an apparatus for the treatment of pathogens within a body comprising at least a pair of conductive electrodes adapted to conductively engage physically separated points on the body ; and a signal generation device comprising signal - generating means for generating an oscillatory signal of a selected frequency which can range between a first frequency level and a second frequency level of greater than 1 . 0 mhz ; means for causing said signal - generating means to step in frequency from said first frequency level to said second frequency level at predetermined frequency steps for predetermined intervals ; and power transfer means , and preferably a power amplifier , responsive to said signal - generating means for supplying a voltage to said electrodes which voltage oscillates at said selected frequency . the output signal from the apparatus has a frequency range from 0 . 01 mhz to 660 mhz , and a preferred frequency range of 1 . 0 mhz and 5 . 4 mhz , has been found to provide greater flexibility in the treatment of pathogens .