,370 ELECTRICITY. 



if the hand be bent inwardly, and the patient have 

 no power of straightening it, the cause of it may 

 be a weakness of the outward muscles, as well as 

 a contraction of the inward ones. In such cases, 

 it is often difficult, even for good anatomists, to 

 discover the real cause; but the surest method is, 

 to electrify not only those muscles which are sup- 

 posed to be contracted, but also their antagonists; 

 for to electrify a sound muscle is by no means hurtful. 



Rheumatic disorders of long standing, are re- 

 lieved, and frequently cured, by only drawing the 

 electric fluid with a point from the part, or by 

 drawing sparks from the conductor; the operation 

 should be continued for about four or five minutes, 

 repeating it once or twice every day. When strong- 

 shocks are administered, their greatest number 

 should not exceed twelve or fourteen, except when 

 they are to be given to the whole body in different 

 directions. 



The instruments, which, besides the electrical 

 machine and its prime conductor, are necessary for 

 the administration of medical electricity, may be 

 reduced to three, viz. an electric jar, with Lane's 

 electrometer; an insulated chair, or an insulated 

 stool, upon which a common chair may be oc- 

 casionally set; and the directors. 



Fig. 5. represents the electric jar, with Lane's 

 electrometer, and the manner in which the shocks 

 are sent through any part of the body. The sur- 

 face of the jar, which is coated with tin-foil, 

 should be about four inches in diameter, and six 

 inches high, which is equal to about seventy-three 

 square inches. The brass w T ire, which passes 

 through the covering of the jar, and touches the 

 inside coating, has a brass ball F, to which the 

 electrometer F D E is fastened; and proceeding a 



