1906.] 



Action on Bacteria of Electrical Discharges. 



87 



sarcoma, not due to bacterial infections, has not come within the scope of 

 our present inquiry, hut we may say that we think it probable that when 

 the discharge is sprayed on to the unbroken skin there may be same local 

 absorption of nitrous compounds under the influence of the discharge, and 

 that these may have some effect upon cells immediately underlying the area 

 of skin to which the discharges are applied. The " skinning over " of the 

 ulcerated surface of malignant new growths, without much, or any, effect 

 upon the underlying new formation, which has occasionally been observed, 

 may be attributed to the chemical germicidal action affecting the bacteria to 

 which the ulceration is due. 



We have to express our thanks to Dr. C. E. C. Lyster, the Medical Officer 

 in charge of the Electrical Department at the Middlesex Hospital, for his 

 kindness in placing the electrical apparatus at our disposal for these 

 experiments. 



