THEEAPEUTIC VxVLUE OF LOCALIZED FARADIZATION. IGl 



D. — Theraiieutic action of localized faradization upon the develop- 

 ment of vessels. — If such is the mechanism of the disorder of local 

 eircuhitiou that is observed consecutively to lesions, imflammatory, 

 organic, or traumatic, of the cord and of the mixed nerves, we are 

 able to explain one of the favourable results obtained by direct 

 muscular faradization. 



The first therapeutic effect of direct muscular faradization, in 

 the treatment of these forms of paralysis, is, as I have said, slightly 

 to redden the skin, in the excited region, during the passage of 

 the current. We soon afterwards observe elevation of tempera- 

 ture, increase of sensibility, and at last, more slowly, the enlarge- 

 ment, almost visihhj, of the cutaneous veins. I have often seen these 

 phenomena continue after the faradization, and sometimes increase, 

 so as to resemble an irritation, and to require the suspension of 

 treatment and the use of emollients, baths, poultices, and the 

 like. 



It is certainly not the excitation of the ganglionic vaso-motors 

 that produces these immediate effects. It, on the contrary, pro- 

 duces contraction of vessels, decoloration of the skin, and cooling 

 of the excited region. Consequently, the hyperaemia that is wit- 

 nessed during faradization, under such circumstances, must be 

 considered as an active hyperaemia, produced by excitation of the 

 dilatator vaso-motors. 



Why do not the vaso-motor constrictors, that are influenced by 

 the faradization at the same time as the dilatators, produce a con- 

 sequent contraction of the vessels ? For the present, I must admit, 

 I do not know the reason. I am therefore bound to mention the 

 fact. 



E. — What is the mechanism of the active dilatation of vessels? 



(a). According to M. CI. Bernard, the vaso-motor dilatators exert 

 a paralysing action upon the vaso-motor constrictors, by the inter- 

 mediation of small peripheral ganglia, which are found in great 

 numbers in the course of inti-a-glandular nerves ; their irritation 

 is propagated to these small controlling centres, the activity of 

 which consists in checking function, in producing momentary 

 paralysis of the ultimate nervous filaments in relation with the 

 vascular muscles. With regard, for instance, to the chorda tym- 

 pani, the excitation of this nerve proceeds, after the hypothesis of 

 M. CI. Bernard, to rouse the activity of a sub-maxillary ganglion 

 destined to moderate, or temporarily to paralyse, the vaso-motor 

 constrictors that are distributed to the vessels of the sub-maxillary 

 gland. 



The hypothesis of M. CI. Bernard is supported by ingenious ex- 

 periments ; but, according to Schiff, this doctrine of a central 



M 



