The treatment of aneurism by electrolysis / by John Duncan, M.A. ; with an account of an investigation into the action of galvanism on blood and on albuminous fluids, by Thomas R. Fraser, M.D.

  • Duncan, John, M.A.
Date:
1867
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The treatment of aneurism by electrolysis / by John Duncan, M.A. ; with an account of an investigation into the action of galvanism on blood and on albuminous fluids, by Thomas R. Fraser, M.D. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    there was either no insulation at all, or an insulation confessedly defective. In Mr A.'s case the walls did not suffer at all, in Lee's but slightly, while in Gordon's the needles passed through a con- siderable quantity of sensitive matter. Moreover, the smaller the aneurism operated on, supposing the insulation perfect, the greater probably will be the pain; for, in a small one, the free acids and alkalis will be much more likely to reach the aneurismal tunics, and the exposed points of the needles will be more apt to come in contact with them. The pain, however, is of little moment, if the patient be under the influence of chloroform. The great object, and, I may add, diffi- culty in an ordinary aneurism, is to prevent that amount of irritation which is liable to excite a dangerous inflammation. On this ground, as on every other, there seems no cause for apprehension in a cirsoid aneurism; and for that form of disease gaivano-puncture may, I think, be regarded as the safest, simplest, and most certain method of treatment. Ligature of large arteries, like the carotid, is extremely dangerous, and has been singularly unsuccessful. Out of eighteen cases, seven died, and only two were permanently cured. The perchloride of iron, though it has been successfully injected, is also liable to failure, and has, moreover, certain well-known risks attending it.^ Extirpation, ligature, and incision have been tried, but hold out little inducement to repeat them. Galvanism, however, has been successful in the only two cases in which it has been used; and, though several operations were required in each, not the slightest accident happened in either. Part II. A number of experiments were undertaken for the purpose of determining the method by which galvanism produces its effects on aneurism. In the remarks and details which follow, it must not be supposed that we have examined the question in an exhaustive manner. Our investigation has, however, been sufficient to throw a considerable amount of light on the practical bearings of the subject, such as, the time required to obtain a satisfactory result, the value as a nucleus of the products of either pole, and the power of battery advisable, as well as the best methods of avoiding shock or pain, of protecting from cauterization the sac and superficial textures, and, generally, of obviating the sources of danger. Many of our results are merely confirmatory of observations already made by others, but which had been undertaken for purposes quite un- connected with the present subject. Several statements of a most extraordinary description have been published on the effects of galvanism on albuminous fluids; and one writer—Dutrochet^—even flattered himself that by the aid of ' Ann. des Sc. Nat., 1831.