The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-01-05

Physicians have long been in posses
sion of truments-commonly 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, inner ear, etc.
The dentists mirror perihelion, 1exi-
bic Joint. is familiar to all. But it has
long been desirable to penetrate to the
stomach of patient afflicted with gastric
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
present by post mortem examination for
the mortuary report, and what has hith-
erto served too late to crafty the Curl
osity of the doctor may go to saving the
life of his patient-in word, 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 designed to supply
the want. The gastroscope, says an ex-
change, is an electric lantern and mir
ror combined, which, fixed upon the end
of feeble 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 coil
which, when heated by current of
electricity, is to produce the illumina-
ton 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 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 internal Or
ganization, it is said becomes distinctly
visible. The experiment of Illuminating
the interior of the fish has often been
performed by amateur electricians, the
strait lines and simple structure of the
fish facilitating the introduction of the
apparatus. What is really novel, there
fore, in Herr Letters apparatus remains
to be described.
1t is the addition he makes of a series
of mirrors and lenses by means of which
Tue liSHt COuluS lloiu tuC illumiuotco
stomach is sent back up the tube to
which the lantern is attached, and reach
ing the eye-piece outside the patients
body, is viewed by the surgeon. But q
small portion of the surface of the stom-
ach 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 re-
volving 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 Withdrawing it for new adjustment.
Though but little known as yet, this
instrument has been put, as 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 in
struments in the hand of every surgeon.
Happily for Herr Letters invention, its
introduction into general use has been
rendered possible by NJ. Faur's second
airy 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 needed
and such a battery few physicians pos
sess or would care to be troubled with
As it is, one large Faur's cell, which the
physician can readily carry with Kim in
his buggy, is all that is needed for the
intro-gastric diagnosis.