VALUE OF GALVANIC CURRENTS IN MEDICINE. 219 



Several questions iu regard to the therapeutic and diagnostic uses of the 

 galvanic cui'rent have enlisted the attention of medical men in England, to 

 which Dr. Duchenne has only incidentally referred in the preceding 

 chapter. Some of these questions were originated by Eemak ; others refer 

 to the effects of interrupted currents of low tension in certain forms of 

 paralysis. These questions have been so ably discussed by Ziemssen ^ in au 

 examination of the therapeutic uses of galvanic currents, that I have not 

 hesitated^ as the most instructive mode of dealing with the subject, to 

 append a condensed translation of so much of his observations as may serve 

 for their elucidation. — H. T. 



ZIEMSSEN ON CERTAIN QUESTIONS WITH REGARD TO THE 

 VALUE OF GALVANIC CURRENTS IN LIEDICINE. 



With regard to the effects of the continuous cui-rent upon diseased 

 muscles and nerves, and of certain indications for its use in theraijeutics, it 

 will be necessary first clearly to describe the facts that have been ascertained 

 by competent observers ; and, secondly, to point out the questions on which 

 further investigations are required. Manifestly for this piirpose we must set 

 forth from the fundamental doctrines laid down by Remak from his own 

 observations and experience. 



Remak classifies the most conspicuous curative effects of the continuous 

 current under the three following heads : — 



I. — Catalytic actions. 



Remak calls those effects catalytic, or antiphlogistic, which are produced 

 by the continuous current upon inflammatory conditions and their conse- 

 quences. He gives an analysis of this action, and calls it catalytic because 

 " the action of the current where it meets with an abnormal state of the 

 tissues, produced either by failure of the blood circulation or by morbid 

 effusion, is not limited to an electrolysis in the narrow sense, that is, to a 

 change in the tissues analogous to a watery solution, but performs an 

 important part, by dilatation of the blood vessels, in i^romoting ckculation 

 and absorption." 



The continuous current, according to Remak, exerts this " catalytic " action 

 in the following states : — 



1. In inflammatory conditions. 



2. In effusions left behind by any of the foregoing inflammatory condi- 

 tions; e. (./. in watery effusion into a joint. 



3. In painful and inflammatory swellings. 



As regards the manner of proceeding, Remak insists that it is necessary 

 to proceed from the assumption that a passage of fluids occurs from the posi- 

 tive to the negative pole ; and hence, to place the negative electrode in union 

 with the inflamed spot, and the positive as near to it as possible. This direc- 

 tion of the current -should, however, be reversed, when there is evidence of 

 watery exu.dation together with the inflammation. Since also the positive 

 pole diminishes and the negative increases the excitability of the nerves, the 

 operator must take heed to the character of the inflammation, and in erethis- 

 mal conditions must place the positive pole, in torpid conditions the negative 

 pole, exclusively or alternately in union with the inflamed parts. The 

 strength of the current must be moderate (about twenty elements), but the 

 time of application considerable (at least several minutes). The benumbing 

 of sensibility in the nerves affected by the cui-rent may serve as a limit for the 

 length of application. 



Ziemssen, Die Elcctricitlit iu der Medicia. 



