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

and to breathe once more very deeply. This encouraged to a new attempt at restoration. The magneto-electric machine was quickly employed, one pole being placed over the upper part of the cervical region of the spine, and the other over the ensiform cartilage of the sternum. Tbe greatest benefit resulted imme- diately. Rapid action of the diaphragm followed each application of the poles. A few short inspirations having been induced, were followed by a deep breath. At this time, five hours and a half had elapsed since the accidental administration of the laudanum. The last remedy — the electric current — was persevered in for an hour and a half, shocks being passed through the chest and along the course of the spinal column, whenever the breathing flagged. At first this stimulus appeared to influence the dia- phragm alone ; but in a short time the arms were extended ; and soon afterwards the legs also, whenever the poles of the magneto- electric machine were applied to the surface of the body. The child soon opened her eyes, and seemed to notice surrounding objects; she then uttered some cries, and the surface became warm. The head no longer sank on the shoulders, but was self- sustained. In about eight hours and a half after the laudanum had been taken, respiration became reestablished, though not yet with regularity ; but the further use of electricity was not required. Chloroform has been of late much employed* for procuring sleep in those cases where opium is contra-indicated, or fails to act. It is administered in doses of ten to thirty drops, sus- pended in a little gum-water, or some other mucilaginous fluid, and given at night. It generally succeeds in such cases in pro- curing for the patient two or three hours of tranquil sleep. In this way it has been much used in cases of old bronchitis, at- tended with profuse secretion, also in hemicrcmia, and in other painful nervous affections, where opiates have lost all power of alleviating the patient's misery. In any such case, if the chlo- roform should act too powerfully, electricity is the remedy. There is a case of poisoning by laudanum related, which occurred in the Middlesex Hospital, and which was ultimately * British Medical Journal, April, 1858, p. 328.