Practical treatise on electricity in gynaecology / by Egbert H. Grandin and Josephus H. Gunning.

  • Grandin, Egbert H. (Egbert Henry), 1855-
Date:
1891
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Practical treatise on electricity in gynaecology / by Egbert H. Grandin and Josephus H. Gunning. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University Libraries/Information Services, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University.

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    The battery devised by Dawson, of New York, is also to be commended, especially for its simplicity. It con- sists of only two cells. In each cell are two zinc (posi- tive) plates and one platinum (negative) plate. These plates measure four and a half by six inches. The plati- num plate is placed between the zincs, these latter being only one-half inch apart. On each side of the plati- num, plate are hard-rubber agitators, which when set in motion prevent polarization. The rapidity with which these agitators are moved causes a greater or less inten- sity of heat. The zincs are perforated, so that when the plates are agitated the fluid between them, which has become exhausted, passes out through the perforations and new fluid enters. The electrodes essential for cautery purposes do not require special consideration. They consist of handles to which is attached the platinum. This platinum is arranged as a loop, as a knife, as a dome, or as a slender probe for insertion into sinuses. The galvano-cautery in gynsecology will be considered here purely as applicable to malignant disease of the uterus. It is intended as a substitute for the knife, and its claim to consideration must rest on an analysis of the ultimate results obtainable from it and from the alterna- tive methods by the knife—high amputation and vaginal hysterectomy. Although the time is not ripe for dog- matic statement, we may still draw an approximate con- clusion from a study of the statistical data furnished by those who favor one or another method over the other. In the class of cases we propose to consider, the malig- nant growth is limited, as far as may be clinically deter- mined, to the uterus. It is in these instances alone that we may be sanguine of ultimate cure by any method of treatment. Before stating the ultimate results obtain- able from resort to the galvano-cautery, we will insert, for purposes of comparison, the latest data yielded by vaginal hysterectomy and the high amputation. The statistics which we offer are purposely limited to recent