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been still further extended, in order to enable me to arrive at results which might have been more prolific of benefit to suffering humanity. For instance, I began, during the decrease of the cholera, namely, during the last three weeks, to try the effect of galvano-electric rings as a preventative. I caused a few hundreds to be made, some of copper and zinc, and others of silver and zinc, which I distributed gratis, and observed, that whilst some of those who wore the rings of copper and zinc fell victims to the disease, those who wore the silver and zinc rings were all saved. It is true, that some of the latter became infected with the disease, but the attacks were of so slight a nature that, in my opinion, they would have recovered without any medical assistance. But I must repeat, that this was only at the time when the disease was already on the decline; and since that period, I have had no other opportunity of making further observations in that country; consequently, I cannot assert that this preventative is infallible. However, to ascertain still further the value of these rings for the purpose indicated, I ordered some hundreds of them to be made during my stay at Vienna, in the autumn of 1850, at the period when that Asiatic guest took up its residence in that capital. I presented them gratuitously to many persons, and I have not heard of a single fatal attack attending the wearers. Many medical men and others expressed their opinions upon the subject, and thought the idea a ridiculous one; but the future will show whether I am mistaken or otherwise. Some of the wearers of these rings at Lahore stated that they diffused warmth in the finger on which they were worn, in fact I observed a sort of rash to break out on the part on which they wore the rings, and they were obliged to discontinue wearing them for a few days, or place them on the other hand. One ring is quite sufficient for one person, although the wearing of several would do no harm. Bracelets, buckles, and chains produce still greater effects, and I am of opinion that such rings, &c. are not only useful during the cholera, but are beneficial in many other respects. I have myself enjoyed the best of health during the last six years, which I attribute

in a great measure to the wearing of a ring of this description. I must observe that those who make use of such galvanoelectric rings, ought not to be anxious when experiencing any slight indisposition, and should avoid resorting at once to strong remedies, lest the ill effects of those remedies should be attributed to the ring, and thus destroy the confidence of the wearer, and lead to a false conclusion. While advising persons to wear such rings, it is not, however, to be considered that they are talismans or amulets; their virtues are of another character, which I will endeavour to explain. We know well what mighty influence the electric and magnetic fluid exercises on the material world, and that it produces many of those wonderful phenomena, which the wisdom of antiquity was unable to explain; but our modern naturalists have succeeded, if not in absolutely discovering the hitherto hidden secrets of nature, at least in lifting a portion of the veil which conceals them. There is no doubt that an electro-magnetic fluid is diffused through our most subtile nerves, its source or battery is the brain, and it is probable that the wise Creator, for that reason, has there united all the organs of sensation. Through the continual mild and slight stimulation which these rings produce upon the nervous system, in consequence of their affinity with the electric fluid existing in the body, we may believe them to operate in a manner analogous to lightning conductors, and thus to maintain the functions of the nerves in their normal state. I refer the reader, as regards the construction of these rings, to the illustrations of those which I distributed at Lahore and Vienna, as given in the second volume of this work.

In the last year of my sojourn at Lahore, 1849, I observed, in the English medical journals, a description of a galvano-electric apparatus, consisting of one zinc and one silver plate, united by a silver wire, and the statement of its effects, especially upon ulcers and similar cases. This induced me to make some experiments in cases of this description, in which I succeeded; especially at the prisoners' hospital, where two brothers had on their feet two cancerous ulcers, which were completely eradicated, the one

in four, and the other in six weeks. At the same period, it happened that several cases of sporadic cholera occurred; and, having ascertained the before-mentioned apparatus to be efficacious, and persuaded, as I was, of the benefit of my rings, which are composed of the same materials-silver and zinc-I determined to make an experiment with the apparatus upon these cholera cases, which proved to be of the greatest utility. It was quite natural that when I imagined I had solved that enigmatical question-the positive method of curing cholera-I should endeavour to put my method in practice during the raging of that epidemic in Vienna; and I accordingly made application to the Minister of the Interior, soliciting him to allow me to attend some of the cholera patients at the hospital. The minister consented; but the interval between my soliciting and obtaining the permission was so long, that the real type of the disease no longer existed the cases were mere malignant choleratyphus. Scarcely one of those I saw at the hospital recovered. I only attended three patients. The first removed the apparatus from her body, without any one being cognisant of the fact, and died on the following day; the second was brought to the hospital in a senseless, dying condition, so that I thought it unnecessary to apply the plates; and the third patient continued to exist until the eleventh day. As the cholera-patients, however, with or without appetite, were compelled to subsist on meat soups containing parsley, celery, onions, &c.; and the medicines which were administered were prepared by their own apothecary; and as the disease was on the decline; I discontinued my attendance, without arriving at any definite conclusion.

At Lahore, I performed some operations while the patients were under the influence of chloroform; and among these were two boys who were troubled with stone in the bladder. Both were operated on with the apparatus altus, with the assistance of Dr. Hathway, the surgeon to the Residency. But the operation on one of them, the most healthy-looking lad, terminated fatally, which may be attributed to the stone being attached to the mucous membrane of the bladder. The mother of this boy gave

VOL. I.

him secretly, shortly after the operation, a quantity of butter with sugar, believing it would strengthen the patient. The boy began to vomit in a violent manner, felt oppressed, and started from his sleep; and this may possibly have accelerated his death. The other boy recovered. A year previously, assisted by Dr. A. Hening, I operated on a boy labouring under the same disease; the operation was effected after he had inhaled the vapour of ether, and he remained drowsy for three days. The cure, however, was speedily effected, although two large stones had to be extracted from the neck of the bladder, which were with great difficulty withdrawn. My colleague began to doubt, whilst I was operating, whether any stone at all existed. But instead of one, there were, as I have already mentioned, two large ones.

As regards these anaesthetic agents, I prefer the inhaling of ether to the application of chloroform, although I must confess, that much depends on its being properly prepared and skilfully administered. Dr. Hathway performed, in my presence, many successful operations with chloroform, We procured ours from Kanpore. I also performed, assisted by Dr. Hathway, two amputations at the gaol hospital, whilst the patients were under the influence of ether, without either of them uttering a word; nevertheless, I adhere to the opinion of those who assert that the tenth part of chloroform mixed with ether makes a preferable composition.

At Lahore I made the acquaintance of a native Mahomedan stone-operator, who, like the other native surgeons of the east, extract the stone through the perineum, according to the old method of Celsus. Two fingers of the left hand are oiled, and introduced as far as possible into the rectum, whilst the operator presses with his right hand somewhat above the navel downwards. Thus the stone is felt with the finger in the rectum, when it is drawn down and cut out of the bladder through the middle flesh. But if they are not able to bring it down, which is often the case with adults, they are compelled to leave it, being ignorant of the use of European surgical instruments, or the lateral operation. They cure the wounds

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