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

much a chemical as a physiological action through the nerves and vessels that determine this secretion. The primary gal- vanic current, I find, is decidedly the best for this purpose ; and this should be most carefully managed, and of the mild, or at least agreeable strength. The positive electrode should be placed above the breast, or in the axilla, while the other is on the breast, and so that the current will be as even as possible. M. Becquerel reports, as an example of its repeated success in his hands, the case of a lady twenty-seven years of age, who had the secretion in her left breast almost entirely dried up, and in the right it was greatly diminished. This was produced by untoward circumstances soon after her accouchement. He employed in this case the induced currents of electro-mag- netism, but of the most rapid vibrations, and of moderate intensity, — using large, soft, and moist sponge electrodes, placed successively on different points of the surface of the breast, so that the current might pass through and through, traversing it in all directions. Three seances of fifteen minutes each were held, and at the end of the third day the flow of milk was abundant. Since that time, and as long as she nursed the child, there was a good and sufficient flow for it. For " sore nipples" use the Humboldt battery. I have suc- ceeded with this where all other means had been exhausted in vain. But I have observed, and hold it as a rule, that those cases of sore nipples which occur in enfeebled women are thus cured more readily than when they occur in the fleshy and robust. My method is to apply the silver pad over the sore nipple, while the zinc pad is placed above the breast, — say on the sound surface of the pectoral muscle, — and if it irritates there, (i. e., under the zinc plate,) then remove it to the right or left, on sound skin, but retain the silver, whenever applied, always over the nipple. A great help in the cure of sore nip- ples, in these two classes of patients, is a saturated solution of borax and kino. For example, put into an ounce vial one drachm of finely powdered borax and two drachms of powdered kino or catechu, and fill up with warm water, if the woman is robust; but if very feeble, fill up the vial rather with brandy, or New England rum, but not with alcohol. (See Appendix G.)