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

Dr. Clarke first passed the loop of wire over and beyond the little tumor, and then, as soon as contact was made by an assistant, the platinum was instantly seen to be red hot; he drew it forward gently, when it shaved the neck of the mass clean and close to the bone. Not for all cauterizations, I conclude, but for certain cases, the galvanic cautery can be employed with decided advantage. It acts rapidly and with energy; it causes but little pain, and no hemorrhage ; its action may be exactly limited to the pre- cise spot or line ; and it always favors the growth of healthy granulations, for it probably modifies the vitality of the diseased part; and, finally, it is no way so terrible to the patient as the red-hot iron, or the aquafortis. It has been used, and approved of, also, by Amusat and Nelaton of Paris, Hilton and others of England, and Sedillott of Strasburg. There appears to he but one single drawback to the very extensive employment of this excellent therapeutic in surgery, and that is, the difficulty of having sufficient battery power always ready for action. And this objection must greatly prevent the employment of this agent, otherwise so desirable, excepting in hospitals, where it certainly can and ought to be always in ample readiness con- tiguous to the operating room. Urelhro-vaginal fistula has been operated upon with the gal- vano-cautcry at St. Bartholomew's Hospital, by Dr. James Paget. The case is reported in the Lancet, June 9, 1855. The woman had never been married, was of about thirty years of age, was healthy, but had an old-standing and troublesome fistula between the vagina and urethra. As the case had been the subject of repeated and fruitless operations at various hospitals, and very many modes of cure had been tried in vain, Dr. Paget had re- course to the electro-cautery. The case is one of very great interest, because it shows the adaptation and beautiful applica- tion of localized and concentrated electricity in surgery. The writer goes on to say, — " We lately spoke of the usefulness of the actual cautery in hemorrhage, as after lithotomy, and in chronic synovitis. Every one, however, must have observed the clumsiness and hurry with