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

To Faradaize the internal ear, he advises one electrode to be on the back of the neck, and filling the ear tube with warm water, then introducing into the water thus filling the exter- nal ear, the wire tip of the primary or secondary conductor of an induction machine, and maintaining it in the midst of the water, while the current flows, but without touching the sides of the ear passage if possible, nor yet the membrane of the tym- panum. But this is so difficult to be done, so disagreeable to the patient, and so ineffectual, that the author has instituted an entirely different method, by employing an ear electrode of ivory sponge and silver wire, to convey the galvanic current, instead of Faradaic current, in this treatment for noises and deafness, which is more practical, agreeable, and more frequently success- ful. See page 243. For Faradaizing in partial amaurosis, loss of taste, and premature diminution of sight, he advises " the employment rather of the continuous galvanic current, because it exercises a very much more remarkable influence on these organs than can be produced by the induction currents of electro-magnet- ism." But how does Dr. Duchenne (and other writers who seem to take all his propositions without question) reconcile such facts, declared by himself? This is no declaration of another—no ex parte testimony. A late English writer testi- fies that he has found the best effects from the use of moderate galvanic currents in affections of the special senses ; and yet, in the same work, he cautions against the employment of these same currents on the large nerves and muscles of the limbs, for fear of the effects reaching the brain! I cannot account for this opinion, if given from experience in practice, unless, as in the former case, — i. e., when using galvanic electricity about the face, — care was taken to use the smaller intensity, also the occa- sional, or, perhaps, more frequent interruptions of the current, as it certainly should be only so employed ; while in the latter case a stronger inverse current was allowed to traverse a nerve trunk, or group of muscles, persistently for some indefinite time, which would almost necessarily do injury rather than good. To apply any considerable current of galvanism to the nerve &