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All of the established methods of electrotherapy are based on-at least-one of the following three scientifically and clinically confirmed working principles: electro-analgesia, muscle stimulation and tissue heating. The well defined indications for the different electrotherapeutical currents are inferred from these three principles, which are briefly described-together with their principal indications-in this contribution. At present some "complementary" forms of electrotherapy are being increasingly advocated. They are not clinically confirmed and, moreover, they lack a rationally founded working principle. These methods, so called "electromythology", are based on hypothetical and often clearly erroneous assumptions. Their therapeutic objective seems to be an unspecific stimulation of the cell metabolism, and their diagnostic goal is equally unspecific and universal. Frequently, these applications surmise an universal healing power inherent in the electric current as such. Because "electromythology" currently invades veterinary medicine, this contribution should help the reader to distinguish between realistic and excessive expectations.

In 103 patients we performed sonographic determination of the volume (V) of the urinary bladder, being the product of the transversal (q), ventrodorsal (t) and craniocaudal (h) diameters, and compared this with the excreted volumes of urine. Depending on the shape and filling of the bladder we found different correlations from which it was possible to calculate three correction factors (F) for the formula V = (q x t x h) x F:F = 1.25 for volumes less than 150 ml; F = 0.9 for spherically sagittal section and volumes greater than 150 ml. The factor 0.5 given in most textbooks on sonography will in the majority of cases result in underestimating the urinary bladder volumes. Accurate sonocystometry taking the shape and filling into consideration is imperative for performing follow-up and treatment monitoring in neurogenic disturbances of voiding of the bladder or occlusive disturbances of flow in the region of the urethra.

The effect of a 40 minute thermoneutral bath on diuretic function and blood volume in a total of 27 pregnant women (13 healthy and 14 pregnant women with edema rsep. EPH-gestosis) was investigated. In both groups water immersion led to a significant increase of urine flow, natriuresis, kaliuresis, osmotic and free water clearance. Plasma volume increased about 8-9%. The patients with gestosis showed a higher creatinine clearance. The same group also showed a higher osmotic clearance and relatively more sodium excretion. Regarding the flushing effect of bath, two mechanism of water immersion that originated in hydrostatic pressure have to be discussed-activation of renal functions and mobilisation of interstitial fluid.

The effects of an aqueous solution of CO2 applied to a small skin site were investigated by means of a laser Doppler flowmeter. The circulatory response to CO2 was an increased blood flow, reaching a maximum level within approximately 2-3 minutes. In addition there was a marked stimulation of rhythmical vasomotion, especially an increase in amplitudes. The effects, strongly dependent on dose and temperature, ceased rapidly when the CO2 sample was withdrawn.

The haemorheological status of plasma-(P eta) and blood-viscosity (B eta), erythrocyte aggregation (EA) and erythrocyte filterability (EF), blood sedimentation rate (BSG), haematocrit (HCT), plasma fibrinogen and alpha-2-macroglobulin was investigated on 46 patients suffering from chronic polyarthritis (c.P.). The results were compared with those from a control group of 20 healthy subjects with a similar distribution of age and sex. All the haemorheological data from the c.P. patients showed a significantly decreased blood fluidity (p less than or equal to 0.001 or p less than or equal to 0.01). These differences were highly significant for the female patients (n = 29), but for the men (n = 17) only at slight shift was seen. The comparison of clinically acute and non-acute disease in the patients showed a significant worsening of P eta, B eta and EF during the acute state, while the EA remained unaffected. The limited blood fluidity is seen as a result of the basic illness. At present, the pathophysiological meaning of these findings is still hypothetical: further investigations are required.