Cheyenne transporter. [volume] (Darlington, Indian Terr.) 1879-1886, 1881-11-25
THE GASTR0SCOPE.
Apparatus by Which the Interior of
Mans Stomach can be Viewed.

rors-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 pereheli0n, u hexi-
bic joint, is fam liar TO all. But it has
long been desirable to penetrate to the
stomach of o patient afflicted with
gastric troubles and see by actual in
spection what is its condition. Thus
may often be gained during the life
time of man the valuable informa-
ton obtained at present by post-mor-
tenn examination for the mortuary
report, and what has hitherto served
too late to crafty the curiosity OF the
doctor may go to saving the life Of his
patient-in word, means of dag
nosing the condition of the stomach bv
sight rather than guessing, has long
been wanted, and Herr Letter, of
Vienna, has patented an instrument
designed to supply the want. The
gastroscope, says an exchange, is an
electric lantern and mirror combined.
which fixed upon the end of a flexible
tube, is inserted bodily into the stom-
ach, 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 coil 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 com
municated to the stomach, and to make
it the more sure, the space between
the inner and outer globe is kept sup
piled with a current of cold water by
means of two small India rubber tubes
inclosed in the rGain tube. The tissues
Of the human body are comparatively
translucent, and when the current of
electricity is turned on the internal or
ganiZation, it is said, becomes distinctly
visible. The experiment of illumnat-
ing 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. inIIerr Letters apparatus re-
mains to be described. 1t is the addition
he makes of series of mirrors and lem
ses by means Of which the light coming
from the illuminated stomach is sent
back up the tube to which the lantern
is attached, and. reaching the eye piece
ontside the patients body, is viewed
by the surgeon. But a small portion
of the surface of the stomach is thus
brought into our view, it is true, but
it is enough from which to make a
diagnosis. If broader field is desired
to be covered it is done by revolving
the lantern. BY the agency of 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
withdrawing 1t 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 thai it will soon come
to form a recognized part of the stock
of instruments in the hands of every
surgeon. Happily for Herr Letters
invention, its introduction into general
use has been rendered possible by M.
Faur's secondary battery for storing
electricity. Without the latter the
gastroscope could have but a 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
it's, one large Faur's cell, which the
physician can readily carry with him
in his buggy, is all that is needed for
intro-gastric diagnosis.