Cerebral  Anaemia. — -I  should  advise  you  to  begin  the  use  of  very
weak  galvanic  currents  after  an  attack  of  embolism.  I  believe  that  cur-
rents of  this  kind  sent  transversely  through  the  head  from  the  temples,
and  occasionally  in  the  antero-median  plane,  assist  in  absorbing  the  col-
lateral oedema  and  cause  a  diminution  of  the  collateral  h3'pera3mia.  I
prefer  to  use  the  cathode  on  the  side  of  the  embolic  obstruction  when
transverse  currents  are  employed.  In  my  opinion,  it  tends  to  promote
absorption  and  to  contract  the  vessels  far  more  than  the  anode.  The
paralyzed  muscles  should  be  treated  separately,  by  methods  given  in
detail  later.
Some  four  years  ago  Lowenfeld  published  some  deductions  relative  to
the  action  of  galvanic  currents  upon  the  brain,  based  upon  experimental
researches.  Although  their  accuracy  has  been  justly  called  in  (question
by  authors  of  note,  my  own  experience  leads  me  to  confirm  them  in  part


ELECTRICITY   IN   CEREBRAL   AFFECTIONS.  715

and  to  attach  some  importance  to  them.  These  conclusions  were  as  fol-
low: (1)  anode  at  forehead  and  cathode  at  neck  cause  contractions  of
the  vessels  of  the  pia ;  (2)  anode  at  neck  and  cathode  at  forehead  cause
dilatation  of  the  vessels  of  the  pia ;  (3)  when  transverse  currents  are
enipIo3'ed,  the  cathode  causes  contraction  of  adjacent  vessels,  and  the
anode  dilatation.
When  cerebral  ansemia  of  a  general  chai'acler  exists  (as  a  manifesta-
tion of  poverty  of  the  blood,  defective  heart-power,  etc.),  general  ftira-
dization,  central  galvanization,  and  static  electricity  by  insulation  are
often  of  material  benefit.  Tlie  removal  of  the  cause  by  judicious  medi-
cation, etc.,  is,  of  course,  vital  to  successful  electrical  treatment.
