186 Miscellaneous Intelligence. 



the course of their researches, thought on the practicability of 

 operating on the calculus in the bladder, by electricity, so as either to 

 extract it, or assist in reducing it to that stale in which it could be 

 voided without having recourse to an operation. 



The modes of applying the electric current are two. It would be 

 possible, in fact, to extract the calculus by means of a double sound 

 communicating at one end with the bladder, and at the other with 

 two vessels filled water, into which the poles of the pile should be 

 plunged. This method, if practicable, would transfer the acids 

 and bases of the calculus into the vessels, but it would require 

 a battery of strong power, and probably, from the dispersion of the 

 galvanic fluid, disturb the bladder, which, with other objections, 

 make the method inapplicable. The other mode is, in place of 

 endeavouring to extract the calculus, to aim rather at its disin- 

 tegration, and bring it into so friable a state that it may readily be 

 broken down, and pass out through the urethra. 



A fusible calculus was submitted to the action of a pile of 120 

 pair of plates for 12 hours, the pile being recharged each hour. 

 The calculus was placed in a vessel of pure water, and the platina 

 wires from the poles of the battery, which also passed through the 

 water, touched it in two points, distant about 6 or S lines. During 

 the action, the phosphoric acid, and the bases separated at the poles, 

 then re-combined and fell as an insoluble powder to the bottom of 

 the vessel. At first the calculus weighed 92 grains, but was then 

 reduced to SO grains; the treatment being continued for 16 hours 

 more, the calculus became so fiiablc, that the slightest pressure 

 broke it into numerous crystalline grains, the largest not larger than 

 a lentil, all of which would easily have passed the urethra. 



The practicability of this mode of treatment is evident to those, at 

 all acquainted with physiological experiments. It is almost always 

 possible to carry two conductors into the bladder, which, by means 

 of a slight spring, shall have their extremities separated, so as to 

 touch the calculus in two points. The voltaic current being passed, 

 the calculus would be decomposed without the bladder being too 

 much affected. To prove this, such a system of conductors were in- 

 troduced into the bladder of a dog, and connected with a battery of 

 135 pair of plates. It was found that, the bladder being distended 

 by warm water, the animal was not particularly disturbed, notwith- 

 standing the conductors decomposed water with energy, and gave 

 torrents of gas. 



The following experiment was then made : a fusible calculus was 

 fixed at the end of the sound, between the two conductors, and in- 

 troduced iuto the bladder of a large dog, which was then filled with 

 warm water. The conductors were then connected with the battery. 

 After some slight movements, the animal became calm, and re- 

 mained quiet under the galvanic action for an hour. The sound 

 being carefully withdrawn, the calculus was found decidedly to have 

 undergone decomposition. This was repeated for six days, one hour 



