ACTION OF IXTERRUPTED AND CONTINUOUS CUERENTS. 205 



1 purpose to return, in the second Part, to the pathological ques- 

 tions that underlie the foregoing record ; and I confine myself for 

 the present to remark on the evidence that it affords towards a 

 therapeutic conclusion with regard to the respective usefulness of 

 continuous currents and of localized faradization. 



Although I have generally obtained a cure of rheumatic contrac- 

 tions by energetic faradization, with rapid intermissions, of the 

 antagonist muscles, it has been seen that, in the foregoing case of 

 reflex ascending contraction from articular injury, I gave the 

 preference to reflex galvanization by a continuous current. This 

 seemed to me to be the more rational course. It was manifest 

 that the contractions had been caused by the articular irritation 

 consequent upon the fall on the wrist, and hence that they were 

 reflex. Believing that they were symptomatic of a hypersemic 

 condition of a point in the cervical region of the cord, correspond- 

 ing to the origin of the brachial plexus, the application to the 

 upper limb of that reflex galvanization by a descending continuous 

 current, that is considered to be an hyposthenisant, seemed to be 

 entirely indicated, and to offer, in a rebellious case already of some 

 duration, a better prospect of success than localized faradization of 

 the antagonists of tlie contracted muscles. It has been seen also 

 that I was deceived in my hope ; that the treatment, applied for a 

 long time, and in accordance with the rules laid down, showed 

 itself to be powerless against this kind of contraction ; that before 

 abandoning electricity I wished to try, although success appeared 

 improbable, faradization of the antagonist muscles ; and tliat then, 

 to my great surprise, I obtained a cure of the contraction M-ith 

 great rapidity. 



The action of tliis mode of faradization of the antagonist 

 muscles was so heroic that, notwithstanding the persistence of 

 spinal pciins, it rapidly conquered for the second time the contrac- 

 tion of the supinator brevis, which had returned and had continued 

 for several months. 



I shall show hereafter that the spinal pains were symptomatic 

 of a secondary morbid condition of the spinal cord (sclerosis) 

 which still existed in November, 1869, and which is the ordinary 

 termination of a reflex ascending contraction from articular injury ; 

 and that their long persistence gives to the case a certain degree 

 of gravity. 



(e). Chorea. 



Case XVI. — I have submitted to the action of the contimious currents, 

 of from 30 to 50 elements of my sulphate of lead battery, two cases of 

 chorea, in yoiing subjects aged respectively fourteen aucl sixteen years ; the 

 current traversing the affected limbs and the vertebral column, in a direction 



