FARADIZATION OF INTERNAL ORGANS. 



95 



such a maimer that its extremity is brought in contact succes- 

 sively with all points of the neck of the bladder. The patient 

 submitted to the operation feels contractions, that result from the 

 excitation of the muscular fibres that go to form the sphincter 

 of the neck of the bladder. 



If it be desired to excite either the sensibility or tlie contrac- 

 tility of the bladder as a whole, the vesical rheophore must be 

 moved over all parts of the internal surface. It is not always 

 necessary to have recourse to this operation in paralysis of the 

 bladder, complicating paraplegia. It is sometimes possible, in 

 such cases, to re-establish the function by energetic faradization 

 of the muscular walls of the abdomen. The same operation will 

 also often overcome the constipation that is habitual in paraplegia. 

 Numerous facts in my possession appear to show that a certain 

 number of cases of paralysis, both of the rectum and of the 

 bladder, have no other cause than 

 paralysis or debility of the abdominal 

 walls. 



The electric excitation of the rectum 

 may be attended with so much incon- 

 venience as to be a difficulty in the 

 way of the procedure that I have de- 

 scribed, and to require to be avoided. 

 For this purpose I introduce two rlieo- 

 phores into the bladder; and I have 

 had made, by M. Charriere, an instru- 

 ment that I call the double vesical 

 rheophore (figs. 35 and 36). 



The double vesical rheophore is 

 formed of two flexible metallic stems, 

 enclosed in an elastic catheter of double 

 channel, which separates them from each 

 other. The two stems have such termin- 

 ations as are shown in fig. 36 ; so that 

 when approximated, as in fig. 35, they 

 resemble an ordinary sound. The in- 

 strument is closed by pushing the elastic 

 catheter forward, and is introduced into 

 the bladder. The stems are then pushed 

 forward for three or four centimetres, 

 while the catheter is held still, in such a 

 manner that the extremities may separate. Then, after each stem 

 has been connected with the })ole of an induction apparatus, the in- 

 strument is handled in the way already described. The double gum 



Fig. 35. Fig. 36. 



Fig. 35. — Double vesical vheoiiboip, 

 closed. 

 Fig. 36. — The same, open. 



