96 



LOCALIZED ELECTRIZATION. 



catlietlier, which encloses the stems of the rheophores, must never 

 be penetrated by moisture, because the currents would then pass 

 from one rheophore to the other, and would be recomposed in the 

 interior of the catheter, instead of reaching the extremities. It is 

 necessary to empty the bladder for this reason also. 



3. Faradization of the uterus. 



In certain cases of amenorrhoea, electric excitation of the neck 

 of the uterus may be practised with advantage. For this purpose 

 I use a rheophore like the double one for the bladder, but differ- 

 ing from the latter in the curvature of the stems, and in the larger 

 size of the terminal plates (figs. 37 and 38). It is introduced 



closed, as in fig. 38, into the vagina, 

 and then the two plates are made to 

 separate, as in fig. 37, by pushing 

 the stems onward through the double 

 gum tube that covers them. The 

 operator guides each of the plates by 

 the index fingers of his free hand, and 

 places them on the sides of the cervix. 

 It then only remains to connect the 

 stems with the poles of an induction 

 apparatus. The facts that I have ob- 

 served show the good effects of this 

 metliod of excitation in cases of ob- 

 stinate amenorrhoea, that are not wholly 

 dependent upon chloro-anaemia. 



If it be desired to excite the organs 

 contained in the pelvis, by indirect 

 faradization, the terminal olive of the 

 rectal rheophore should be directed to the posterior wall of the rec- 

 tum. The current then traverses the coats of the intestine, and 

 concentrates its action upon the sacral and hypogastric plexus 

 behind it. 



Fig. 37. 



Fig. 37. — Uterine rheophore, open. 

 Fig. 38. — The same, closed. 



4. Faradization of the pharynx and oesophagus. 



Faradization of the pharynx is practised by means of a rheo- 

 phore called a pharyngeal. This consists of a metallic stem, very 

 flexible, or jointed like an ossophageal sound, terminating in an 

 olive-shaped metallic extremity, three or four millimetres in 

 diameter, and protected by a gum tube to insulate the stem. The 

 curvature of the jointed rheophore may be increased or diminished 



