The Trinity journal., 1856-10-11
A Great Discovery.

covcricS of the age is the application OF eIcc-
tricity to the elimination OF minerals from
the system, aud general detergent process.
The experiments which led to this result
were made by Professor Nergucs, in Paris
in 1882. BrauhraUGS RaroSpct thus al
ludcS to it,
In this great discovery chance or accident has
played Il part. one OF the IuVCutors-N. N0tic
Ncrgncs- occupied himself wjth eaNaut EIj-
ing or slvcring. His hands being In continued
contact with solutions OF nitrate and cyauurtt oi
gold and silver, got covered VITA ulcers u C"u~e-
qucncc OF the Introduction of mctaNc PARTICLES.
One day he plunged the diseased ol -au~ into th'
electo-chcmical BATH at the positive pole OF the
pile, and after a quarter of an hour. to thc great
surprise of the bchO.dtrs. small plate oi mctal
brought into contact with the negative pole. coN-
cred itself with thin coating OF gold aud silver
extracted from the hands OF the operator, whence
the most powerful remedies had not been able to
eliminate them.
The same discovery is said to have been
made, in similarly accidental mauncr, hy
DR.. Saunders, OF Ohio, some years before
So the question of the discovery OF this mode
Of applying electricity is likely to be moot
ed one between America and France, aud
will probably remain in the same doubt that
cnshrouds the discoveries Of Dr. Franklin,
which are also claimed to have been made
by a Frenchman.
The process of remedial application was
at first 10y means of full bath, III which the
patient was immersed. holding IN his hands
handle connected with the positive pole,
while the negative pole was placed IN con-
ncction with the copper lining OF the BATH
at his feet 1t was subsequently loHAd t!iat
as remedial agent electricity co0,u he bts.
employed in Vapor or steam bath, which
being in itself powerful detergent would
add to the efficacy Of the newly employed
power.
These bath from their inception attracted
Il good deal Of attention in the medical
world, particularly among water cure prac-
titoncrS and they were introduced into Ne"
York about a year since by NJ. Ncr9ues,
and have since been employed IN several NY
dropathic establishments in that city. Some
five or six months since they were introduced
into this city by Dr. Bourne, whose mode OF
APPLYING them differs somewhat IN detail
from that adopted elsewhere, but has not
been less successful in its beneficial results.
Partly from motives OF curiosity and partly
to obtain relief from severe cold we were
induced to try their efficacy short Time
since, and We propose to give our rt"uera
some account OF our experience.
DR. Bournc's mode OF applying TINS new
remedial agent is in the shape q a HaIor
bath The patient takes a scat in large
box. with his feet IN small pan containing e.
warm water, into which is introduced one
end of the wires leading from TIE battery.
The other end of the wires is @.t-r.-I 10
handles which are covered with Inea-
These, after being dampcncd, are placed IN
the hands Of the subject, who is lhyh sE"J
up in the box, his head being kept out al
ter the manner adopted in the case OF Ohl-
nese malefactors, striking views OF Hhoh III
this condition may be found in most primary
school Biographies. The difference bcl"ecn
the size of the neck of the subject and the
orilice through which his head WotWdea
being filed with banda%c Of linen, the OPP
Grafton commences by the Introduction oI
the yapor. The only sensation produced by
the electricity is a tinglHg III the palms o.
the hands, and in some instances i!Ha Is not
evident. The sensation HodUccdly the }a-
uor is similar to the stcam."g portion oi i,c
Russian bath.
With the exception Of lhe t;a2in@ sousa-
ton alluded to, the patient would not h"
aware of the passage Of the electric Iiuid
through his person, although, as the Doctor
observed, the current can only hc I.A,utd 10
a stream of flame BY way OF satisfying
any doubts, however, the operator OCCASION
aIy exhibits the passage OF the iHd by
placing a piece Of platinum on one oI the
wires and touching it, end to apleccot coke
resting on the parallel wire. This interrupts
the passage of the current, and sparks ol
electricity pass from the metal to the coke,
accompanied by sensations on the part oi
the subject in the bath similar to oIlehl
shock of electricity The Doctor asserts
that imperccptible as the passage oi the
fluid is, except when thus interrupted. There
are portions Of the body where it may bc
plainly felt when they are brought into con
tact with the poles, in fact, in some portions
it is too powerful for even temporary cndd-
rance.
In the administration Of the baths in this
city, they have been applied strictly as
remedial agent, and consequently no results
Of a satisfactory character as to its chcary
in eliminating minerals from tie system nave
been arrived at 1t is here applied supply
as a specific for certain disorders, and tac
instances related Of it, efficacy are certainly
marvellous. The results Of experiments I'M
stitutcd with a view 10 asccrlalnng It's de-
curative influence in New York presented
mercury and various other minerals in the
deposits found in the bath; but Dr. Bourne
informs Us that iron is the ooIy metal Of
which he has as yet discovered any traces
lie attributes this to the fact that he has
not made amy experiments with view to
such discoveries, bat ha, simply administered
the baths as a remedial agent.
As curative process, the baths appear
to be peculiarly adapted to the treatment oi
rheumatism, paralysis and scroin'ous allec-
tions In fever and ague a single bath, We
1 l.,.f. r,,,. amt Itf i.It no