two or more wires connected with a galvanic battery, and pass a strong current. The rapid evolution of hydrogen at the negative pole will be followed by disintegration of the growth by the mechanical pressure of numerous bubbles of this gas. The best results I have had were those following a heated condition of the wires or needles. Many operators make this distinctly one of galvano-causty. I have used a platinum needle, which is quite flexible; this is attached to a steel point, and the growth literally sewed. When the wire is passed through the growth, I attach the two cords of a powerful galvanic battery (usually a galvano-causty battery) to either end by small clamps. The wire immediately becomes red-hot. I make several punctures of this kind.

Dr. Alexander Murray,' when performing the operation of

electrolysis upon a nævus, introduces the needles in the manner depicted in Fig. 48. Dr. Murray has been unusually successful in his treatment of these cases.

Foreign literature is very prolific in statistics of this operation. Dr. Maas, of Breslau, has collected' the histories of one hundred and twelve cases of nævus treated by the galvanic cautery. The results were as follows: Capillary nævus-cured, thirty-two; improved, one; result unknown, one. Cavernous or venous nævus-cured, seventy-two; improved, eight; result unknown, one; died, three. Arterial nævus-cured, two; improved, one. Nævus combined with other tumors-cured, six; improved, one; result unknown, two. He derives from the examination of the cases the conclusion that the galvanic cau1 New York Medical Record, November 1, 1872. 2 Archiv für klinisches Chirurgie, vol. xii.

tery is followed by the best results in nævus, and is much safer than the injection of perchloride of iron or any other coagulating fluid. It would, however, be wrong to say positively that the remedy is indicated in all cases of nævus. The surgeon must take the circumstances of each case into consideration.

CHAPTER XII.

GALVANO-CAUSTY, ETC.

Batteries, Electrodes, etc.-The Operation.-Cases.-Miscellaneous Uses of Electricity. Electric Baths.-Absorption of Inflammatory Products.-Spermatorrhoea. Orthopraxy.-Vomiting of Pregnancy. - Detection of Metallic Substances.-Carbuncles and Furuncles, etc., etc.

THE applicability of this process in many cases when the knife is impracticable, and its advantages over that instrument in certain instances, recommend it at once as a most valuable surgical means. Galvano-causty has been used lately in this country by the gynecologists to a great extent, and abroad by other specialists in very many surgical diseases. The operations for which it is specially indicated are the following:

Removal of polypi, pediculated tumors, etc.

Removal of cancerous masses from the cervix uteri and other localities.

Removal of hæmorrhoids.

The division of sinuses and fistula.

Cauterization of diseased surfaces.

Cauterization of the vaginal walls for the purpose of causing cicatricial contraction.

Cauterization of ulcers.

Amputation of the cervix uteri, etc.

The advantages of galvano-causty are evident. Its use is attended by no hæmorrhage, the parts acted upon being cauterized most effectually. The cautery may be introduced in a cold state, and, when the instruments are adjusted, the operation performed, and the cautery withdrawn, without any injury to the adjacent parts. It can be used in places where the employment of the knife would be inconvenient or impossible.

The operation is comparatively painless; there is no shock to speak of, and thus the danger is reduced to a minimum.

There is very seldom any occasion for the use of the ligature or torsion; there is consequently no hæmorrhage. These advantages recommend it most highly.

The rationale of galvano-causty is this: When a poor conductor of the electric current is placed between two good ones, and a current of quantity is sent through them, the poor conductor, from its inability to transmit the great amount of electric fluid, will immediately undergo a rapid increase of temperature.

A

Platinum is used as the resisting part of the circuit, and with a proper current it will become first red and then white hot. Certain conditions govern the selection of the cauterizing wire, and these are-1. That it should be small and short. large wire will require a greater current to raise its temperature than a small one. 2. The wire should always be platinum, as the other metals easily melt.

Galvano-Causty Batteries.-The German surgeons are in the habit of using Middeldorpf's, Grenet's, and Bunsen's batteries. Most of these are inconvenient from the fact that it is troublesome to remove the plate from the solution after use, and that these foreign batteries are cumbersome and bulky. A galvano-causty battery must furnish a "quantity-current," and this can only be done by the use of large plates, and by condensation of the poles; that is to say, the negative poles of the several batteries should all be joined together, and the positive poles should be united in the same way, instead of one element, electro-positive, being joined with another, electro-negative, and so on through the series, as is the arrangement in the batteries giving "intensity-currents." When all the elements of one kind, and all of another, are joined as I have just described, we have but two large plates, so to speak, and thus get a very powerful quantity current. The instruments of the Galvano-Faradic Company of New York (Fig. 49) are most excellent; they are a greatly-improved modification of Stöhrer's. By a screw on top, we are enabled to get a gradual increase of current, thus immersing the plates, or removing them entirely. When I spoke of polarization, I mentioned the fact

that numerous small local currents were apt to generate upon the surface of the plates, also that the negative plate would be eventually covered by so many bubbles of the hydrogen gas that the strength of the current would be diminished. This condition is fatal to a uniform strength of current, and, as this is desirable in galvano-causty, we require some remedy for the evil. To most of the batteries, therefore, are attached a pair

of bellows which can be worked by an assistant. A current of air from these passes into the exciting solution of the battery, and prevents the accumulation of gas upon the carbonplate. I have used a battery made for me by Mr. Chester, of this city, and also a series of twenty Grove's cells, but consider the Galvano-Faradic Company's battery much better than either of them.

Mr. Jerome Kidder, of New York, makes a galvano-causty battery which Drs. Beard and Rockwell speak very highly of. Fig. 50 represents Dr. Byrne's battery. The merits of this