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

musculosa insita." He is evidently a very learned physician, and ranks as one of the most eminent physiologists in Germany, having had years of experience in the use of the secondary cur- rents of electro-magnetism, and magneto-electricity in medical practice ; but, by an unexpected process and succession of results therefrom, it appears that he became a warm advocate for the employment of the so-called "constant" (or primary) "gal- vanic electric current, for therapeutical purposes." Being the contemporary of the no less distinguished Dr. Duchenne, of France, who employs almost exclusively the interrupted, alter- nated, " secondary currents" of induction for medical purposes, they therefore became opponents in this world-wide discussion. According to Dr. Duchenne, " a iveak and continuous current of galvanism, when ' localized' on the skin, will produce pains, erythema, and even blisters; while a stronger current will pro- duce, when carried into the substance of a muscle, only feeble and irregular or uncertain contractions." This, at least, says Dr. Duchenne, " is the result of an experiment which I made on myself with a battery of one hundred and twenty Bunsen's ele- ments. This constant current also produces the evidences of heat in the profundities of the organism, all of which phenomena are wanting if we use only fifteen to twenty elements." (!) In the fourth chapter he gives further proof by citing a case show- ing the workings of the steady current on the retina. It there appears that some kind of a new electrical apparatus was brought into his office by the inventor, while a patient was in the operat- ing chair, suffering from a paralysis of the face. He thereupon made trial of this new machine, when, lo! the patient at once almost lost his sight. In the second case there also was brought in to him a new galvanic arrangement, (his own invention,) known as the " Pile a rubans" just as he was treating a patient for double-sightedness. When the doctor applied the current of this to the eyes of the patient, the latter jumped up, shook his head, and then exclaimed, " You have only one head! I no longer see double." This, in fact, is about all that we find from Dr. Duchenne on the physiological or therapeutical value of gal- vanism by a so-called constant primary current. True, he also