and its place be supplied by the gas intended to be subjected to experiment.
From all the observations hitherto made, there seems to be reason to conclude, that the effects produced on the animal œconomy by common electricity and by the Galvanic pile are different. The phænomena of artificial Galvanism give us some right to suppose, that a similar action is exercised by the Galvanic fluid circulating in the fluids and in the organs of living animals. In this point of view Galvanic researches may one day throw great light on the nature of secretion; and it may perhaps be found necessary, when remedies are administered, to take its influence into consideration: for it is possible that the action of these remedies in the animal œconomy may depend on the establishment of such an arc between the system of the nerves and that of the muscles, as may not alter the natural state of the Galvanic fluid proper for the constitution of the individual to whom these remedies are administered. All this however is mere conjecture, and must be classed with many other things in the theory of Galvanism which are still involved in obscurity, and which we can hope to see explained only by new researches and new experiments.
Taking a general view of this Third Part, I must observe that the administration of Galvanism, when the above experiments are carefully examined, seems to appear in a much
more advantageous point of view than before. I have indeed proved:
1st. That Galvanism, on many occasions, exercises an influence different from that of common electricity, and that it may be administered in various cases with great ease and safety.
2d. That the action of Galvanism manifests itself by a sensible attraction between the nervous and muscular parts; which seems to confirm the hypothesis of Humboldt, who supposes a Galvanic atmosphere peculiar to these parts when in a state of perfect vitality.
3d. That the strong impression made by Galvanism on the brain seems to explain its power on the organ of hearing; and therefore the physicians of Berlin, and other parts of Germany, are entitled to great praise for their researches on this subject.
4th. That though medicine is capable of affording considerable aid in cases of drowning and of asphyxia, it presents us with no means so powerful as Galvanism. The experiments made at London, Jan. 17, 1803, on the body of Forster, executed for murder, have fully convinced me of the activity of this stimulant.
5th. That in cases of melancholy madness, when other
remedies fail, Galvanism may be employed with the greatest hopes of success, provided the disease does not proceed from a vitiated constitution, or a general derangement in the animal machine.