An Account of the Late Improvements in Galvanism: With a Series of Curious and Interesting Experiments Performed Before the Commissioners of the French National Institute, and Repeated Lately in the Anatomical Theatres of LondonAldini, Giovanni
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An Account of the Late Improvements in Galvanism: With a Series of Curious and Interesting Experiments Performed Before the Commissioners of the French National Institute, and Repeated Lately in the Anatomical Theatres of London
Aldini, Giovanni
Electricity -- Early works to 1850
“The blood in the head was not extravasated, but several
vessels were prodigiously swelled, and the lungs entirely
deprived of air; there was a great inflammation in the
intestines, and the bladder was fully distended with urine.
In general, upon viewing the body, it appeared that death
had been immediately produced by a real suffocation.”
It may be observed, if credit can be given to some loose reports,
which hitherto it has not been in our power to substantiate, that
after this man had been for some time suspended, means were employed
with a view to put an end to his sufferings.
From the preceding narrative it will be easily perceived, that our
object in applying the treatment here described was not to produce
re-animation, but merely to obtain a practical knowledge how far
Galvanism might be employed as an auxiliary to other means in attempts
to revive persons under similar circumstances.
In cases when suspended animation has been produced by natural causes,
it is found that the pulsations of the heart and arteries become
totally imperceptible; therefore, when it is to be restored, it is
necessary to re-establish the circulation throughout the whole system.
But this cannot be done without re-establishing also the muscular
powers which have been suspended, and to these the application of
Galvanism gives new energy.
I am far from wishing to raise any objections against the
administration of the other remedies which are already known, and
which have long been used. I would only recommend Galvanism as the
most powerful mean hitherto discovered of _assisting_ and increasing
the efficacy of every other stimulant.
Volatile alkali, as already observed, produced no effect whatever on
the body when applied alone; but, being used conjointly with
Galvanism, the power of the latter over the nervous and muscular
system was greatly increased: nay, it is possible that volatile
alkali, owing to its active powers alone, might convey the Galvanic
fluid to the brain with greater facility, by which means its action
would become much more powerful in cases of suspended animation. The
well known method of injecting atmospheric air ought not to be
neglected; but here, likewise, in order that the lungs may be prepared
for its reception, it would be proper previously to use Galvanism, to
excite the muscular action, and to assist the whole animal system to
resume its vital functions. Under this view, the experiments of which
I have just given an account, may be of great public utility.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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