from the tub. After the fifth bath, which lasted for one hour, subnitrate of mercury was found on the bottom of the tub, which could be proved by testing with iodide of potash and hydrosulph. of ammon. A gray-greenish precipitate on the negative plate was changed, by rubbing it with the finger, into a distinct amalgam, which disappeared again by heating over the fire. Finally, the microscope proved the peculiarly sprinkled mercurial globules of that form assumed by the rapidly-deposited galvanoplastic precipitate. III. ELECTRICITY AS A STIMULANT IN PSEUDOARTHROSIS. The results of the treatment of pseudoarthrosis are, on the whole, not very satisfactory. The rubbing of the fractured surfaces against each other, the forcible stretching and bending, to break the adhesions, and to produce an irritation; finally, the acupuncture, made in such a manner as to leave the needles introduced between the fractured ends for five or six days, give rarely the desired result, and soon the seton and ligature, or the drilling of the fractured ends, and the introduction of pieces of ivory or bone, or, finally, the introduction of wires, have been tried. As, however, seton and ligature frequently cause suppuration and necrosis of the fractured ends, as the introduction of metal pegs, ivory nails, etc., produces often no formation of callus, but rather absorption of bone, one method deserves mention which is perfectly free from danger, and yet effective in single cases, namely, electropuncture. Thus, Heidenreich,' reports the following case which occurred to Burmann: A transverse fracture of the tibia and fibula had not united after four weeks. Burmann then applied a suitable bandage, and then passed the electric current daily, for half an hour, through the fracture, by means of two needles, introduced on opposite sides. Suppuration, formation of callus, and recovery followed. 1 Elemente der Therapeutischen Physik, 1854, page 279. Hall' united through the same method, in the York County Hospital, a fracture of the lower portion of the thigh, which had occurred a year ago, and remained ununited. He introduced a needle on either side of the thigh into the space between the fractured fragments, and allowed the continued current to pass through for some time. The operation was repeated daily for fourteen days, and resulted in recovery. Hahn, of Stuttgart,' reports the following case: a young man suffered from a separation of the femoral epiphysis (perhaps fracture of the neck) in consequence of a fall on the right hip, which resulted in the formation of a false joint, for the treatment of which, bandaging and irritating means were employed in vain. H. resorted to electropuncture; he placed two needles between the fragments, passing the induction current of the rotation apparatus through them daily for from fifteen to twenty minutes. No improvement being noticed after eight days, he employed the constant current, when, after the sixth application, inflammation kindled up around the needles, followed within ten weeks by a union of the fractured parts. 1 Medical Times and Gazette, November 12, 1853, page 30. 2 Zeitschrift für Wundärzte und Geburtshelfer, Band xiii., Heft 2. APPENDIX. SINCE the publication of the first American edition of this work, the Galvano-Faradic Manufacturing Company of this city has introduced a number of remarkably efficient and elegant instruments for use in electro-therapeutics. A detailed description of some of the more important of these will probably not be considered out of place. PORTABLE ELECTRO-MAGNETIC BATTERY. (FIG. 26.) A, Battery Rod-to its lower extremity the zinc plate, a, is fastened. By means of the hinge b, the rod can be laid over horizontally when the battery is not in use, thus securing the zinc from dropping down into the exciting fluid. The punctuations on the rod indicate the depth to which the zine is immersed in the fluid, when the rod is down, and consequently the battery power obtained; it can be secured at any point by the binding screw. Should the rod become tarnished by the acid, its conducting power will be diminished; this is restored by its head, c, coming in contact with the spring, Fig. 1. The disk, B, against which the platina point, 5, plays, where the electric spark is evolved, in time becomes oxidized, which interferes with the perfect working of the machine. This disk can be rotated, so that a fresh surface of the metal will be presented to the platina point, and its action instantly restored. The adjusting screw, e, must always be arranged to maintain the platina point in its proper position. When required to effect this purpose, loosen the set screw, d, turn the screw e until the desired point is reached, which is evidenced by the action of the machine, then tighten the set screw as before. The hammer, D, is enclosed between the prongs of the fork, C, which control its vibrations. If the fork be pushed downward, the hammer vibrates slowly; if it be elevated, its prongs limit the lateral space for the vibrations, and their rapidity will be increased. By this contrivance the interval between each shock can be increased or diminished as desired. If the fork should lean too much to either side it can be readjusted by the set screw, Fig. 2. The primary current can be instantly changed to the secondary, or vice versa, by means of the rheotrope, E, without removing the conducting wires. |