through the water and over the
entire body; while on the other hand I have met with male patients on
whom a current from thirty-two Stoehrer cells made not the slightest
impression, and where I was compelled to supplement the current by that
from a ten-cell quantity battery (zinc carbon elements 6 in. long by 4 1/2
wide) in order to make them realize the presence of a current. These
gentlemen had no cutaneous anaesthesia.

In view of the facts just stated, I have found it impracticable, when
giving directions for the administration of a galvanic bath, to indicate
any certain number of cells to be used. I am in the habit of ordering
the administration of a "mild," a "medium" or a "strong" current, as may
be required in the respective cases; and in every instance it is the
electro-sensibility of the patient that determines the number of cells
requisite to obtain the desired result as represented by one of these
terms. The same applies also to the faradic current.

To determine the direction of the current is sufficiently simple. Where
a descending current is desired, the binding post which represents the
electrode at the head of the tub must be connected to the positive pole
of the battery, the other binding post to the negative pole; where an
ascending current is desired, the reverse of this is done.

The duration of the bath varies with different cases. The average is
about twenty minutes, though the time may range from ten minutes to an
hour and a half.

Where it is desired to give the patient a galvanic shock, it is only
necessary rapidly to reverse the current by means of the commutator. The
simultaneous contraction of almost the ENTIRE muscular system that
accompanies the reversal of a current of sufficient intensity in the
bath, affords a striking illustration of the _general_ effects of the
galvanic bath. In cases where paralyzed muscles have lost their faradic
irritability, galvanic interruptions are almost indispensable to
successful treatment.

I have before (page 14) described a "surface board," which I have
devised for the purpose of localizing the current from one of the poles
in any portion of the body where required. This proceeding should by no
means be looked upon as a "local" method of electrization; on the
contrary, it is just as much "general" as the ordinary electric bath.
Whereas in local applications the current runs from one point of the
body to another, in this case, supposing the spot wher