50 



ELECTRICITY. 



different degrees by electricity, accord- 

 ing to their peculiar constitutional sus- 

 ceptibility. Dr. Young remarks, that 

 a very minute tremor, communicated to 

 the most elastic parts of the body, in 

 particular to the chest, produces an agi- 

 tation of the nerves, which is not -wholly 

 unlike the effect of a weak electricity. 

 ^ (183.) The bodies of animals killed 

 by electricity, rapidly undergo putrefac- 

 tion, and the action of electricity upon 

 the flesh of animals is also found to 

 accelerate this process in a remarkable 

 degree. The same effect has been ob- 

 served in the bodies of persons de- 

 stroyed by lightning. It is also a well- 

 established fact, that the blood does not 

 coagulate after death from this cause. 



(184.) It has not been determined 

 with any degree of certainty, whether 

 electricity, in its ordinary mode of ap- 

 plication, exerts any sensible influence 

 on the functions of the animal system. 

 Ihe Abbe Nollet persuaded himself, 

 from the experiments he made on man 

 and animals, that the perspiration was 

 increased during the time they were 

 electrified ; and De Bozes had noticed 

 that the pulse was quickened under the 

 same circumstance. But Van Marum, 

 on repeating these experiments in a 

 variety of ways, met with such variable 

 and contradictory results, that he could 

 deduce from them no satisfactory con- 

 clusion respecting the real operation of 

 electricity ; and, indeed, if we take into 

 account the powerful influence which 

 the imagination exerts on most persons 

 who are the subjects of such experi- 

 ments, as well as on those who witness 

 them, there appears but little chance, 

 amidst such multiplied sources of fal- 

 lacy, of arriving at the truth. The 

 only general fact, perhaps, which ap- 

 pears to be established, is that elec- 

 tricity acts as a stimulant both to the 

 muscular and the nervous systems. 



(185.) When the energetic effects of 

 the shock from the Leyden phial were 

 first made known, the most sanguine 

 expectations were immediately raised, 

 that electricity would prove an agent 

 of considerable power in the cure of 

 diseases. It was supposed that as a 

 stimulant, it would have many advan- 

 tages over other remedies ; for it can 

 be administered in various degrees of 

 intensity, which may be regulated with 

 great exactness ; and its application 

 can be directed especially to the organ 

 vve wish to affect, and can be limited to 

 that organ, so as not to interfere with 



the functions of the general system. 

 Accordingly we find, that at one period 

 electricity was in great repute as an 

 efficacious remedy in a number of dis- 

 eases ; but at present it is seldom 

 employed except in a very few. It is 

 not unfrequently had recourse to in 

 palsy, contractions of the limbs, rheu- 

 matism, St. Vitus's dance, and some 

 kinds of deafness, and impaired vision ; 

 it has also been applied to discuss tu- 

 mours, to remove obstructions, and to 

 relieve pain. 



(186.) Electricity may be adminis- 

 tered medicinally in four different ways. 

 The first and most gentle is under the 

 form of a continued stream, or aura as it 

 is termed, derived from a wire or pointed 

 piece of wood connected with the prime 

 conductor of the machine, held by an 

 insulated handle, at the distance of one 

 or two inches from that part to which it 

 is to be directed ; an impression is felt, 

 similar to a current of air ; and in this 

 way it may be borne by parts of great 

 sensibility, such as the eye. The se- 

 cond mode is by directing sparks of 

 various sizes to the affected part, by 

 means of a metallic ball at the extremity 

 of abrass rod, which is within a moderate 

 distance from the part ; or else by plac- 

 ing the patient on an insulating stool, 

 and while he is in communication with 

 the prime conductor of the machine, 

 taking sparks from him by another per- 

 son with a metallic ball at the end of a 

 rod which he holds in his hand. The 

 size and intensity of the spark will, of 

 course, be regulated by the distance at 

 which the ball is placed from the 

 body, provided the machine be steadily 

 worked. The third mode is that by 

 shocks from the discharge of a Leyden 

 phial, which is, of course, the most se- 

 vere and painful method of applying 

 electricity. Great caution is required 

 against the indiscriminate application 

 of this last method, which is not wholly 

 free from danger. The fourth mode is 

 by Galvanism, hereafter to be noticed. 



5. Effects of Electricity upon Vege- 

 tables. 



(187.) It has also been imagined that 

 electricity acts as a stimulus to vegetable 

 life : and many fanciful projects of im- 

 provements in horticulture by the aid 

 of artificial electricity have been enter- 

 tained. It is needless, however, to en- 

 large upon these visionary speculations, 

 the fallacy of which has been sufficiently 

 shown by the late Dr. Ingenhouz, who, 



