I have made an extensive study of the physiological effects of direct electrization of the stomach and have published the results in several papers. From my experiments it follows conclusively:

1. Direct faradization of the stomach increases gastric secretion (a) during the application of electricity and also, (&) for a short period afterward.

2. Direct galvanization of the stomach with the negative pole within the organ in most instances diminishes gastric secretion.

3. Direct faradization as well as galvanization of the stomach increases the absorbent faculty of the stomach.

As regards therapeusis I came to the following conclusions:

1. Direct Gastro-Electrization

Direct Gastro-Electrization is a potent agent in the field of chronic (non-malignant) diseases of the stomach.

2. Direct Gastrofaradization

Direct Gastrofaradization proves to be useful in many ways in most chronic diseases of the stomach. The favorable results appear very clearly and pretty quickly in those cases of stomach dilatation which are not caused by any obstruction of the pylorus, but merely by the relaxation of the muscular coat of the stomach. Here the gastrofaradization is beneficial, no matter whether in these cases there is hyperacidity or subacidity of the stomach contents. Cases of relaxation of the cardia (eructations), and also of relaxation of the pylorus (presence of bile secretion in the stomach), were very favorably influenced by faradization. Here the result was most markedly pronounced, inasmuch as, besides the subjective amelioration of the patient, the objective examination showed at the same time the absence of bile in the stomach con tents.

3. Gastrogalvanization

Gastrogalvanization is almost a sovereign means for combating severe and most obstinate gastral-gias, no matter whether their origin is of a nervous nature or caused by a cicatrized ulcer of the stomach.

4. Gastrogalvanization

Gastrogalvanization exerts also a favorable influence on several affections of the heart complicated with gastralgia.

With regard to the effects of the current in diseases of the stomach, it is very difficult to give a full theoretical explanation. I perfectly agree with Stockton,1 who says:

"Exactly what role is played by faradization I am unable to state; whether it is a gastric sedative or a gastric stimulant I do not know. My efforts were in the direction of study, and the results were so favorable that I applied faradism to cases seemingly contradictory in character, and I have concluded that the great variety of gastric neuroses depend upon a common cause - an imperfect innervation of the stomach; that electricity improves this innervation, thereby relieving the cause and so the conditions which, at first thought, are so contradictory".

In therapeusis the chief factor in determining the efficacy of any means of treatment is and will be our empirical experience. For this reason I do not think it necessary to go into further details of the manner in which electric currents act upon the human organism. The very numerous successful results obtained by this method of treatment warrant its general use in practice.

Since the publication of my papers on direct electrization of the stomach many authors in this country as well as in France and Germanv have made use of this method of treatment and highly recommend it. Thus Stockton, Ewald, Rave,1 A. A. Jones,2 D. D. Stewart,3 Rosenheim,4 Brock,5 Goldschmidt,6 and others have published good results obtained by intragastric electrization. Ewald approves of the shape and form of my electrode, but finds it difficult to introduce it into the patient's stomach. For this reason he has modified my electrode by using a thicker rubber tubing around the wire: the tubing corresponds to No. 13 Charriere and is about 1 1/2 mm. thick. I have not found, however, that the insertion into the stomach of the de-glutable electrode offers any difficulties.

1 CharlesG. Stockton: "ClinicalResults of Gastric Faradization." American Journal of the Medical Sciences, 1890, p. 20.

The principal point is to put the electrode far back into the pharynx and to let the patient meanwhile drink something. It is advisable to have the patient drink slowly about a glassful of water, and to have a talk with him, in order to distract his attention from the procedure. The electrode usually soon reaches the stomach, and it seldom happens that it remains lying in the fauces. If this does happen, the patient must eat a small piece of bread and drink some water; the electrode will then find its way into the stomach with the bread.

If in a very rare case the deglutable electrode cannot be introduced, there is vet always time to use in-stead the electrode as modified by Ewald.

1J. Rave: "Contribution a 1'etude du traitement des dyspepsies par l'electricite," Paris, 189:1

2Allen A. Jones: Medical Record, June 13th, 1801.

3D. D. Stewart: Therap. Gazette. 1893. p. 744.

4Rosenheim: Berliner Klinik., May, 1894.

5Brock: Therap. Monatshefte, 1895, p. 275.

6Goldschmidt: "Ueber den Einfluss der Elektricitat auf den gesunden und kranken inenschlicheu Magen." Deutsch. Arch. f. klin. Med., vol. xv., p. 295. is induced by many irritating substances, as, for in stance, alcohol, rancid butter, etc.

The sensibility of the stomach is not always alike. One of the above-named causes may be productive of a catarrhal condition in one person, while in many others it remains perfectly inactive. The tendency to acute catarrh of the stomach varies very much in different individuals and families. Some people have a certain predisposition for this affection, which is designated by the expression "delicate stomach." The latter is often found in anaemic women, in old persons, and invalids of all kinds. The question whether the acute gastric catarrh may originate by way of infection has not as yet been settled. The epidemic appearance of this affection at a certain time speaks in favor of such an assumption, which was first propagated by Lebert1 and Oser.2 No micro-organisms, however, have been found within the stomach wall to corroborate this theory. Besides the above-named direct causes, acute gastric catarrh is indirectly engendered by all acute infectious diseases, which it ordinarily accompanies.