Polarization Of The Circuit

Categories: FIRST PRINCIPLES.
Sources: A Newly Discovered System Of Electrical Medication

I have said, in effect, a little above, that, while the current is

running, the entire circuit is one complete magnet, which extends

from the inner or positive sides of the zinc plates, where the current

commences, all the way around to the outer or negative aides of the zinc

plates, to which it returns. Viewed in this light its negative pole or

end is the battery fluid, next to the positive surfaces of the zinc

plates and its positive pole or end is the brass clamp which, holding

the metals together, is in contact with the outer and negative surfaces

of the zincs.



But, for practical purposes, it is sufficiently exact to consider the

magnetic circuit as extending only from the positive post around

through the conducting cords, the electrodes and the person of the

patient to the negative post. The negative end or pole of this magnet

is the wire end of the cord placed in the positive post, and the

positive end or pole is the wire end of the cord placed in the negative

post.



But any magnet may be viewed either as one whole, or be conceived as

composed of a succession of shorter magnets placed end to end. If we

view it as one entire magnet, we call the end in which the magnetic

essence is in greatest quantity the positive end, and the end where it

is in least quantity the negative end. But if we imagine the one

whole magnet as being divided up into several sections, then we conceive

of each section as a distinct magnet, having its own positive and

negative poles. And, all the way through, these sectional magnets will

be arranged with the positive pole of the one joined to the negative

pole of the next in advance of it.



It is just so in respect to the magnetic circuit of a moving current.

The whole circuit, as before remarked, is in reality one long magnet.

But in applying the terms positive and negative in our practice we

often view the whole circuit--the one long magnet--as composed of a

series of shorter ones, arranged with positive and negative ends in

contact; and all the way the current in each section is supposed to be

running from the positive pole of the magnet behind to the negative pole

of the magnet before.



We consider the circuit, from the positive post around to the negative

post, as composed of three magnets, as follows: Magnet No. 1, which

extends from the positive post, along the cord and electrode, to the

body of the patient, where the positive electrode is placed. The

negative pole of this magnet is the wire end of the cord placed in

the positive post, and its positive pole in the positive electrode

placed upon the person of the patient. No. 2, which is composed of the

parts of the patient traversed by the current between the two

electrodes. Its negative end or pole is the part in contact with the

positive pole of magnet No. 1, and its positive pole is the part in

contact with the negative pole of magnet No. 3. No. 3 extends from the

positive pole of No. 2, through the electrode and along the cord, to the

negative post. Its negative pole is the negative electrode in contact

with the positive end or pole of magnet No. 2, and its positive pole is

the wire end of the cord in the negative post.



Since in every magnet the magnetic fluid is supposed to be regularly

graduated from minimum quantity in the negative end to maximum quantity

in the positive end, this is true in respect to the one magnet,

consisting of the whole magnetic circuit, as well as in respect to each

one of the sectional series. Consequently there must be the same

quantity of magnetism in each negative pole of the sections as there is

in the positive pole of the section immediately behind it. And the

magnetism of the whole circuit between the positive and the negative

posts is in its least volume next to the positive post, and in

fullest volume next to the negative post. If we consider the circuit

as divided into two equal halves, the negative half is plainly that

which joins the positive post, and the positive half that which

joins the negative post.



From this it will be seen that what in practice are designated as the

positive and negative posts, and also positive and negative poles or

electrodes are not such in relation to each other, but the

reverse of it; that is to say, the positive post is not positive

in relation to the negative post, but is negative to it; and the

positive electrode or pole is not positive in relation to the

negative electrode, but negative to it. The positive post, like

the positive electrode, is called positive, because it is the

positive end of the sectional magnet next behind it. And the

negative post, as also the negative electrode, is called negative

because it is the negative end of the sectional magnet next in advance

of it.