Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-10-07
The GastrOscODe,

Physicians have long been in posses
sion of instruments--commo small
mirrOrs-designed to assist them in get
ting look at the interior parts of the
human body, such as the back part of
the mouth, the throat, the inner ear, etc.
The dentists mirror percbed on a flexible
joint is familiar to all. But it has long
been desirable to penetrate to the
stomach of a patient afflicted with gas
trio troubles and see by actual inspection
what is its condition. Thus may often
be gained during the lifetime of man
the valuable information obtained at pre-
sent by pOst-mOrtem examination for the
mOrtuary report and what has hitherto
served too late to crafty the curiosity of
the doctor may 60 to saving the life of
his patient In a word, a means of
diagnosing the condition Of the stomach
by sight rather than guessing has long
been wanted. and Herr Letter, of Vienna.
has patented an instrument destined
to supply the want The gas
trOscope is an electric lantern and
mirror combined, which, fixed upon tie
end of 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 platinum foil which, when
heated by a current of electricity, is to
produce the illumination of the interior
of the stomach 1t is made double so
that no heat can be communicated to the
stomach, and to make it the more sure,
the space between the inner and 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 COM
paratively translucent, and when the
current of electricity is turned on, the in
ternal organization, it is said, becomes
distinctly visible. The experiment of
Illuminating the interior of fish has often
been performed by amateur 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 re-
mains to be described. 1t is the addi
ton he makes of a series of mirrors and
lenses by means of which the light com
ing from the Illuminated stomach is sent
back up the tube to which the lantern is
attached and, reaching the eye piece out
side the patients body, is viewed by the
surgeon. But small portion of the sur
face of the stomach is thus brought into
our 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
revolving the lantern. By the agency of
a little nOtched wheel, with teeth playing
into ring in the interior of the tube, the
whole lower part of the apparatus may be
revolved without the necessity of with
drawing it for new adjustment
Though but little known as yet. this in
strument has been put, it is said, to the
test of practical use, and we can scarcely
doubt that it will soon come to form a
recognized part of the stock of instru-
ments in the hands of every surgeon
Happily for Herr Letters invention its
introduction into general use has been
rendered possible by M. Faure's seconda-
nv battery for storing electricity. With
out the latter the gastrOscope could have
but limited use, since to obtain the high
degree of light required a very strong
galvanic battery would have been need
ed, and such battery few physicians
possess or would care to be troubled
with. AS it is, one large Faure's cell,
which the physician can readily carry
with him in his buggy, is all that is need
ed for intro gastric diagnosis