The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1894-04-13
A NEW DEPARTURE.
Electricity Is Soon to Be Employed
in Medicine.
The Current to BE Applied in the Treat
ment of Hemorrhage-One of the Most
Wonderful Discoveries of Mod
ern Science.

One of the most wonderful modern
discoveries in the region of electro
therapy is the system of ''cupric cleo
trolysis" brought out by Gautier, of
Paris, by which a metallic deposit can
be made on any part of the body, in
ternal or external, says the Boston
Transcript. The process will be un-
derstood by recalling the fact
that an iron needle connected to the
positive pole, plunged into human
tissue, is quickly attacked by the
oxygen and chlorine set free at this
pole, is converted into oxychloride of
iron, double salt, and is soon complete
ly destroyed. The same is true of any
metal attacked by oxygen or chlorine
A copper needle or bulb or other con-
veniently shaped electrode penetrating
tissue or laid against mucous men,
brane, especially within the cavities Of
the body, is converted into oxychlor-
ide of copper, zinc into oxychloride Of
zinc and so on.
This method has only recently been
introduced into this country, but its
benefits promise to be far reaching
when it is brought into general prac-
tice. In genealogical work especially
it secures results attainable by no
other means, as the introduction of the
positive copper sound affords not only
the intrinsic advantage of the current,
but also the further beneficial action of
an antiseptic salt, whose permeation
into the tissues contributes to their
strength and nutrition. In other
words, the metallic deposit is first
made, and then, by what is termed
'cataphoresis," driven into the tissues.
1t is highly probable that this will
be the treatment of the future in
catarrh cases. A copper bulb through
which an electric current is passing is
swept over the nasal, throat and mucous
membranes and deposits and drives in
the copper salts. This method is both
rapid and painless and it's effects are
described as magical. An eminent
electrotherapeutist states that in his
hands it's results far surpass the
most sanguine claim of any 9TH
er treatment. It is also likely to
create new practice in the antisept-
icizing and healing of unhealthy ulcer
ations and discharging cavities, the
dispersion of tumors and the reduction
to healthy state Of the granular eye
lids of the conjunctivitis. DR.. Angus
tin Goelet now calls attention to the
adaptability of this principle to the
control of hemorrhage, especially In
connection with internal operation,
such as are frequently to be carried
out in gynecology. DIR. Goelet does
further commendable service by show
ing wherein it has at times proved un-
successful, and pointing out how fail
ure can, to great extent, be avoided.
He insists that II the applications are
persevered with and are properly made
they will, in the majority of cases, con-
troll an active hemorrhage. One point
of supreme Importance is that there
should be actual and complete contact
between the electrode and the surface
acted upon, and for the attainment of
this object the use of an enlarged and
possibly egg-shaped electrode may at
times be advisable. It is most satisfac-
tory to know, on such authority that
electricity can be SO effectively ap-
piled to a disastrous ai1ment, against
which every resource of the physician
has heretofore but too often proved
| powerlesS.