896 THOMAS ORDWAY AND ARTHUR KNUDSON 



tion is largely mechanical, yet it is obvious that the data analyzed is ob- 

 tained by the work of various investigators under different conditions ; 

 particularly to be mentioned is the variation in the amount and form of 

 electrical energy and in the diet of the patients. Steel finds that no ex- 

 tensive metabolic study had been previously attempted and presents the 

 results of his own experiments, using various fqrms of electricity desig- 

 nated by him as faradic sinusoidal current, directional and autocondensa- 

 tion current with thick dielectric, autoconduction method, the direct 

 d'Arsonval current, combination of direct d'Arsonval current with the 

 autocondensation current with thin dielectric, the static wave current, the 

 galvanosinusoidal current. The special physiological properties of high 

 frequency currents were first published by d'Arsonval(&) in 1891. 



Steel has shown that relatively strong electric currents of the various 

 types demonstrated caused a stimulation of metabolic processes. The 

 volume of urine is increased by those currents which do not have a pro- 

 nounced thermic effect and decreased by those currents which have a 

 strong thermic effect and the latter type causes perspiration. All cur- 

 rents increased the total solids, total nitrogen and sulphur of the urine; 

 the most striking and consistent effects were an increase in the urea and 

 creatinin. The greatest increase of urea was obtained with a static wave 

 current and the greatest increase of creatinin with the faradic sinusoidal. 

 Increased elimination of urea was attributed to quickened cellular metab- 

 olism and the increased elimination of creatinin to muscular contraction. 

 It is noteworthy that recovery was always prompt and complete in so far 

 as the data indicated. Usually after two days there was no effect. It 

 is important that further study be made of the effect upon metabolism 

 of electrical currents using standard units of physical measurement that 

 can be readily duplicated. 



Many patients suffering from a wide variety of conditions undoubtedly 

 derive, at least temporarily, benefit from the various forms of electro thera- 

 peutic procedures yet there is no definite agreement as to the pharma- 

 cological action and much more carefully controlled experimental work 

 is necessary before such physical agents as light and electricity, x-rays 

 and radioactive substances can be said to be established in the rational 

 therapy of internal diseases. 



