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great rapidity, by which means, an extensive numberof discharges can be delivered in a short time. Whenthe patient dips his fingers in the water in the cup,and holds the ball m to his cheek, a continuouscurrent would traverse every part of his personbetween the two points of connexion ; that is, itwould traverse the hand, arm, chest, neck, and theright side of the face to the ball m, but by means ofthe clock work in the box i n, the current becomesinterrupted and broken into a number of momentarydischarges, which for nervous affections in the facewill sometimes answer better.
Persons operating on themselves will find thedirectors, fig. 47, more convenient than any otherpiece of apparatus, and a foot-pan will occasionallybe useful, especially for operations on the legs andthighs. If both limbs be affected, the feet may beimmersed in two separate portions of warm water,and the connecting wires from the battery connectedwith them—one with each portion of water. If thebattery connexions be not disturbed, an electriccurrent will flow up one limb and down the other,and produce a thrilling warmness in both. If thecase requires a series of shocks, the patient mayeasily deliver them to his limbs, by running one ofthe conducting wires over the edges of the batteryplates. Many other means of operating will suggestthemselves to a patient who is determined to Gal-vanize himself. Since the discovery of MagneticElectricity, several fashions of what are called coilmachines have been invented, which, in consequenceof their being self-acting, are very convenient forpersons operating on themselves. These will beminutely described in my lectures on MagneticElectricity.