ELECTROLYSIS. 
347 
“ 3d. The escharotic stage, or the stage of complete and ulti¬ 
mate electrolysis. We use the first stage only in the treatment 
of serous effusions, strictures, watery cysts, etc. The second 
stage in the treatment of aneurism, varicose veins, haemorrhoids, 
naevus, and other diseases where coagulation of the contained 
blood is desired, and where the production of the slough is not 
intended ; the third and fourth stages in growths of a malignant 
nature, fibrous tumors, polypi, fatty tumors, and in any case 
where a total or partial destruction of the part may be neces¬ 
sary. In the operation the greatest amount of effect produced 
is in the immediate vicinity of the needles ; in very mild cur¬ 
rents the cauterizing effect is only produced in the parts directly 
in contact with the needles ; with strong currents, the size of 
the slough depends upon the structure of the tissue, the amount 
of water and salts it contains, the size of the needle, and the 
duration of the application. The eschar, produced by the posi¬ 
tive pole, differs essentially from that caused by the negative 
inasmuch as the ulcer resulting from the separation of the 
slough of the first leaves a cicatrix which heals by contraction, 
like that produced by an acid caustic. No such results take 
place from the action of the negative pole ; on the contrary, the 
cicatrix is soft and pliable. 
“ It is, of course, entirely impossible to obtain purely the re¬ 
sults of any one of these stages per se ; for instance, in electro¬ 
puncture of an ovarian cyst, the result aimed at is to produce 
absorption, and so act on the internal part of the cyst as to de¬ 
stroy its secreting powers and to prevent refilling. Electroly¬ 
sis of the watery parts of the contents must and does take place 
in a greater or less degree, but it forms no part of the desired 
effect, and so in operating upon aneurism, or naevus, thorough 
coagulation of the blood is the only thing desired. Electro¬ 
puncture as thus described, is presumed to have been performed 
with needles made of nonoxidizable materials. Should the 
needle of the positive pole be made of materials capable of be¬ 
ing acted upon by the acids set free at this point, the results 
are modified in a great degree. For example, suppose the posi- 
