3€2 On a Nexu Solvent for Urinary Concretions. [Nov. 



canula be left in the aperture ; then procure a couple of platina 

 wires inclosed in a glass tube, but carefully insulated from each 

 other, and projecting at the end of the tube ; the tube must slide 

 easily in the canula, and be made of a convenient length ; the 

 wires of course are to be connected with the battery ; then let the 

 patient himself (lying on his back,) take the tube and guide it 

 through the. canula to the stone at his leisure ; he will probably be 

 able to do so better than anybody else. The operation may be 

 expected to proceed thus : When the ends of the wires projecting 

 from the tube come in contact with the stone they will begin to 

 attack it ; they will at the same time decompose the urine and its 

 salts, &c. ; the watery part will be decomposed, and resolved into 

 hydrogen and oxygen, and escape through the interval between the 

 tube and the canula. 1 may mention what a fortunate thing it is 

 that galvanism docs not produce a spark at any sensible distance 

 between the wires ; if it did, the hazard, indeed certainty, of ex- 

 ploding the hydrogen and oxygen, must have precluded the use of 

 it, as the wires must necessarily be near each other, and when 

 withdrawn from the canula have come in contact with the gaseous 

 matter escaping from the bladder. It will not be amiss, now it has 

 become so easy a matter, to pour .some tepid water from time to 

 time into the bladder, to afford a solvent medium for the unnatural 

 quantity of salts found in the urine of patients with calculous com- 

 plaints, and prevent farther deposition, and consequent increase in 

 the size of the concretion, which might go a great way in undoing 

 all that was done by the galvanism. Indeed, the water may in 

 some cases take somewhat of a solvent part. Uric acid, of which 

 ealculi often consist, is slightly soluble in water, and so are some 

 urates. The application of the galvanism must he continued till 

 the stone is altogether dissolved, or become small enough to be 

 evacuated through the urethra. It must necessarily be a work of 

 some time; but if the calculus can be destroyed even in the period 

 which it took to be formed, the patient could hardly complain; he 

 may scon be taught to manage every thing for himself at his leisure. 

 To conclude, galvanic electricity has performed many wonders 

 already; and 1 cannot help thinking that if there is a remedy 

 beside the knife for a stone in the bladder, it will be found in its 

 powers of decomposition. However, experiment alone must 

 satisfy us. 



Article IX. 



Observations on a Lumino7is Arch which appeared in the Sky on the 

 Night of Sunday, September 11, 1811. By J. B. Longmire. 



On the night of Sunday, the 11th of September last, a very- 

 beautiful meteoric object presented itself to the view of the people 



