

 refpefts that of the aflion of feveral needles forced at the fame time into the fkin. It is a 

 pungent pain, accompanied with a fenfe 6i heat and a flight metallic tafle, when the ex- 

 eitets were applied near the falivary glaiids. 



• Communicated to the National Inftitute of France, and inferted in tbe Bulletin des Sciences, No, 5 1, 

 An. IX. 



