ELECTRICITY AND LIFE. Gb 
the chief part, electricity has been used to destroy tumors, 
by a kind of chemical disorganization of their tissue. 
Crusell, Ciniselli, and Nélaton, have made decisive experi- 
ments of this nature. Pétrequin, 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 
