220 LOCALIZED ELECTRIZATION. 



Tlie experience of those observers who have tested Eemak's assertions, has 

 been generally very favourable to the catalytic action of the electrif current ; 

 especially in chronic glandular swellings and firm exndations into and aronnd 

 joints. The observations hitherto ixiblished do not afford materials for judging 

 whether a solvent or absori^tion-producing action is exerted in a higher 

 degree, as Eemak believes, by the continuous than by the induced current. 



II. — An fis2)astic actions. 



These depend partly upon this, " that the current increases the power of 

 the will over the muscles that are seized with spasm or tremor, or by its cata- 

 lytic action removes the irritation by which spasm had been excited," and 

 partly that ' an increased excitability of nerves or muscles, which appears to 

 be a catise of local spasms, is diminished by a proper application of the 

 ciUTcnt." 



These antispastic actions, which Eemak professes to have observed, have 

 justly excited among practitioners great doulits of the accuracy of hisobserva- 

 tions ; and are wholly unconfirmed by others. 



In the discourses, delivered in Paris by Eemak in 1864, the antispastic 

 actions are not generally mentioned ; but he speaks of " tranquilizing " actions 

 in contractures and hypersesthesise. The latter, whether of inflammatory or 

 simply of neuralgic origin, yield, according to Eemak, to the weak and pain- 

 less currents of 15—25 elements, in sfahile application; that is, with immov- 

 ably held electrodes, so that the magnetic needle of the galvanoscope, the 

 deviation of which need not exceed 20°, may remain stationary. The positive 

 electrode, in the form of a large plate, should be laid on the painful part; the 

 negative applied to any distant point of the surface. After the current has 

 been passing for from ten to fifteen minutes, the pain should be considerably 

 diminished. The tranquilizing action should also he displayed by placing the 

 positive electrode uiwn the nerve-trunk, the branches of which are distri- 

 buted to the painful part, as far from this part as possible ; while the negative 

 is placed on any distant point, and contact with the seat of pain is wholly 

 avoided. 



For the treatment of contracttires, Eemak found that intermissions of 

 the continuous current were more efficacious than the ' stalnle ' action, and 

 he is generally disposed to ascribe to intermissions a favourable operation. 



III. — Ant i paralytic actions. 



These were observed by Eemak under the following conditions : — 



1. In secondary pareses and atrophies with or without contraction, remain- 

 ing after articular and muscular rheumatism, or after false anchylosis. 



2. In the first stages of primary muscular atrophy, even when pro- 

 gressive. 



3. In traumatic paralysis, produced by contusion or stretching of nerves 

 and muscles. 



4. In hemiplegia, within the Limits determined by the nature of the 

 central lesion. 



5. In paraplegia, and in certain forms of the so - called tabes dorsalis ; 

 according to the extent of the atrophy of the cord. 



6. In auffisthesia either as an indejaendent disease or as a complication 

 of motor paralysis. 



Subseqriently, Eemak has designated the antiparalytic influence of the cur- 

 rent as an " exciting " and " revivifying " action. To obtain this he employs 

 both the "stabile" cnxxeni (application ducouranten repos); and the so-called 

 "labile" {application du courant tn mouvement^. The latter he obtains by 

 gliding the electrodes to and fro over the skin. It is manifest that, in these 

 movements of the electrodes, the tension of the current cannot remain 

 unchanged, but must undergo oscillations, dependent upon the variations of 



