MEDICAL BATTERIES. 79 



understand the therapeutical importance of direct muscular fara- 

 dization. 



Nothing can be more easy than this direct faradization, 

 especially in the superficial regions of the trunk and limbs, to 

 those who possess any knowledge of surface anatomy. For the 

 deeper layers of the muscles of the limbs the process is more 

 difficult; although most of these muscles oifer some point of 

 their tissue that is sub-cutaneous, and accessible to direct excita- 

 tion. 



I could show, by a synoptical table, the points on which the 

 rheophores should be placed, in order to practise direct and partial 

 faradization of the muscles. But such a work would be beyond 

 the limits I have imposed upon myself; and would be of little 

 value to those who have not forgotten their anatomy. The prac- 

 titioner who desires to perfect himself in the art of localized 

 faradization should, however, study myology from a special point 

 of view ; and should seek to learn exactly the points at which 

 the superficial and the deeper muscles come into relation with the 

 surface. With regard to those inaccessible to direct faradization, 

 the number of which is not great, we have always the po\\ er to 

 excite them indirectly, that is to say, through the medium of their 

 motor nerves. 



VI. — Excitahility of nerves and muscles. 



The faradization of a mixed nerve or of a muscle always pro- 

 duces, in the normal state, contraction and sensation. It is very 

 important for those who study the art of localized faradization, in 

 its applications either to physiology, pathology, or therapeutics, 

 to be acquainted with the degree of excitability of the nerve or 

 muscle upon which the electric stimulant is directed. If all 

 organs possessed the same degree of excitability, the practice of 

 this method of faradization would be very easy. It would be 

 sufficient to know the thickness of tissue to be traversed, and its 

 resistance to the current, the proper state of dryness or humidity 

 of the skin, and the best form of rheophores for obtaining deep or 

 superficial action ; to know superficial muscular anatomy, and the 

 points of immersion or emergence of the motor nerves, so as to 

 be acquainted with the parts on which the rheophoi-es should be 

 placed, either for the direct or indirect excitation of each muscle. 

 Unfortunately the matter is not so easy ; since each organ, each 

 muscle, each nerve possesses its own degree of excitability, of con- 

 tractility, or of electric sensibility. 



It would be unsuitable to enter at great length into details on 

 this point of the subject ; but it is as necessary to mention certain 



