150 LOCALIZED ELECTEIZATION. 



have seen these results confirmed, both in Europe and in America, 

 by a host of the most competent observers, an endeavour is made 

 to persuade me, on my objecting to deductions drawn from a few 

 experiments upon rabbits, that I am myself under illusion ! 



As much as any one, I admire experimental medicine ; and, 

 without believing that the whole future of therapeutics rests upon 

 it exclusively, I have always held that it will exert a guiding and 

 enlightening influence. But when, in defiance of all logic, it would 

 lead us to cast doubt upon facts perfectly established by clinical 

 observation, it is necessary that we should renounce it. 



A. — Fortunately, in the case with which we are now concerned, 

 we have not to find fault with experimentation itself, but with 

 those who have experimented badly, or who have badly interpreted 

 the results of their experiments. I proceed to prove this, at least 

 for those which are now under discussion. 



In the rabbits, the sympathetic nerve Avas laid bare in the neck, 

 slightly lifted by means of a thread placed tinder it, and then 

 electrified, for two or three minutes, hi/ 2^owerfid induced currents. 

 The artery of the corresponding ear became contracted until it was 

 no longer perceptible. On ceasing the electrization, the artery 

 regained its size little by little ; and finally hecame larger than it 

 was he/ore the operation. After an instant, the temperature of that 

 side was elevated above that of the other.^ 



There can be no question that, in these experiments, the dilata- 

 tion of the vessels of the ear, consecutively to faradization of the 

 cervical sympathetic of the same side, was produced by paralysis 

 of their vaso-motors. Is there not some cause for surprise that the 

 sympathetic, already exposed to the air, and perhaps more or less 

 injured in the dissection, was not, so to speak, killed by the power- 

 ful induced current by which it was directly traversed for several 

 minutes ; and that the vessels had still power slowly to regain 

 their normal calibre ? 



To proceed thus with experiments the object of which is to study 

 the action of induced currents upon the nervous system, is but to 

 contribute to toxicology. We know that there are certain poisons 

 which, in small doses, increase the action of the heart, but which 

 would arrest that action if given in large doses. To expect a 

 therapeutic action from such a manner of applying induced cur- 

 rents is like maintaining that paralysis might be as readily cured 

 by a thunderbolt as by electricity wisely and methodically applied. 



There is certainly no need of experimental medicine to inform 

 \is that, in its therapeutic aspect, localized faradization is a two- 



- Oniraus et Leofi'os, loc. cif. 



