192 LOCALIZED ELECTRIZATION. 



galvanic currents, the course of which is always centrifugal or 

 centripetal, with currents of induction which, with the usual 

 rheotomes or with tremblers, would always be alternating. 



It was for the purpose of obtaining only the entrance or the 

 exit of the induced current, so as to cause the passage, at will, of 

 a centrifugal or centripetal current through organs, that I con- 

 structed the distributor rheotome which has already been de- 

 scribed (fig. 40, p. 123). 



Faradization by centrifugal or centripetal currents, which I have 

 been able to practise by means of this rheotome, has permitted rae 

 to observe, in frogs and rabbits, phenomena analogous to those 

 which have been produced exjoerimentally, imder the influence of 

 the direction of galvanic currents ; but I must say that, in the 

 treatment of paralysis, it has not exhibited any appreciable dif- 

 ference, as regards its action upon motility, sensibility, or nutrition, 

 from faradization practised with ordinary rheotomes. I conclude, 

 therefore, that muscular faradization, either with or without alter- 

 nating currents, is perfectly comparable^ to muscular galvanization 

 with intermissions. 



C. — I have already stated (Chap. I.) that, between the completion 

 and the interruption of a galvanic circuit, the current, which is 

 then continuous, produces fibrillar oscillatory contractions. This 

 is another character which distinguishes the intermissions of 

 the galvanic current from those of the induced current. There- 

 fore, when I have had to make a comparison between the thera- 

 peutic action of these and those, I have always taken the 

 precaution to diminish considerably, during the intermissions of 

 the galvanic current, the duration of the intermediate action 

 between its commencement and its cessation, even to the degree 

 of almost entirely abolishing this period. For this purpose I have 

 employed a rheophore, the teeth of which afforded only a small 

 surface of contact, such that each intermission was necessarily 

 very short, how slowly soever the toothed ^\ heel might be turned. 



The whole of the precautions indicated having been taken, it 

 was possible for me to institute a comparison between the thera- 

 peutic action of intermittent localized galvanization and that of 

 localized muscular faradization, in the treatment of paralysis. 



D. — The result was, under all the foregoing conditions, and 

 when the electro-motor power of the battery was sufficiently great, 

 that localized muscular galvanization afforded nearly the same 

 therapeutic results as faradization. 



However, the benefits being equal, I have still preferred localized 

 muscular faradization, which, exerting the same therapeutic in-, 

 fiuence over local circulation and nutrition, has none of the incon- 



