Abstract: The invention relates to methods and apparatus for prevention of cataphoresis effects in the case of electric discharge lamps operated on direct current, which serve the purpose of illuminating the originals which are to be scanned in picture transmission apparatus. Cataphoresis results in the anode-side darkening of such lamps after a certain period of operation and thereby in non-uniform illumination of the original. The effect of the invention is that the lamp is operated evenly in both polarities throughout its service life, that a polarity reversal is performed before non-uniform illumination is caused by cataphoresis and that a polarity reversal never occurs during a picture transmission.