The silver state. [volume] (Unionville, Nev.) 1870-1903, 1881-10-27
THE GASTROSCOPE.
An Interesting Account, Which May BE
True.

True.
Physicians, says the Baltimore Sun,
have long been in possession OF instru-
ments-commonly called small mirrors
designed to as-..s. them in getting
look at the interior part OF the human
body, such as the back part OF the
mouth, the throat, the inner ear, etc.
The dentist 5 mirror, perched on a fiex-
ible ieint. is familiar to all. But it has
long been desirable to penetrate to the
stomach Of patients afflicted with gas
trio troubles, and see by actual inspec-
ton What is its condition. Thus may
often be gained during the lifetime OF
man the valuable information obtained
at present by post mortem examination
for the mortuary report, and what has
hitherto served too late to crafty the
curiosity of the doctor, may 90 to saw
ing the life OF the patient. In word,
a means of diagnosing the condition OF
the stomach by sight rather than guess
ing has long been wanted, aud Herr
Letter, of Vienna has patented an IN
strument destined to supply the want.
The gastroscope is an electric lantern
and mirror combined. which, fixed upon
the end of a flexible tube, is inserted
bodily into the stomach, being passed
down the throat OF the patient with its
equipment of wires for producing the
electric light. The lantern is small
hollow glass globe containing the pla-
tinum foil, which, when heated by
current OF electricity, is to produce the
illumination OF the interior OF the stom-
ach. II is made double, so that no
heat can he communicated to the stom-
ach, and to make it the more sure the
space between the inner and the outer
globe is kept supplied with current OF
cold water by means OF two small India
rubber tubes inclosed in the main tube.
The tissues OF the human body are
comparatively translucent, and when
the current of electricity is turned on
the inter,al organiz ,tion, 1T Is said,
becomes distinctly visible. The expert
ment OF illuminating the interior Of
fish has often been performed by anna
teur electricians, the straight lines and
simple structure of the fish facilitating
the introduction OF the apparatus.
What is really novel, therefore, in Herr
Letters apparatus remains to be de-
scribed 1t is the addition he makes OF
a series of mirrors aud lenses, by means
of which the light coming from the H.
Illuminated stomach is sent back up the
tube to which the lantern is attached,
and, reaching the eye-piece outside the
patients body, is viewed by the sur
geon. But a small portion of the
stomach is thus brought into view, it is
true, but it is enough from which to
make diagnosis If broader field is
desired to be covered, it is done by re-
volving the lantern. BY the agency OF
little notched wheel, with teeth play
ing into ring in the interior OF the
tube, the whole lower part OF the APP
paratus may be revolved without the
necessity of withdrawing it for new
adjustment. Though but little known
as yet, this instrument has been put, it
is said, to the test of practical use, and
we can scarcely doubt that it will soon
come to form recognized part of the
stock OF instruments IN the hands OF
every surgeon. Happily for Herr Lett
er's invention, its introduction into
general use has been rendered possible
by NJ. Faure's secondary battery for
storing electricity. Without the latter
the gastroscope could have but limited
use, since to obtain the high degree of
light required very strong galvanic
battery would have been needed. and
such battery few physicians possess
or would care TO be troubled with. AS