FARADIZATION OF INTERNAL ORGANS. 97 



at pleasure, by means of a mechanism for the purpose, so that, 

 when introduced into the pharynx its olive-shaped extremity may 

 reach to the inferior constrictor. 



In order to faradize the constrictor muscles, the olive is moved 

 over the surface of the oesophagus, while a moist rheophore is placed 

 on the back part of the neck. The operator should beware of 

 directing the olive against the lateral walls of the pharynx, which 

 are in relation, from top to bottom, with the pneumogastric. If 

 the rheophore were placed over the nerve, the electric action, 

 instead of being limited to the pharynx, would be carried further, 

 to organs the stimulation of which would be dangerous, or at least 

 contra-indicated. 



To faradize the oesophagus, an oesophageal sound is required, 

 conveying and insulating a metallic stem, terminating in a small 

 olive-shaped metallic bulb. This rheophore, thus insulated, acts 

 only on those parts of the oesophagus that are in contact with the 

 olive-shaped bulb ; and hence it is necessary to move this bulb 

 over every part of the organ that it is wished to excite. We know 

 that the oesophagus is in relation, in its cervical portion, with the 

 left recurrent nerve, lodged in the groove that separates the oeso- 

 phagus from the trachea, and that it is accompanied, in its thoracic 

 portion, by both pneumogastric nerves, which are situated lower 

 down, the left in I'ront of it, and the right behind it. It is sufficient 

 to mention these anatomical data, in order to show the difficulty, 

 or even the impossibility, of avoiding, during faradization of the 

 oesophagus, the conveyance of the excitation to nerves that supply 

 the most important organs. The operation therefore requires 

 much prudence. 



6. Faradization of the larynx. 



The muscles of the larynx that are concerned in phonation, 

 except the thyro-aryteenoid and the crico-arytaenoid, are accessible 

 to the direct action of faradization. I have practised the following 

 method many times. 



I introduce into the pharynx the pharyngeal rheophore, and 

 carry it down below the posterior part of the larynx. The second 

 (moist) rheophore being placed on the exterior, at the level of the 

 crico-thyroid muscle ; and the apparatus being in action, I move 

 the pharyngeal rheophore, after having increased its curvature, in 

 such a manner as to bring its olive-shaped extremity into contact 

 with the posterior face of the larynx, and I then move it up and 

 down. In this operation the stimulus is carried directly and 

 successively to the posterior crico-arytsenoid and to the arytaenoid 



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