Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1855-11-28
IMPORTANT, IF TRUE.


IMPORTANT, IF TRUE.
A writer in "Life Illustrate,ii," gives a
long account Of a scientific discovery,
which a gentleman OF New York City
claims to have made, by which he is
able to extract metals absorbed into the
body:
" 1t appears" remarks the writer,
"that some years back Mr.. Vergnes was
engaged in that branch of manufactu-
ring chemistry which consists in the
plating of metals by the new processes
patented by Ruolz and Ellington. In
the manipulations thus necessitated, his
hands, from constant exposure to metal
llc action of more or less pernicious
character, became liberated in several
places, and resigted-as is usual in such
cases-every attempt at successful medi-
cal treatment.
But in watching the effects of clectri
city on metals as they were showing
themselves every day under his own
eyes, 1t occurred to him that, through
the medium of one of the chemical baths
used in the manufacture, the electric
power could be applied to the extraction
of the mineral substances which he right
ly Judged 10 be the cause of the malady.
On the first essay it was found that a
metallic plate in contact with the mega
tive pole of the electric battery was COW
cred within a quarter of an hour by a
thin layer of gold and silver that could
only have been extracted from the suf-
terlng member. This discovery was, Of
course, followed by a repetition of the
bath, and in short time the ulcerations
had disappeared.
The mode of arranging and using the
bath is, of course, most important, when
so mysterious and powerful an agent as
electricity is in question. The follow ing
is the plan adopted: The common me-
tallic bath is used, but under circum-
stances of electric isolation, which would
require more space than we command 10
explain. 1t is then filled With water
acidulated by certain portion of nitric
acid or hydro cEloric acid, when the
metal to be extracted is gold. silver, or
mercury, and with sulphuric acid when
the metal is lead. The patient is now
placed in the bath, with the wafer up to
his neck, and lies at his length upon a
wooden floor, isolated from the zinc bot
tom and sides of the bath. A given
point Of the bath is now placed in COM
munication with the negative pole of the
battery by means of a small vice, and the
patient extending out of the bath now
one hand, now the other, as each sue.
cessively tires, holds with it the positive
pole, which consists of a solid handle of
iron covered with wet cloths, to mitigate
the caioric power of the current of cleo
tricity which might otherwise cauterize
the skin of the hand. The positive cleo
tricity in this way is made to enter by
the arm, then circulates from the head
to the feet, to be then neutralized upon
the sides of the bath by the action of the
negative pole. Being isolated from the
direct contact of the negative pole as
well as from the soil, the mass irradiates
through the bath. forming a multitude of
currents that escape from all its surfaces.
and which, after traversing the internal
organs, ind even the bones, ends by
neuiralizing itself on the negative side
of the bath. The foreign mineral mat
ters difused through the body are seized
by the electric currents in their passage
and deposited in the water, which is al.
ways found saturated with them, more
especially in that part of the bath in con-
tact with the chest and shoulders of the
patient
APPEARANCE OF DR.. KANE The
WacLipo,top ITr;o, H.. J-ar;L.- Il.