noun

• 1Electricity produced by chemical action.

  ‘He attended lectures on many different topics but he was particularly interested in those on electricity, galvanism and mechanics.’

  More example sentences

  • ‘Whether that sense took the form, scientifically, of a fascination with galvanism and electromagnetic storms, or of an interest in the role of the ‘animalcules’ and ‘infusoria,’ it clearly foreshadows twenty-first century science.’
  • ‘On one level, Humboldt's physiological work was dedicated to the investigation of the powers of living matter, and especially the phenomenon of galvanism.’
  • ‘He was the first to establish an explicit connection between galvanism and chemical reactivity.’
  • ‘This electrical potential is called galvanism and is the reason why we put zincs on boats.’

• 2The therapeutic use of electric currents.

  ‘The friends were deeply engaged with the scientific ideas of their day, including those of galvanism, or creating life through electric impulses.’

  More example sentences

  • ‘The fact that contractions occurred in dead and living preparations suggested galvanism had application in the revival of persons asphyxiated or drowned.’
  • ‘Galvanism produced no effect on the paralysed muscles.’