34 



DISEASES RELIEVED 



a disease which unfortunately too often resists all the efforts of 

 the physicians." 



Tetanus. In our introductory chapter, we have already made 

 mention of some experiments of Nobili, from which that philo- 

 sopher was induced to believe that voltaic electricity might prove 

 a remedy in tetanus. Matteucci has confirmed this opinion ; to 

 describe the experiments on which his opinion is founded, we must 

 again have recourse to his own words. " All narcotic poisons, 

 such as opium and nux vomica, administered to frogs, first stupi- 

 fy, then excite them, and some little time before death they 

 are seized with very violent tetanic convulsions. If in animals 

 in this last stage we pass a current of electricity of a certain 

 intensity, we observe the stiffness of the limbs disappear, and the 

 convulsions cease. These frogs died after a certain time, but 

 without exhibiting any symptoms of tetanus. In order to render 

 the contraction which takes place at the commencement of the 

 application of the current less powerful, it is better to employ 

 the inverse current." A case of tetanus is related, in which an 

 opportunity was afforded of trying the effects of this agent. The 

 patient, during the time he was submitted to the electric treat- 

 ment did not suffer from such violent convulsions he could 

 open and shut his mouth, circulation and secretion appeared to 

 be re-established. Unfortunately these symptoms of amelioration 

 were but temporary. " I dare not hope," adds the author, " that 

 the application of the electrical current will invariably bring about 

 the cure of tetanus ; but I believe the opinion to be well founded, 

 that during the passage of the electric current along the limbs of 

 a patient attacked with tetanus, his sufferings may be at least in 

 a great measure relieved." 



Asphyxia. (Suspended Animation.) In all cases of asphyxia, 

 whether proceeding from strangulation, drowning, narcotic poi- 

 sons, the inhalation of noxious gases, or simple concussion of the 

 cerebral system, the use of galvanic electricity may be resorted 

 to with hopes of success, care being, however, taken not to neg- 

 lect other modes of resuscitation. In all such cases, the inter- 



