. The medical and surgical uses of electricity. . water in the jar is decomposed, oxygen andhydrogen respectively being deposited on the different plates of lead. Inthis way a so-called polarized current results, and on connecting the con-ductors with the upright posts through which the cell has been charged,a current of electricity is obtained sufficient to heat platinum to incandes-cence. The durability and efficiency of a storage battery depend upon thecare which it receives, and it can only be recommended where one is doingconstant work in galvano-cautery. He who uses the cautery only at i
. The medical and surgical uses of electricity. . water in the jar is decomposed, oxygen andhydrogen respectively being deposited on the different plates of lead. Inthis way a so-called polarized current results, and on connecting the con-ductors with the upright posts through which the cell has been charged,a current of electricity is obtained sufficient to heat platinum to incandes-cence. The durability and efficiency of a storage battery depend upon thecare which it receives, and it can only be recommended where one is doingconstant work in galvano-cautery. He who uses the cautery only at inter-vals will do better to depend upon the ordinary plunge galvano-cauteryapparatus. GALVANO-CAUTERY. 549 Care of Galvano-Caiitery Batteries.—In order to attain the maximumof power from galvano-cautery batteries, and to keep them in good work-ing order, much more care is necessary than in the case of ordinary bat-teries for galvanization. The reasons for this are twofold: I. The chemic action is very vigorous because the solutions are strong. Fig. 183.—Storage Battery. and the circuit is metallic throughout. In ordinary external galvaniza-tion or in electrolysis the resistance of the body interposed in the circuitis so great that only a small quantity of electricity can be evolved (seechapter on Ohms Law) ; hence the zinc is not so rapidly consumed. 2. The galvano-cautery batteries^—especially the portable varieties—■have comparatively little reserve power. If the solution becomes old orthe plates become corroded badly, the heat generated may be too feeble forimportant operations. It is therefore necessary frequently to renew thesolution entirely, and not in part, as is so often done with ordinary galvanicbatteries. With the portable zinc-carbon batteries it is a great advantagethoroughly to soak the carbons in tepid water after each operation. 550 ELECTRO-SURGERY. A practical point of much importance is that when the zinc plates be-come much worn, and the distance b
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