ELECTROLYSIS.
Electrolysis is thus defined by Beard and Rockwell:' " The term elec trolysis is a general one and signifies decomposition by electricity. As such it applies to the electrical decomposition of inorganic as well as of organic substances, and of animal tissues, whether in health or in disease, living or dead. Practically, however, the term is now pretty well re stricted, in electro-therapeutical language, to the electrical decomposition of morbid growths, or to parts affected by chronic inflammation, by means of some form of needle electrodes, and, although more or less electrolytic action takes place in all applications of the galvanic current externally or internally, yet the term when applied to any electrical operation is understood to imply that electrolytic action was the leading effect sought for, and that it was obtained by needles, or at least by some form of metallic electrode more or less pointed at the extremity.
" On the other hand, when electrodes with very large surfaces are used, with a view to chemical effect, and the transfer of fluids with ab sorption, the process is called catalysis. Catalysis depends, in part, at least, on electrolysis, and the distinction between the terms, which has been observed by electro-therapeutists is practical rather than scientific. • . . . When needles connected with the poles of a galvanic battery are inserted into a tumor, a three-fold action is produced.
"1. Decomposition of its fluid roustituents.—Hydrogen and alkalies, soda, potassa, etc., go to the negative, and oxygen and acids to the posi tive. The special character of these electrolytic phenomena will depend on the character of the tumor, and the rapidity of the action will be pro portioned to the relative amount of its fluid constituents. As the body is mostly composed of water, holding salts of potass, soda, etc., in solu tion, it is a good electrolytic, and in most of the conditions of disease undergoes rapid decomposition. Schirrus and fibroids, when hard and firm, require considerable strength of current, and are electrolyzed with comparative slowness. Erectile tumors, which are almost entirely of fluid composition, can be electrolyzed very rapidly. Although electrolytic action takes place at both poles when inserted in tumors, as when inserted into inorganic substances, yet this action on the whole appears to be the more vigorous and more effective for causing absorption and disintegra tion at the negative pole, and in practice this pole is usually found to be the more efficacious, although successful results are obtained by the posi• Live pole or by both combined. Epithelioma being largely composed of water also decomposes rapidly " 2. Absorption.—Absorption may be hastened both by the chemical changes that take place, and also by the mechanically irritating effect of the needles and the transference of the anions and cations. This absorp tion takes place both during and after the treatment. In some cases it is not at all observed during the operation, but goes on slowly for weeks following. Stimulation of absorption is especially marked when electri city acts on hydrocele and cystic tumors " 3. Disintegration and at rophy. —As a result of the decomposition and
absorption, and associated with them, the tissues become dried, separated, shrivelled, and the tumor decreases in bulk and may entirely disappear." For the purpose of causing the above electrolytic effects a galvanic battery arranged for quantity rather than for intensity is preferred by Cutter, whose experience in the treatment of fibroid tumors by electrolysis is larger than that of any other individual operator in this country. The battery he uses' is the Stcelirer, consisting of eight large plates of carbon, and a similar number of zinc, arranged so that the zincs come on the outside, securing by means of these large plates quantity of current as far as possible. Other observers do not lay so much stress on this ques tion of quantity as obtained through large elements. Beard and Rock well state:' " For purposes of electrolysis tension with moderate or fair quantity is required, such as is obtained by a considerable number of elements of medium size." Bartholow says:' " For the purpose of elec trolysis the battery should have sufficient intensity. The zinc-carbon combination of Stolirer for portable use is well adapted for electrolysis, the number of elements used not more than twenty, as the electromotive force required will not exceed the power of this combination. It is held by some of the most experienced operators (Anderson, Duncan, Althaus) that heating power must also be regarded, and hence the larger cells of Starer are recommended, but this statement cannot be accepted without qualification. Smee's elements may also be employed for electrolysis, but Daniell's, Siemen's and IIalske's, Hill's, etc., are not adapted for this purpose. The caustic battery of the Partz electric company of Philadel phia is a very convenient and powerful machine, exceedingly well suited to the purpose." Amory, in his recent treatise' on electrolysis thus sums up the matter in its application to tumors: " It is assumed that the elec trolytical action is due to the interference with cell proliferation: if then the current should be too strong to effect this interference and should excite an inflammation, suppuration will ensue and the action of the elec tricity as a caustic may be localized upon the parts of the tissue immedi ately in contact with the electrodes. The products of suppuration prevent the transfer of the electrical action to any distance from the point of application. The effect of a localized inflammation in the tissue surrounding a tumor causes the attraction of a larger amount of blood than will suffice for the simple nutrition of the tumor. Consequently as there is an increased amount of nutritive material, the tumor has the tendency to grow larger. For these reasons the strength of current required to effect the slow absorption of tumors should have a feeble tension and small chemical action, and the duration of each sitting should be pro longed." Engelmann and Apostoli, on the other hand, claim that for effective electrolytic action high intensities are requisite, and short sit tings are preferable. The former is in the habit of using from 50 to 250 milliamperes continued from three to eight minutes.