206 LOCALIZED ELECTRIZATION. 



sometimes ascending and sometimes descending, and each seance having lasted 

 from ten to fifteen minutes. In one of these cases, both the upper and one of 

 tlie lower limbs were affected by the partial mnscular contractions. The 

 patient was cured in fifteen applications ; a progressive improvement having 

 been obtained after the first few. The other case, in which the muscular 

 spasms were less general, but of more than a year's duration, derived no 

 benefit from the continuous current, which was applied in the same manner. 



These two cases afford confirmation of what had been already- 

 established by others (Kemak, Hiffelsheim, Benedikt,) that chorea 

 may sometimes, but not always, be cured by the continuous 

 current. 



I should remark that localized faradization, especially by reflex 

 action, may also count its cures of chorea. I have myself obtained 

 them, although I have only treated a very small number of cases. 

 Some have even been cured by static electricity. 



Since chorea may thus be cured by all kinds of electrization, it 

 behoves us to seek in the future what proceeding or method, 

 whether faradization or galvanization, deserves the preference in 

 its treatment. 



M. Onimus says that^ in the treatment of chorea, " induction 

 currents are rejected hy all jihysicians tvho are engaged in electro- 

 tJierapeuticsj" and then he describes a treatment by coniinuous 

 currents, which, he says, " has always succeeded with him in this affec- 

 tion^ and which consists in causing the passage of an ascending con- 

 tinuous current through the limhs or through the ve^'tebral column 

 during from thirty to fifty minutes.''^ 



What I have already said about the therapeutic influence of 

 induction currents, especially when applied by reflex action, in the 

 treatment of chorea, proves that this writer is deceived when he 

 states that they are abandoned by all who practise electro- 

 therapeutics. 



I cannot believe that he thinks that the method proposed by 

 him, of galvanization by an ascending continuous current, would 

 always succeed in the treatment of chorea, for he has only applied 

 it in a few cases. Moreover, every experienced practitioner knows 

 that, in order to judge of a therapeutic question, we require 

 numerous facts, and the test of time. 



Is it thoroughly demonstrated, as M. Onimus affirms, that the 

 continuous ascending current has an advantage over the descend- 

 ing for the cure of chorea. It seemed to me that an experimental 

 counter- proof was necessary. I proceeded to apply it, and the 

 result is shown in the following case, which is given only in 

 outline. 



- Onimus, De Vaction des rouranfs continvi< dans le traitement de la choree {Gaz. des 

 Hop., IS Sept., 18G9). 



