28 Dr. Wilson Philip on the effects of galvanism 
to inflammation, the repeated application of the galvanism 
sometimes increases it so much, that the use of this influence 
no longer gives relief, till the inflammatory tendency is sub- 
dued by local blood-letting. It always gave relief most rea- 
dily, and the relief was most permanent in those cases of 
habitual asthma which were least complicated with other 
diseases, the chief complaint being a sense of tightness across 
the region of the stomach, impeding the breathing. The 
patients said, that the sense of tightness gradually abated, 
while they were under the influence of the galvanism, and 
that as this happened their breathing became free. The 
abatement of the tightness was often attended with a sense of 
warmth in the stomach, which seemed to come in its place. 
This sensation was most frequently felt when the negative 
wire was applied near the pit of the stomach, but the relief 
did not seem less when it was not felt. 
With respect to the continuance of the relief obtained by 
galvanism, it was different in different cases ; in the most 
severe cases it did not last so long as in those where the 
symptoms were slighter, though of equal continuance. This 
observation, however, did not universally apply. When the 
patient was galvanised in the morning, he generally felt its 
good effects till next morning. In almost all, the repetition of 
the galvanism gradually increased the degree of permanent 
relief. Its increase was much more rapid in some cases than in 
others. The galvanism was seldom used more than once a 
day. In some of the more severe cases it was used morning 
and evening. About a sixth part of those who have used it 
appear, as far as we yet know, to have obtained a radical 
cure. It failed to give considerable relief only in about 
one tenth. I may add, that were it only the means of present 
