Electro-physiology and electro-therapeutics : showing the best methods for the medical uses of electricity / By Alfred C. Garratt.

Under the first division, then, we must become familiar with the different kinds of Electricity, as Natural Electricity; also Electricity as manifested by the disturbances of nature; also with Static and Dynamic electricity, so far as they relate to our subject. Hence both the natural and artificial sources of electricity, together with the general and specific laws that regulate the given transmission of this subtile agent through the different living tissues, in health, and in disease, must be successively passed in review. Next comes the early history of the medical and surgical uses of electricity, Atmospheric and Ter- restrial electricity, with Magnetism, Frictional Electricity, Galvanic and Electro- magnetic Currents, together with a description of all the apparatus for conven- iently producing and regulating the quantity or the intensity of currents ; all of which must be clearly exhibited to be easily understood. This, therefore, will compose the first three Chapters of this work. Under the second division, as we may call it, we need to become no less familiar with the phenomena of Electro-physiology, in all its wonderful teach- ings, even from cell-life, electro-biology, — the nervo-electric batteries of human life, the effects of Atmospheric Electricity, — up to Animal Electricity, and the action of artificial currents, when directed for diagnosis, surgical and other remedial purposes. Diagnosis of diseases, and the Fundamental Pojles for the rational employment of electricity in practice, must be seen in panoramic review. Then we examine the broad range of nervous affections, which are classed here under Hyperesthesia, as, exalted nervous action, and painful affections. And another large class, under Anaesthesia, as, diminished nervous action, and all paralytic affections. Next in order will appear the Spasmodic affections, Midwifery, Surgery, Dentistry; and then the special eases, as sus- pended animation, anomalous nervous derangements, in which some given form of electricity, or particular method of applying it, has been found most bene- ficial and successful. Such, and more, will occupy the seven other chapters of this work, which, as a whole, I designate as Electro-therapeutics, — all of which will be found illustrated with ample Cuts of Apparatus, on the one part, and fine Anatomical Cuts of the Nerves and Muscles, &c, on the other ; so as to be to the medical student as complete a work on this whole subject of which it treats as possible with our present knowledge, or as can be found in any language. Should life and opportunity be granted, the author proposes to prepare, at no distant year, a second volume, that shall be a counterpart to this — a sequel, embracing his clinical experiences, showing not only the results of purely electric treatments, but also showing the efficacy of the electric seance, in given cases, when combined; that is, simultaneously employed with the ordinary prescriptions of medicines. When I first directed my entire professional labors to this difficult depart- ment of special medical practice, (after having been engaged in the general practice of medicine for nearly twenty years,) to speak mainly in the words of another, — I did so with the fullest sense of their importance, in two relations : 1*