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

the antagonists of the contracted and rigid muscles may serve to restore the disturbed equilibrium between the groups of muscles. The following case, he says, may serve to illustrate this: — " Case of late rigidity : late muscle contraction — the sequel of a healing brain lesion. A man, named Marsh, had four years ago an apoplectic attack, with consequent paralysis of the right side. The paralyzed muscles afterwards assumed a state of rigidity which has not undergone any considerable change since that time. At present the patient can with some difficulty walk; but the right arm is perfectly useless, as there exists a rigidity of a number of muscles, viz., of the coraco-brachialis, whereby the arm is adducted to the side; of the biceps, so that the forearm is bent upon the arm. If forcible extension of the forearm is attempted, the biceps offers a certain resistance to it, but no pain is experienced during the forcible extension. " Stiffness is also marked in the triceps, although much less than in the biceps. It became evident, if complete flexion of the forearm upon the arm is attempted, so as to place the fin- gers on the acromion of the same side, then the extensor muscles of the wrist and of the fingers would be in a state of complete rigidity. If the hand is strongly extended upon the forearm, then the fingers are as firmly pressed against the palm of the hand, so that the patient is obliged to cut his nails very short in order to prevent injury to the skin from them. The tendons project like tight strings beneath the skin. The patient affirms, how- ever, that he experiences no pain when a forcible extension of the wrists and of the fingers is attempted. There is not much wasting in the muscles, and the excitability to the electro- magnetic stimulus is very trifling in the extensor muscles of the forearm, while the flexors of that forearm contract very readily under the influence of a gentle current. The stiffness of the muscles of the lower extremity is much less considerable than those of the arm ; it is, however, distinct in the hamstring mus- cles, and in the flexors of the toes. In walking, the patient drags the paralyzed leg and foot. " I supposed that in this case the cyst in the brain might have