ELECTRICITY AND LIFE. 177 



"the chief part, electricity has been used to destroy tumors, 

 by a kind of chemical disorganization of their tissue. 

 Crusell, Ciniselli, and Nelaton, have made decisive experi- 

 ments of this nature. P^trequin, Broca, and others, sug- 

 gest the same method to coagulate the blood contained in 

 sacs, in aneurisms. If this novel surgery is not so widely 

 known and used as it deserves to be, the reason is that the 

 manipulation of electric instruments requires much practice 

 and dexterity, and surgeons find the classic use of the scal- 

 pel more convenient. 



This rapid historical view shows that the method of 

 treatment by electricity is useful in very many diseases. 

 Whether resorted to to modify the nutritive condition, to 

 quicken or check circulation in the small vessels, to calm or 

 excite the nerves, to relax or stimulate the muscles, to burn 

 or detach tumors, electricity, if managed rationally, is des- 

 tined to do distinguished service in the healing art. The 

 range of treatment by heat is less considerable, yet of some 

 extent. The examination of the medical value of treatment 

 by light has scarcely begun, nor has much been done 

 toward the study of weight or pressure, in their relations to 

 medical science. At all events, there is now forming and 

 gaining increased development, alongside of the medicinal 

 use of bodies, a medicinal use of forces besides the physic 

 of drugs, a physic of powers. It is impossible to say at 

 present which of the two will definitely prevail more prob- 

 ably both will be called on to render valuable services tc 

 art. 



The first savants who studied the action of galvanic elec- 

 tricity on dead bodies, and saw them recover motion, and 

 even an appearance of sensation, supposed they had touched 

 the secret of life, likening to the vital principle that other 

 force which seems to warm again the frozen organs, and re- 

 store their springs. Slight reflection on the facts collected 

 in the foregoing pages reveals the thorough illusiveness of 



