Electro-physiology and electro-therapeutics : showing the best methods for the medical uses of electricity / By Alfred C. Garratt.
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something in the atmosphere ; but this does not affect the state or action of the olfactory organs. The fact is, the author has almost nothing, from his own experience, to state under this head ; but if he had positive occasion for the employment of this agent here, he would make the application rather to the external portions of the nose than to the nasal membrane, except in a paralysis, or such lost degree of sensibility that some few ele- ments, at least, might be tolerated by the patient. The positive electrode to the interior of the nose has more effect than the negative. 4. Tasting: — The normal actions of electricity on the mouth, and organs of taste, are certainly as curious as useful. Galvanic currents are here very sensitively felt, producing a metallic, sour, or alkaline taste, twitchings of the tongue, increased flow of sali- va, flashes of light, pain, prickle, and heat. Faradaic currents, if here moderately applied, produce only twitchings of the tongue. Frictional sparks act here more as do galvanic cur- rents. It is supposed that these different phenomena are brought about by the action of electricity through the gustatory nerve, just as sensations of light are induced by it, when directed to the retina; or of sound, when directed to the auditory nerve. 5. Sentient Nerves. — Healthy skin nerves, which we know are the nerves of sensation, or sentient nerves, are observed by the aid of a microscope to be arranged in their peripheric ter- minations much like fine moss, or the pile of fine, uncut, silk velvet. If the direct action of a considerable galvanic current be brought to bear upon the skin, and thus immediately attack those nerves, there is produced a sensation of warmth, heat, or burning, with another sensation of together-drawing, jrarsing, or contraction, with a prickling or pain, — one or more, in propor- tion to the strength of the battery, to the sensitiveness of the skin, and to the in-working of the current. These sensations, or some of them, may continue as long as the circuit remains closed upon them, and that with a rapid increase in degree, until quite unbearable. If, then, the action of this current be still maintained for a long time, i. e.,like an overdose or abusive use of a powerful medicine, then there is produced a diminution of