134 



LOCALIZED ELECTRIZATION. 



If, in the place to which one may be called to an asphyxiated 

 person, the only battery to be fonnd is composed of too small a 

 number of elements for the nseful application of a constant 

 current, such as the battery of a telegraph station, or if there 

 should be only a battery of inconstant current, such as that of 

 Wollaston, recommended by Leroy (d'Etiolles), it is necessary to 

 pass a current of rapid intermissions between the mouth and the 

 anus, without going so far as to produce reflex contraction. This 

 may be done with as much prospect of success as will attend the 

 use of the continuous current of a constant battery, composed of a 

 large number of elements.* 



§ III. — Excitation of the innervation of the heart and 



RESPIRATORY ORGANS BY MEANS OF CUTANEOUS FARADIZATION 

 OF THE PRECORDIAL REGION. 



A long clinical experience has taught me that excitation of the 

 sensibility of the skin of the thorax, and especially of the pre- 

 cordial region, is one of the best means of treating asphyxia, or 

 certain grave disorders of the innervation of the heart or respi- 

 ratory organs, by reflex action. The correctness of this assertion 

 will be shown by the relation of the most important clinical facts 

 that I have collected. 



I. — Treatment of Asphyxia. 

 Artificial respiration by means of faradization of the phrenic 

 nerves is the mode of electric excitation that I generally prefer in 

 the treatment of asphyxia ; but in hands that are unskilful, or 

 little accustomed to the operation, it is not free from danger to 

 the patient. Under such circumstances I advise, as the more 

 sim[)le method, cutaneous farachzation of the precordial region, 



•• I cannot leave this jaart of the snb- 

 ject without recalling another method of 

 galvanization suggested, in 1824:, by 

 Leroy (d'Etiolles), lauded by him in the 

 treatment of asphyxia, and long employed 

 in practice : — 



" When the battery," he says, " is 

 ready, the operator takes two fine pins 

 prepared for the piu-pose, only six or seven 

 millimetres in length, and terminated by 

 discs which are surmounted by hooks or 

 rings. These pins are intended to con- 

 vey the galvanic fluid beneath the skin, 

 across the fibres of the chief respii'atory 

 muscle. The pins are thrust into the 

 sides of the patient up to their discs, 

 between the seventh and eighth rib. 

 One of the conductors is then attached to 

 one of the pins ; and the operator, liold- 

 ing the other conductor, touches with it, 



every two seconds, the head of the second 

 pin on the opi^osite side of the chest. If 

 no proper pins are at hand, a jjuucture 

 may be made, which shoidd not exceed 

 the thickness of the skin, with a lancet, 

 a penknife, or the points of scissors, and 

 through this puncture the galvanic fluid 

 will make its way. The punctures should 

 be made in the situation already men- 

 tioned, between the seventh and eighth 

 rib, on opposite sides of the chest, in the 

 course of a line proceeding from the pit of 

 the stomach to make the circuit of the 

 body. The ends of the conducting wires 

 should be made to touch the wounds, one 

 of them in an intermittent manner, as 

 described for the jiins."- — Instructions sur 

 I asphyxie (in Journal de la Socie'te cics 

 Nate/rages, t. iv. 1840). 



