The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-10-29
WATCHING ONES BLOOD.
An Ingenious Method by which the Giro
lation of the Blood Can be Observed.

An Ingenious Method by Which the Circu-
lation of the Blood Can be Observed.
nineteenth Century.j
An ingenious method has JUST been
vised for actually observing the circula
OF the blood in man. Hitherto, except
the case OF Purkinie's experiment, in which
an observer can see the circulation in his
own retinal blood vessels, the evidence
of circulation in the human sub
ject has been entirely circumstantial de-
rived from the facts of structure of circula
tory organs. and from the manner In which
the blood flows from severed arteries and
veins. But by means of q simple arrange
ment, invented by Dr.. G. Huter. OF Griefs-
valid, it is now possible to witness the actual
flow OF blood in the blood vessel of another
person, and that with sufficient accuracy to
detect any abnormslity in the circulation,
and so to obtain invaluable assistance In the
diagnosis of disease.
In Dr. Huter's arrangement the patients
head is fixed in a frame something like that
used by photographers, on which is a con-
trivance for supporting microscope and
lamp The lower lip is drawn out and fixed.
by means OF clips, on the stage of the micro
scope, with its inner surface upward; a
strong light is thrown on this surface by a
condenser, and the microscope, provided
with a low power objt Give is brought to
bear unpon the delicate network of vessels,
which can be seen In the position indicated,
even with the naked eye.
The appearance presented is. at first. as
if the vessels were filled with red injection.
But by focusing q small superficial vessel,
the observer il soon able to distinguish the
N Dvement of the blood rendered
evident by the Specialize red corpuscles,
the flow OF which, in the cork screw like
capillaries, is said by Huter to be especially
beautiful. The colorless corpuscles are dis.
tinguishable as minute white specks, occur
ring now and again in the course of the red
stream. Besides the phenomena of the cir
culation. the cells OF pavement epithelium
lining the lip, and their nuclei, can readily
be distinguished, as well as the apertures OF
the mucous glands.
Besides the normal circulation, various
pathological conditions can be observed. By
a pressure quite insufficient to cause pain,
the phenomena of blood stagnatlou-the
stoppage of the flow. and the gradual change
in color of the blood from bright red to pur-
ple-are seen. A momentary stoppage is
also produced by touching the lip with Ice,
a more enduring stasis by certain reagents,
such as glycerine or ammonia.
Huter states that he has already proved
the great use of "cheiloangioscopy," as he
calls the new process, in his medical prac.
the diameter of the vessels, the crowding to.
gether of the red corpuscles. the increase in
number of the white corpuscles, occurring
in certain diseases, all these may be observed
readily and exactly. 1t will, indeed. be at
once OBVIOUS how great is the importance OF
a method like this, by which an actual OBJ
servation of the circulation Is made possible
especially when it is borne in mind that
even the rough and ready method Of feeling
the pulse affords valuable indication of the
state of health.