576 



EFFECT OF THE CONSTANT CURRENT. 



lated, or the effect desired. When electricity is applied to the skin to remove anesthesia, 

 hyperesthesia, or altered sensibility, and we desire to limit the effect to the skin alone, then 

 the rheophores are applied dry, and are usually made of metal. If, however, deeper-seated 

 structures, as muscles or nerve-trunks, are to be affected, the skin must be well moistened and 

 softened by sponging with warm water, while the rheophores are fitted with sponges moistened 

 with confmou salt and water, which diminishes the resistance of the skin to the passage of 

 electricity ( figs. 415-417).] 



In faradising the paralysed muscle, the object is to cause artificial movements in it, and thus 

 prevent the degeneration which it would otherwise undergo, merely from inaction. If, in 

 addition to the motor nerves, its trophic nerves are also paralysed, then a muscle atrophies, 



N. obturator. 



M. pectineus. 



M. adductor magnus 

 M. adduct. longus. 



I' 



N. peroneus. 



M. tibial, antic. 

 M. exten. dig. com. long. 



M. peroneus longus. 



M. peroneus brevis. 



M. extens. hallucis long. 



M. extens. digit, comm. 

 brevis 



N. cruralis. 



M. tensor fascia? lata? 

 "P? (Nn. glut, sup.) 



M. quadriceps femorls 

 (general centre). 



M. rectus feinoris. 



M. cruralis. 



M. vastus externus. 



M. vastus internus. 



M. gastrocnem. extern. 

 M. soleus. 



M. flexor hallucis long. 

 M. abductor digiti. min. 



Mm. interossei dorsales. / 

 Fig. 420. 

 Motor points of the peroneal and tibial nerves on the front of the leg; the peroneal on the 

 left, the tibial on the right (after Eichhorst). 



notwithstanding the faradisation* ( 325, 4). The use of the induced current also improves a 

 paralysed muscle, as it increases the blood-stream through it, while it affects the metabolism 

 of the muscle reflexly. In addition, weak currents may restore the excitability of enfeebled 

 nerves (v. Bezold, Engclmanri). 



The figs. 418, 419, 420, 421 indicate the positions of the motor points of the extremities, 

 where, by stimulating at the entrance of the nerve, each muscle may be caused to contract 

 singly. In 349 the motor points of the face, and in 347 those of the neck, are indicated. 



The constant current may be employed as a stimulus, when it is closed and opened, in the 

 form of an interrupted current, by altering its direction and increasing or diminishing its 

 intensity, but it also causes a polar action. On closing the current, the nerve at the cathode is 



