Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1847-07-22
GalyansisM.


of striking and surprising effects have been
produced, some of which we have already no.
iicej. and of which The following is brief sum-
mary. Gunpowder, cotton. and other nflam-
mabIe substances have been set on fire char
coal has been made 10 burn, with most bril-
liant and beautiful W hite flame---waier has been
decomposed into its elementary parts-me'als
have been melted and Sc, on fre-fragmenis OF
diamond. charcoal. and pumbago, have been
dispersed, as if they had been evaporated--
paina, the hardest and heaviest of ihe metals,
has been melted as readily as wax in the flame
of candle--lhe sapphire, quartz, magnesia,
lime, and The firmest compounds IN nature, nave
been made to enter into fusion. lis effects on
the animal system is no less surprising. When
applied to fowl or rabbit, Immediately alter
life is extinct. it produces the most strange aid
violent convulsons on the nervous and muscu-
lar system. as if the vital functions were again
revived: and when applied to the human body
after death, The stimulus has produced The most
horrible con,orions, and grimaces IN The mus
ces of the head and face and the most rapid
movements in the hands and feet Numerous
experiments, which have been made both on
dead animals and human subjects have led 10
the conclusion that galvanism possesses some
sanqtiue as well as energetic influence on the
action of diseased living beings. IL has been
found 10 ef1ec, cures, and to afford relief In
nervous disorders. /, has not only been used
TO cure the afflicted living, bui also 10 resusci-
tate the apparently dead ; and, IN all cases OF
suspended animation, from accidents or other
wise, il has been found to be a test of vitality,
and the surest criterion of recent death A
celebrated medical wrisr Oh this subject, In
Berlin, strongly recommends its use in rheuma-
tism, palses, nervous deafness, hoarseness, de-
debility of sight, hi'o sweIlings of the joints,
tumors in the glands of The neck, and several
other disorders. 1t is found that it possesses
no, only stimulating power over The nerves
and muscles, but also over the vital forces. NJ.
Spronger. Of Jenna, gives an account OF his
| having restored The sense OF hearing 10 40 per-
sons by means Of this singular agent-'o four
! of whom he also restored The sense of smelling.
! GaIvanism has also been employed as pow
| erful agent for blasting rocks. Al Glasgow,
and several other places, It's agency has been
! applied with great success. Al one blast hun
dred of tons Of stones have been IN moment
! loosened from the rock. Ii is found that dry
sand is quite sufficient for filling the perlora-
ton in the rock where the charge Is placed, aud
that the process is unaccompanied with the small
les, degree of danger, so that, by this mode OF
blasting, those accidents which have so Ire
quently happened to workmen employed IN
such operations may be entirely prevented
The gavanic agency enables US 10 account loT
the following among other facls:--Why perIor
! has different and more pleasan, taste when
drunk ou. of pewter vessel, than out oil glass
or earthenware,-whya silver spoon IS discol-
ored in eating eggs,-why The limbs OF people
under ampu,ation are sometimes cOnVulsed by
The application Of the instrument,- ,-.-why pure
mercury is oxydised when amalgamaed with
tn,. why works Of metal, which are soldered
together, soon tarnsh in the places where The
metals are joined; ;--and why The copper sheath
ing of ships, when fastened with iron nails, is
soon corroded abou, the place of contact In
all these cases a galvanic circle is formed,
which PRODUCES the effects. We have reason
to believe that, in combination with the dlscov-
cries which modern chemistry is daily unfold
ing, the agencies of this fluid will enable US TO
carry the arts forward TO Perfection. and TO trace
the secret causes of some of the sublimest phe-
nomena OF nature.