THE CAUSE OF DEATH FROM ELECTRIC SHOCK.

Abstract

The constantly widening employment of electricity, the common use of powerful currents under conditions and in places where some slight derangement may give rise to serious accidents, and the too frequent occurrence of these, make the subject of their cause and manner of occurrence one of unusual interest. It is not necessary to speak of the dangers from fire, which are perhaps really the most serious ones we have to guard against, as the ones most likely to be encountered; the less frequent, but still sufficiently common, perils to human life directly from the current fall more properly into the scope of medical investigation. It is an important question just how death occurs from a powerful electric shock, whether it is instantaneous or not and just what organs and centers are particularly involved. By knowing this we can best estimate the value of any therapeutic resources in these cases and