210 . LOCALIZED ELECTRIZATIOF. 



the cutaneous surface corresponding to the diseased organ or 

 region with a moist rheophore (a plate of platinized copper, 

 covered with wet leather), and I have placed a second moist 

 rheophore higher up, at a point as near as possible to the former. 

 Then, for half an hour or an hour, according to the tolerance of 

 the individual, I have caused the passage of a permanent con- 

 tinuous current from 10, 15, or 20 elements (in proportion to 

 the length of the seance), 7 centimetres in height, of a sulphate 

 of lead battery. I have only habitually assisted at the one or 

 two first applications ; and the patients, whom I have visited 

 from time to time, have themselves continued the treatment ; 

 with the precaution, well understood, to avoid the production of 

 blisters or eschars. I have had no occasion but to praise, in their 

 way, the catalytic effects of this mode of galvanization ; and 

 although they are usually very slowly produced, I have obtained 

 a complete cure on several occasions. Remak has had the great 

 merit, first of suggesting, and then of demonstrating, the valuable 

 catalytic effects of continuous constant currents. 



YI. — The therapeutic action of galvanization of the 



SKIN, AS COMPAEED WITH CUTANEOUS FAEAUIZATION. 



Intermittent cutaneous galvanization is practised by applying 

 dry metallic rheophores to the skin, previously dried by an 

 absorbent powder ; and by the aid of a rheotome set in motion 

 by clockwork, the intermissions of which are nearly as rapid as 

 those of the trembler of an induction apparatus. 



Tlie tension of a battery of good electro-motor power, such as 

 that of my sulphate of lead battery of 100 elements, is not suffi- 

 ciently great to excite acutely the sensibility of the skin ; if it 

 should do so in the same degree as cutaneous faradization, as when 

 the skin is slightly humid, it would be by disorganising it by the 

 electrolytic action of the galvanic current. Cutaneous galvaniza- 

 tion by continuous currents is almost null when the skin is dry ; 

 and, if the skin be moist, it is still less acute than intermittent 

 cutaneous galvanization. 



Consequently, in cases where it is wished to produce upon the 

 skin, either for a moment, or during several hours, a more or 

 less powerful revulsion, which may be graduated from a simple 

 tingling to a sensation greater than that produced by fire, without 

 producing the least electrolytic or calorific alteration, cutaneous 

 galvanization would be either powerless or inconvenient. 



Nothing but cutaneous faradization will correspond to these 

 requirements. The clinical facts which I shall adduce, in the 



