EQUALIZER OF THE CIRCULATION;
so far as I know, it is more potent, constant and comprehensive in this respect than any other agent. Where an imperfect circulation of the blood is due to irremovable organic causes, the results obtained will of course be transient only. In all other cases, however, favorable results, more or less perfect according to the nature of the case, may be reliably looked for. Both currents act very well in this respect, though on the whole I look upon the galvanic as superior to the faradic current.
As a theory of this effect of the currents I would offer the following, viz: That the galvanic current acts by stimulating the vasomotor centres and peripheral nerves, by giving tone to the mucular coats of blood vessels, and by counter-irritation. That the faradic current stimulates the vasomotor centres little, if at all, does not influence the coats of vessels, except such as are close to the skin, but tonicizes these latter more effectually than the galvanic current; that it stimulates the peripheral nerves to some extent, though far inferior in this respect to the galvanic current; but that when employed of sufficient intensity it superadds to those mentioned a strictly mechanical action, which consists in forcing static blood from the capillary into the general circulation through the medium of muscular contractions.
As a