regular
degrees through all the sections, from its negative to its positive end
or pole, then the nearer any given part of it, say the _second
section_--the patient's person, may be to its positive pole in the
negative post, so much the more _positive_ that section or part will be.
And the nearer such part or section may be to the negative pole in the
positive post, so much the more _negative_ it will be. If the cords be
of equal length, the central point in the circuit or magnet will be in
the second section--the person of the patient, midway between the
electrodes; and that section will be charged with the _mean_ quantity
of the magnetic fluid. The _central point_ will hold _exactly_ the mean
quantity. But if the cord in the _first_ section be _two_ yards long,
and that in the _third_ section be _four_ yards, then section
second--the patient's parts under treatment--will be nearest to the
_negative_ pole in the positive post, and consequently will be charged
with much _less_ than the mean quantity of the fluid, and will therefore
be made so much the more _negative_. If, on the other hand, the cord in
section _first_ be _four_ yards in length, and that in section _third_
be only _two_ yards, then the patient's body--section second--will be
brought nearest to the _positive_ pole in the negative post, and of
course be charged with much _more_ than the mean quantity of the
magnetic fluid, and hence will be made so much the more _positive_.

It is true that the positive and negative poles of section second--the
parts of the patient between the electrodes--will not be _reversed_ by
any such changes in the length or relative positions of the conducting
cords; nor is such reversal required in those cases where the use of the
_long cord_ is indicated. The only change of polarization called for in
such cases, is that _all_ the parts through which the current is to
pass should, in greater or less degree, be affected alike, as being made
more positive or more negative. Of course these parts will be so
affected in different degrees--those nearest to the _short_ cord the
_most_; those nearest to the _long_ cord the _least_.

The class of cases where the use of the _long cord_ is more especially
advantageous, comprises those in which it is desirable to run the
current _out_ of the patient at the shortest admissible distance from
the positive electrode. For example, in treating _cynanche tonsillaris_,
(quinsy), if treating with the