part, we
generally move, or ought to move, more or less, every few moments, which
prevents the establishment of any perverted action in the part; and the
moment the electrode is withdrawn, the normal polarization and healthy
action are resumed.

USE OF THE LONG CORD.

It is often desirable to bring the entire parts of the patient, through
which the current is made to pass, under one and the same kind of
influence--such as shall make them all more positive or more negative.
Especially is this true in many cases where we wish to run through but a
_short_ space. For this purpose, there is frequent advantage in using
conducting cords of unequal length. As my views on this point have been
disputed in certain quarters, I will endeavor here to place them in such
a light that they shall not be rejected for want of being _rightly
understood_.

I have previously remarked[C] that, for practical purposes, it is
sufficiently exact to consider the _magnetic circuit_ as extending only
from the _positive post_, around through the conducting cords, the
electrodes, and the person of the patient, to the _negative post_. We
will so regard it at present. This circuit may be viewed as one
continuous magnet, made up of several sections or shorter magnets placed
end to end--the positive end of the first to the negative end of the
second, and the positive end of the second to the negative end of the
third. In this arrangement, the negative end of the first section is the
negative pole of the one whole magnet, and the positive end of the third
section is the positive pole of the whole magnet. The minimum quantity
of the magnetism is supposed to be at the negative pole, and the maximum
quantity at the positive pole; and the quantity is supposed to increase,
by _regular graduation_, from the negative to the positive pole. This
being so, the quantity is _the same_ in the positive end of either
section and the negative end of the adjoining section, at their point of
contact.

Now, in practice, the body of the patient, or so much of it as is
embraced between the two electrodes, may be regarded as the _second_
section in this magnet; and the cord connected with the positive post,
together with its electrode attached, may be counted the _first_ and
_most negative_ section; and the cord connected with the negative post,
along with its electrode, may be the _third_ and _most positive_
section. And if this whole magnet be more and more positive, by