332 



periments made publicly in my lectures, have ahvay afforded me this re- 

 sult*. 



CLXXIV. In the first edition of this work, the article galvanism prid- 

 ed here* Since its publication, there has been an accession of new facts 

 to those already known. Volta came to'Paris: he gave an exposition of 

 his doctrine, in several Memoirs read before the National Institute of 

 France, and he repeated before acommitee, the principal experiments on 

 which it is founded* They have appeared so conclusive, that the theory 

 of this illustrious philosopher has been unanimously adopted, and at this 

 day, all men of science admit the entire identity of the phenomenon of 

 galvanism, and those of electricity. Certain bodies, therefore, in nature, 

 and especially metals possess the property of electrifying themselves, 

 that is to say, of producing the greater part of the phenomena which 

 denote the accumulation of electricity in a body, such as shocks, sparks, 

 irritations, Sec. merely by contactf. 



It maybe thought that galvanism* being only a new form of electrical 

 action, ought to be confined to books of natural philosophy; and in fact, 

 in the present state of things, it belongs rather to the physico-chemical 

 sciences, than to those of the animal economy. However the galvano- 

 electric irritation produces on our organs, effect more decided than the 

 ordinary effect of electricity. It seems to have more intimate relations 

 with them: accordingly, it has been endeavoured to bring it into use in 

 the treatment of disease, The experiments made by M. M. Halle and 

 Thillaye, prove that the effects of the pile penetrate, and effect the nerv- 

 ous and muscular organs, more deeply than the common electrical appa- 

 ratus; that they provoke lively contractions strong sensations of pricking 

 and burning, in parts which disease renders insensible to electrical sparks, 

 or even shocks. A man whose muscles of the left side of his face were 

 all paralyzed, found no effect from the electric shock. He was exposed 

 to the action of a pile of 50 plates, by communications, through chains 

 and metalic exciters, of the two extremities of the pile, with different 

 points of the cheek affected, At the moment of contact, all the muscles 

 of the face became convulsed with heat* pain, Sec. These endeavours 

 repeated, during more than six months, have, by degrees, brought back 

 the parts to their natural state. 



Dr. Alibert has applied galvanism with still more decided success, to 

 a priest attacked with hemiplegia. This patient, who lay in the wards of 

 the Hospital of St. Lewis, has recovered the use of the palsied side, suf- 

 ficiently to walk, almost without assistance, and to use his right arm ,as 

 he wants it. The treatment has gone on for several months: the pile 

 employed consisted of fifty plates of zinc and copper, I am trying the 

 same apparatus upon a Swedish officer, for incomplete deafness, which 

 has hitherto resisted all known applications, administered in different 

 parts of Germany, Strong electrical shocks, recommended by Hufeland, 

 had dispelled in great measure, the hardness of hearing; but this amend- 

 ment was only temporary: it ceased with the application of the remedy. 

 The first trial of galvanism was attended with the same effect. The ex- 



* See the Note in the APPENDIX ort the subject of galvanism, for some observations 

 as to the effects of this agent on some of the animal textures. 



j See APPENDIX, Note G G for an account of some receftt views respecting the rela- 

 tions and agencies of galvanism, &c. 



