APPLICATIONS OF ELECTRICITY IN DISEASE. 579 



of the nerve-cells in the anterior cornu of the grey matter of the spinal cord.] In rare cases 

 the contraction of the muscles, caused by applying a Faradic current to the nerve, follows a 

 slow peristaltic-like course "Faradic reaction of degeneration" (E. Remak, Erb). 



II. In Various Forms of Spasm (spasms, contracture, muscular tremor) the constant current 

 is most effective (Remak). By the action of anelectrotonus, a pathological increase of .the 

 excitability is subdued. Hence, the anode ought to be applied to the part with increased 

 excitability, and if it be a case of reflex spasm, to the points which are the origin or seat of the 

 increased excitability. "Weak currents of uniform intensity are most effective. The constant 

 current may also be useful from its cataphoric action, whereby it favours the removal of irritants 

 from the seat of the irritation. Further, the constant current increases the voluntary control 

 over the affected muscles. In spasms of central origin, the constant current may be applied to 

 the central organ itself. Faradisation is used in spasmodic affections to increase the vigour of 

 enfeebled antagonistic muscles. Muscles in a condition of contracture are said to become more 

 extensible under the influence of the Faradic current (Remak), as a normal muscle is more 

 excitable during active contraction ( 301). 



In Cutaneous Anaesthesia, the Faradic current applied to the skin by means of hair-brush 

 electrodes is frequently used (fig. 417). When using the constant current, the cathode must be 

 applied to the parts with diminished sensibility. The constant current alone is applied to the 

 central seat of the lesion, and care must be taken to what extent the occurrence of cathelectro- 

 tonus in the centre affects the occurrence of sensation. 



III. In Hyperesthesia and Neuralgias, Faradic currents are applied with the object of 

 over-stimulating the hyper-sensitive parts, and thus to benumb them. Besides these powerful 

 currents, weak currents act reflexly and accelerate the blood-stream, increase the. heart's action, 

 and constrict the blood-vessels, while strong currents cause the opposite effects (0. Naumann). 

 Both may be useful. In employing the constant current in neuralgia (Remak), one object is 

 by exciting anelectrotonus in the hyper-sensitive nerves, to cause a diminution of the excita- 

 bility. According to the nature of the case, the anode is placed either on the nerve-trunk, or 

 even on the centre itself, and the cathode on an indifferent part of the body. The catalytic and 

 cataphoric effects also are most 'important, for by means of them, especially in recent rheumatic 

 neuralgias, the irritating inflammatory products are distributed and conducted away from the 

 part. A descending current is transmitted continuously for a time through the nerve-trunk, 

 and in recent cases its effects are sometimes very striking. Lastly, of course, the constant 

 current maybe used as a cutaneous stimulus, while the Faradic current also acts reflexly on the 

 cardiac and vascular activity. , ., 



Recently, Charcot and Ballet have used the electric spark from an electrical machine in cases 

 of anaesthesia, facial paralysis, and paralysis agitans. In some cases of spinal paralysis, muscles 

 can be made to contract with the electric spark, which do not contract to a Faradic current. 

 [Electricity is sometimes used to distinguish real from feigned disease, or to distinguish death 

 from a condition of trance.] 



Galvano-Cautery. The electrical current is used for thermal purposes, as in the galvano- 

 cautery. 



Galvano-Puncture. The electrolytic properties of electrical currents are employed to cause 

 coagulation in .aneurisms or varix. [If the electrodes from a constant battery in action be 

 inserted in an aneurismal sac, after a time the fibrin of the , blood is deposited in the ...sac,, 

 whereby the cavity of the aneurism is gradually filled up. . A galvanic current passed, thrpugh 

 defibrinated blood causes the formation of a coagulum of proteid matter at the positive pole and 

 bubbles of gas at the negative.] ,.:.:, 



340. ELECTRICAL CHARGING OF THE BODY. Saussure investigated by means of the 

 electroscope the *' charge " of a person standing on an insulated stool. The phenomena observed' 

 by him, which were always inconstant, were due to the friction of the clothes upon the skinv 

 Gardini, Hemmer, Ahrens (1817), and Nasse regarded the body as normally charged with 

 positive electricity, while Sjosten and others regarded it as negatively charged. Most probably 

 all these phenomena are due to friction, and are modified effects of the air in contact with the 

 heterogeneous clothing (Hankel). A strong charge resulting in an actual spark has frequently 

 been described. Cardanus (1553) obtained sparks from the tips of the hair of the head. 

 According to Horsford (1837), long sparks were obtained from the tips of the fingers of a 

 nervous woman in Oxford, when she stood upon an insulated carpet. Sparks have often been 

 observed on combing the hair or stroking the back of a cat in the dark. Freshly voided urine 

 is negatively electrical ( Vasalli-Eandi, Volta) ; so is the freshly formed web of a spider, while 

 the blood is positive. 



341. COMPARATIVE HISTORICAL. Electrical Fishes. Some of the most interesting 

 phenomena connected with animal electricity are obtained in electrical fishes, of which there are 

 about fifty species, including the electrical eel, or Gymnotus electricus, of the lagoons of the region 

 of the Orinoco in South America it may measure over 7 feet in length the Torpedo marmorata 

 and some allied species, 30 to 70 centimetres [1 to 2 feet], in the Adriatic and Mediterranean, the 

 Malapterurus electricus of the Nile, and the Mormyrus also of the same river. By means of 



