THERAPEUTIC VALUE OF LOCALIZED FARADIZATION. 155 



as regards the ultimate result, the tonic force of the vessels is 

 increased. 



Such, at least, is the object that I propose to myself, and that an 

 endeavour should be made to attain, when, in the treatment of 

 atrophic paralysis, electric excitation is directed upon the gang- 

 lionic vaso-motors. It is indeed shown, both by clinical observa- 

 tion and by experiment, that neuro-paralytic hypertemia is a 

 morbid state that is seen in atrophic paralysis, consecutive to 

 lesions of the cerebrospinal centres or of the nerve-trunks. It 

 is rational to conclude that any agency which increased the neuro- 

 paralytic hypersemia would aggravate the pathological state. But 

 this is precisely the opposite of what I have witnessed, when, 

 by the aid of faradization, I have cured the cases of atrophic 

 paralysis that have been brought to me in such a condition. Under 

 the influence of the treatment, I have seen the colour of the skin 

 and the nutrition of the paralysed limb return in a short time to 

 their normal state ; while, at the same time, the paralysis under- 

 went improvement : and I have considered, under these circum- 

 stances, that the vascular tonicity had been increased by the 

 localized faradization. On the whole, the clinical facts teach that, 

 as far as regards therapeutics, we should take into consideration 

 the secondary and ultimate, rather than the immediate effects of 

 electrization. 



C. — Local circulation ^promoted hy localized faradization. — Such 

 has not been the reasoning of those who, on the contrary, attribute 

 the therapeutic action of electrization on the nutrition to the slight 

 degree of neuro-paralytic hyperaemia that is produced by the in- 

 fluence of a feeble current. To reduce their opinion into terms, we 

 must say that, neuro-paralytic hyperaemia being one of the morbid 

 phenomena of atrojjhic paralysis due to lesions of tlie nervous 

 centres or nerve-trunks, we should have to increase the neuro- 

 paralytic hyperaemia in order to cure the paralysis. To diminish 

 what wouLl otherwise appear paradoxical in their opinion, those who 

 advance it have altered, the physiological signification of the fact on 

 which it rests, by saying that the increased activity of the circulation 

 is produced by the influence of the current upon the sympathetic. 



In order to accept this theory, it would be necessary to forget 

 the experiments which show that this kind of neuro-paralytic 

 hyperaemia is passive ; and that, in itself, it is powerless to affect 

 the nutrition. I would recall the experiment of Snellen,^ many 

 times since repeated, which proves this in an incontestable manner. 

 I have seen the fact confirmed by clinical observation ; and I shall 



' Snellen, Arch, fur die hollandische Beitrage zur Natur und Heilkunde, 1857, 

 vol. i. p. 206. 



