e been so satisfactory, that I have had no occasion to try any other
chemical, although almost any other of the preparations of iodine would
probably answer equally well. The chemical affinity of iodine for lead
affords a ready explanation of its usefulness in this respect. One ounce
of iodide of potassium to each bath appears to me a suitable quantity.

I have had no personal experience with any other cases of chronic
metallic intoxication than those with lead and mercury.

The absorption of morbid deposits (plastic exudations, etc.) can be
materially furthered by adding to a galvanic bath some resolvent--above
all, iodine.

I have said above (page 26) that I had found no perceptible benefit from
the addition of this substance to the galvanic bath in cases of
rheumatism or gout. The contrary holds good however with respect to the
frequent sequence of these diseases--articular deposits. When the acute,
and to a great extent the subacute symptoms have subsided--and in
chronic cases especially, and the disease has left effusions in various
joints, iodine, which when employed in this manner, appears to have
little or no influence on the pain accompanying these complaints, is a
powerful adjuvant in promoting the absorption of the deposits. In
chronic synovitis and all other articular affections accompanied by
exudation, the same holds good.

I have no doubt that future advances in this branch of science will
develop the utility of numerous other drugs and chemicals as additions
to the galvanic bath.--Before leaving this subject I must call attention
to the influence which the addition to the bath of certain substances
has on the conductivity of the water, resp. thus: the action of the
current on the patient. I have found that when I caused salt or
bicarbonate of soda to be added to the bath, the conductivity of the
water became so much increased, so disproportionately greater than that
of the body, as to render necessary the employment of very powerful
currents in order to cause the patient to feel them.

Footnotes:

[Footnote 2: "Medical and Surgical Electricity." New York. 1875.
Wm. Wood & Co. pp. 431 and 432.]

[Footnote 3: For some experiments concerning the cataphoric
effects of the galvanic current, see an article by MUNK,
entitled "Ueber die galvanische Einfuehrung differenter
Fluessigkeiten in den unversehrten lebenden Organismus," in the
Allgemeine Medicinsche Central-Zeitu