galvanism

noun

1. (uncountable, usually)The chemical generation of electricity.
2. (uncountable, usually)The (therapeutic) use of electricity directly applied to the body.

   “Perhaps a corpse would be re-animated; galvanism had given token of such things: perhaps the component parts of a creature might be manufactured, brought together, and endued with vital warmth.”

   “The sudden application of galvanism to bands of savages may fairly rank as a new sensation, and they, thinking the wire held this strange and mysterious power, wisely left it alone.”

   “Erb and Remak in Germany, Beard and Rockwell and Althans in America, have used it with advantage, in the forms of galvanisms and faradisms, in the treatment of joint troubles.”

3. (form-of, rare, uncountable)Rare form of galvanism.

   “I connected, by means of one chain of moisture, the heads of two or three calves, and observed that by this combination the force of the Galvanism was exerted with more energy: a frog, which was not affected by touching one head, experienced violent contractions when applied to a series of several heads connected together.”

   “Professor [Christoph Heinrich] Pfaff considered that the agent in Galvanism is not electricity, but one sui generis; that the metals are the conductors: and that this agent is either associated or identical with the principle of life.”

   “The places which tin and lead should have occupied in the scale of capability of being heated by Galvanism, could not be ascertained in these experiments, because they melted before they acquired a red heat.”

   “Even in cases of suspended animation, Galvanism has been found a re-animating and wonderful power.”

   “In short, Galvanism may be employed to act mechanically, chemically, or medicinally, without inconvenience or annoyance to the patient.”