50 APPLICATION OF GALVANISM. 



of the acids employed, as will be seen in the subsequent part of 

 this chapter. The wires used for completing the circuit, should 

 be furnished with insulating handles composed of glass, and be 

 armed at their free extremities with balls of brass, or what 

 answers better, of silver, gold, or platina ; should such be 

 wanting, silver discs (shillings will answer the purpose well) 

 should be laid upon the parts between which the current is 

 to be made to pass, their position being occasionally changed, to 

 prevent the skin beneath from being injured. The subjacent 

 cuticle also, being a non-conductor, should be moistened with a 

 solution of sal-ammoniac, common salt, or vinegar and water. 



In concluding this part of our subject, we shall subjoin a 

 recapitulation of the general principles of practice laid down by 

 a celebrated modern writer, Dr. Apjohn.* 



" 1. Feeble powers should always be first tried; these should 

 be gradually augmented, and the use of such finally persisted in, 

 as, without producing any violent effects, appear to make a 

 decided impression on the disease. 



" 2. Galvanism as a remedial agent, must not be hastily 

 given up because of its beneficial effects not immediately appear- 

 ing, for these, generally speaking, require considerable time to 

 be developed. 



" 3. The pile should not be relied on exclusively in the 

 treatment of diseases, but should rather be considered as auxi- 

 liary to other methods of cure. 



" 4. To the preceding we shall add, that in cases where the 

 continuous current may be deemed most advisable, it would be 

 well to resort to machines composed of plates having an ex- 

 tended surface, there being reason to believe that the curative 

 influence of galvanism in this form, depends not upon its inten- 

 sity, but upon the quantity of it set in motion." 



To these principles we may add, that in all cases where it is 

 necessary that the interrupted current should be administered, 

 the electro-magnetic coil machine will be found much more 

 manageable, much more portable, and equally powerful, if not 



* Cyclopaedia of Practical Medicine, vol. ii. art. Galvanism. 



