Compliments of the Author. 
. . . LECTURE UPON . . . 
Hetallic 
Interstitial- 
Electrolysis. 
-BY- 
AUGUSTIN H. GOELET, M. D. 
[UBlivered In the Course of Clinical Instruction in 
GyntBcalogical Electro-Therapeutics at the 
West Side German Clinic, New York.] 
REPRINTED FRQM 
"THE TIMES AND REGISTER/' lecture upon metallic in- 
terstitial ELECTROLYSIS. 
AUGUSTIN H. GOELET, M. D. 
[Delivered in the Course of Clinical Instruction in Gynae- 
cological Electro-Therapeutics at the West Side 
German Clinic, New York.] 
IN 1891* my friend and colleague Dr. 
Gautier of Paris suggested a novel 
method of electro-chemical medication 
which he designated interstitial electro- 
lysis. It consisted in the application of 
a solution of iodide of potassium which 
was decomposed by the action of the cur- 
rent and either iodine or potassium was 
liberated according to the pole upon 
which it was employed. The purpose of 
this was to increase the antiseptic and 
germicidal power of the current at the 
poles. It is well understood that this 
effect is obtained only at the positive 
pole with the ordinary method of using 
the current, and that only when a 
strength of current is used which is 
rarely tolerated easily. 
Gautier instituted experiments which 
demonstrated the positive germicidal 
power of both poles when a solution of 
iodide of potassium is employed with a 
*A translation of Dr. Gautier's publication may 
be found in the Archives of Gynaecology etc., for 
Aug. 1891, page 439. 2 
current strength of only 25 m. He 
further demonstrated the fact that this 
action is not limited merely to the sur- 
face in contact with the electrodebut that 
it penetrates to some distance beneath 
the surface. That, in other words, the 
action is interstitial. 
He applied this method to the treatment 
of keloids,lupus, ulcerations,cysts, hydro- 
cele, varicocele, chancres, buboes, etc., 
and to urethritis and endometritis as 
well with marked success. In the female 
urethra he used the positive pole with 
25 m. and in the uterine canal the nega- 
tive pole with 50 m. In both instances 
he employed an applicator made of 
platinum, which was wrapped with ab- 
sorbent cotton and dipped into a solution 
of iodide of potassium, having a strength 
of one to ten parts of water. 
About the same time or possibly before, 
Prochownick published the details of 
of another method of enhancing the ger- 
micidal properties of the positive pole. 
He employed as an electrode a copper 
sound with that pole. He applied it first to 
the cervical canal in a case of gonorrheal 
infection, using a current strength of 80 
to 100 m. for ten minutes, and noticed 
that the gonococci disappeared and the 
discharge became serous after three ap- 
plications. 
To Gautier, however, is due the credit 3 
of developing and popularizing this 
method of application, which he desig- 
nates a form of interstitial electrolysis. 
A more comprehensive term is met- 
allic electrolysis;since the action depends; 
upon the electro-chemical decomposition 
of the metal employed as an electrode. 
You will understand of course that this 
action can take place only at the posi- 
tive pole, since it is here that the oxygen, 
chlorine and acids which act upon the 
metal, congregate, so to speak. 
Instead of a chemical decomposi- 
tion of the tissues in contact with the 
electrode, which occurs when a non-at- 
tackable metal, such as platinum or gold 
or carbon is employed, the metal is acted 
upon and the formation of an oxy-chlor- 
ide of copper is the result. That is, the 
decomposition liberates upon the surface 
of the electrode, and consequently upon 
the tissues in contact with it, this salt of 
copper; which has an apple-green color 
and is insoluble. As soon as formed this 
salt is driven into the tissues beneath 
the surface, by an electrical osmosis or 
cataphoresis, as one of the direct effects of 
the current. This was very clearly de- 
monstrated by Gautier, in his experiments 
upon the uteri of rabbits which had been 
submitted to the electrolysis of copper. 
The tissues for a considerable distance 
were stained an apple green color. He 4 
also demonstrated positively that these 
salts of copper exert no deleterious effect, 
but on the contrary he found them to be 
therapeutically valuable. 
One great advantage claimed for this 
method of application is that the usual 
caustic action upon the tissues, which oc- 
curs when non-attackable electrodes 
are employed, is avoided when attackable 
metals are employed, since the action 
takes place upon the metal instead of 
upon the tissues. 
Gautier seems to have limited his ob- 
servations to metallic copper, though any 
other oxidizable metal may be employed 
in the same manner, such for instance 
as zinc, silver, iron, lead, tin, etc. It 
will thus be perceived that this opens up 
an enormous field, and affords an opportu- 
nity for a greatly diversified application 
of electricity. 
This suggested to me the use of zinc, 
where the action of the oxy-chloride of 
this metal would be likely to prove bene- 
ficial, and my observations, which have 
now been extensive, extending over a 
period of a year, have satisfactorily de- 
monstrated the usefulness of this method 
of application. These I will enumerate 
further on. 
Let us consider, first, what are the ad- 
vantages of this method. of employing 
the salts of the different metals, over the 5 
ordinary method by means of crystals, 
fused pencils, solutions, etc. It is very 
generally understood, that when these 
agents are employed in the ordinary 
manner, the action is entirely superficial 
and consequently imperfect and unsatis- 
factory in the majority of cases. Also, 
it is not quite possible to localize the 
action satisfactorily, but it becomes dif- 
fused over a greater area of surface than 
is often desirable. The soluble nature 
of the agent provokes irritation, which is 
frequently prolonged for an undesirable 
period afterwards. 
The method under consideration, 
which we will term metallic electrolysis, 
possesses numerous advantages, which 
should commend it highly. Likewise 
some of the disagreeable features conse- 
quent upon the other method of applica- 
tion are avoided. In the first place it is 
possible to confine the action within 
desirable limits, the formation of the 
salt resulting from the decomposition of 
the current being confined to the area in 
contact with the electrode or metal, and 
as soon as formed the salts, both 
those which are soluble and those which 
are insoluble are driven into the tissues 
beneath, as the result of an electric 
osmosis or cataphoresis. By regulating 
the strength of the current, and the 
duration of the application or con- 6 
tact of the electrode, the extent of the 
action can be very nicely and accurately 
varied. 
This you have seen demonstrated re- 
peatedly here in this clinic, when the 
electrode in some cases is allowed to re- 
main in one position for five or ten 
minutes, and in other cases it has been 
kept moving over the surface. 
The action upon the metal occurs very 
quickly, and this reminds me to warn 
you that when copper or iron is employed 
the electrode will become adherent, and 
it is sometimes quite difficult to remove 
it when the application is being made to 
cavities. Gautier suggested that the 
poles be reversed for a few minuses after 
the application is completed, in order to 
facilitate the withdrawal of the electrode, 
the action of the negative pole having 
the effect of loosening it. I have found 
this to be seldom necessary,however,if the 
electrode be carefully rotated upon its 
axis before any attempt is made to with- 
draw it. 
Great improvements have been made 
in this method since its inauguration by 
Gautier, and its uses have been greatly 
extended. He recommended using a 
current strength of 30 to 80 m. and pro- 
longing the application to ten or twenty 
minutes. This has been found unneces- 
sary and undesirable in many instances; 7 
so that now a strength of 20 to 30 m. is 
rarely exceeded, and the duration has 
been limited to five or ten minutes, and 
even a shorter period is often more 
desirable. It is often better to keep 
the electrode in constant motion over 
the surface upon which it is desired 
to obtain the action. Much depends 
upon the surface to which it is applied 
and the condition with which you have 
to deal, as you have observed in the 
cases you have seen treated in this clinic. 
To enumerate some of the uses to 
which this method of electro chem- 
ical application with copper can be 
put, uterine hemorrhage, endome- 
tritis, urethritis, and ulcerating surfaces 
may be mentioned as having been sug- 
gested by Gautier. My friend, Prof. W. 
J. Morton, has very clearly demonstrated 
its usefulness in certain conditions where 
it had not been thought of before. For 
instance he has employed it quite satis- 
factorily in haemorrhoids, and ulcers of 
the rectum, using from 10 to 25 
m. for five or ten minutes. In hem- 
orrhoids, though applied to the surface, 
no irritation is provoked, and the tumor 
immediately shrivels up and gradually 
subsides. In some instances, the tumor 
has been punctured with copper needles 
and the current employed through 
them, liberating the oxy-chloride of cop- 8 
per within, with very encouraging 
results. He has also employed it with 
great satisfaction in the treatment of 
both atrophic and hypertrophic rhinitis, 
using io to 15 m., and keeping the elec- 
trode moving to avoid sticking. He 
has attained the most signal success 
with it in the treatment of trachoma. 
In this condition a strength of only 2 m. 
is used, and the electrode is kept moving 
over the surface for only a minute at 
each sitting. Some of the most obstinate 
and unpromising cases have been cured 
in this manner after five applications. 
I have employed cupric electrolysis 
extensively in the treatment of hemor- 
rhage from the uterus and in endome- 
tritis, and have been very well satisfied 
with the results. In uncomplicated 
uterine hemorrhage it has no equal, and 
in endometritis, associated with a softened 
and relaxed condition of the uterine body, 
the results have been excellent. It is 
quite important, however, to be certain 
that the cervical canal is patulous for 
subsequent drainage, and this part of 
the canal should be excluded from the 
action when possible, to avoid uterine 
colic, which I have found to result from 
the treatment when these precautions 
are not observed. 
I am in the habit of employing from 
20 to 30 m., for five or ten minutes, for the control of uterine hemorrhage, and, as 
you have often observed here in the 
clinic, it will control the bleeding when 
every other means have failed. The re- 
sult is both prompt and permament. 
In endometritis I employ from io to 15 
or 20 m., for a period of five minutes only, 
and have found this quite sufficient in 
the majority of cases where it is in- 
dicated. 
I have used cupric electrolysis also 
with great satisfaction in fissure of the 
anus, using from 10 to 15 m. for three to 
five minutes only, Healing has been ac- 
complished in this manner after only two 
or at most three applications, without 
stretching the sphincter. In proctitis there 
is nothing equal to it. Here a strength of 
from 10 to 20 m. is used, and the electrode 
is kept in motion,so the whole surface may 
be submitted to the action. In ulcer of 
the rectum this method of treatment like- 
wise yields excellent results. Here the 
surface may be exposed with a speculum 
and the action localized where desired. 
I have also applied cupric electrolysis 
to the cavity of vulvo-vaginal cysts, after 
evacuation, and have thus promptly ar- 
rested the secretion and effected rapid 
healing. It may be utilized in the same 
manner in the treatment of other cysts also. 
The electrodes are made in various 
shapes and sizes, from an ordinary rod 
9 10 
of copper to a bulb the size of the thumb. 
For uterine applications a piece of pure 
copper wire of suitable size, with the end 
rounded and smoothed off, may be used; 
and this may be insulated by a coating 
of shellac or a piece of catheter. When 
a copper electrode has been once used it 
must be thoroughly cleansed and rubbed 
off with emery cloth, so as to have always 
a bright clean surface, before it is again 
employed. 
For the past year I have been making 
use of zinc in the same manner as copper, 
and have found that when decomposed 
by the current it possesses certain quali- 
ties essentially different, which entitles 
it to rank as equally valuable. The 
electro-chemical decomposition of a zinc 
electrode by the positive pole results in 
the formation of an oxy-chloride of zinc, 
which cannot be attained in any other 
way. With a strong current it is cap- 
able of extensive destructive action. It 
was employed by Groh, a good many 
years ago, for the destruction of cancer- 
ous growths, by means of needles insert- 
ed into the structure. I have not how- 
ever employed it for this purpose. By 
moderating the strength of the current, 
and limiting the duration of the applica- 
tion, this destructive action is avoided. 
In fact the result is then only a softening 
of the tissues, and sloughing does not 11 
occur. This action I have applied to the 
softening of fibroid and keloid growths, 
in cases where the negative pole would 
be contra-indicated, and also in condi- 
tions of sclerosis, with very gratifying 
results. Here it is employed by means 
of puncture, with needles made of pure 
zinc, 5 to io m. being used for five or 
ten minutes. Some of the results have 
been truly remarkable, but my observa- 
tions are not completed, and for this rea- 
son I have published nothing upon the 
subject. 
I consider that the greatest value of 
zinc electrolysis is in the treatment of 
endometritis, associated with a condition 
of sclerosis of the uterus, and in granula- 
tion or so called ulceration of the cervix. 
You have had abundant opportunity of 
observing how promptly it acts in cur- 
ing these conditions. I know of 
no other method of dealing with this 
condition of granular degeneration of the 
cervix,which will give anything like the 
prompt result that this will. 
You will recall the case which you 
saw treated at the last clinic, where a 
complete healing of the surface had been 
effected by six applications. 
You are already familiar with my 
method of application of zinc electrolysis 
in the different conditions where I em- 
ploy it, 'and I need not repeat here. 12 
But I will ask you to pay particular at- 
tention to the details, for very much de- 
pends upon its proper application. I 
would advise you to take close notes of 
the strength, duration and frequency of 
the application, etc., in the different con- 
ditions, as you see them treated, for 
your future guidance in your 'practice. 
In this manner only will it be possible 
for you to get the same results which 
you have witnessed here.