A study on the effect of electrical stimulation on living tissue: potential before, during and after galvanization...

Two platinum needles (therapeutic electrode) were inserted into the rabbit's auricle, and with the medial angle of the eye as the datum point of measurement, the electric potential was measured before, during, and after the galvanization with micro-current (20 microA). With the insertion of the needles alone, the potential between the needles and the datum point showed -0.10 to +0.28 V, which gradually decreased thereafter to reach stable levels ranging from -0.02 to +0.17 V in 3 or 4 days. When galvanized, the potential stood +0.75 to +1.30 V between the anode and the datum point, and -0.37 to -0.50 V between the cathode and the datum point. Then, 3 days later, the voltage rose +1.40 to +1.65V between the anode and the datum point, and went down -0.60 to -0.85 V between the cathode and the datum point. When the micro-current was switched off, the potential immediately decreased, and slight potential endured after 24 hrs. These findings revealed that the insertion of needles generated electric potentials, that galvanization charged the tissue, and that cessation of stimulation led to storage and discharge of electricity.