The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1884-08-29
A New Surgical Lamp.

One of the newest adaptations OF
electric Examinations is in the shape of
very small lantern, which can be
introduced into the mouth, throat, and
in some cases, the stomach, for the
purpose of aiding surgical and dental
operations which cannot be carried on
without light and for which it has been
extremely difficult heretofore to obtain
light by mirrors or other means. Ex-
periments have been making for some
years to perfect apparatus of this kind.
Since 1881 f. L. Star, an expert in
electrical science, has been working
ut intervals upon minute electrical
lamps, and at last succeeded in getting
highly satisfactory results. Patents
have been obtained. The instrument
has been critically examined by dentists
and surgeons and has already been
used in practice.
The lamp primarily consists of
delicate glass bulb, from which the air
has been withdrawn and as nearly a
perfect vacuum created as possible.
The bulb varies in shape, being
spheroidal, fiat and compass-shaped,
and also cylindrical, with a conical
termination. Through the thin walls
of the lantern run the conducting wires,
connected by a carbon arc, on which
the electricity centres, and which thus
becomes the place of light. The glass
lantern is very small, the cylindrical
shaped being scarcely half an inch in
length, and with q diameter not nearly
SO great as that of an ordinary lead
pencil. The compass-shaped lamp is
about one-quarter of an inch thick, and
has diameter of an inch, while the
spheroidal seems scarcely larger than
q good sized pea. The lamp is at
tached to n handle. from seven to nine
inches long. and about half an inch
thick, through which run the wires con-
Meeting with the battery. The handle
and the lamp can be separated, and
thus but one handle is necessary for
use with the different forms of the
lamps. The intensity of the power.
and hence the brilliancy of the arc of
light, can be regulated by moving
along the handle ring which connects
with the wires. The handle has several
joints and its positions can be arranged
in almost any way SO rs to adapt it to
the shape of tho cavity which it is pro-
posed to illuminate. Mirrors can also
be fastened to the lamp and light re-
fected to places where the lamp can
not be introduced. To prevent the
too great diffusion of light and the
radiation of heat, the lamp may be
partially covered with hard rubber
or gutta-percha case.
When the lamp is placed in the mouth
of patient every portion OF the throat,
even to the lowest parts, and every re-
cess of the upper places can be plainly
seen. This will greatly facilitate the
work of surgery and dentistry, and en-
able an operator to conceive q much
more thorough diagnosis of case than
the use of any other means previously
known. Placed behind the teeth, the
intense lightrenders not only the teeth,
but even the gum above; highly tran
sparent. III the teeth are good and I'M
decayed, no.lines will be visible-but
the presenceof filling or of the mere
beginning of decay may at once be seen.
When the lamp is placed within the
mouth and the lips are closed, the entire
front structure of the mouth is brought
to view. The bone and tooth forma-
tons are easily discoverable, and even
the interior of the nasal passages. In
the same way the instrument is of
great value in the treatment of obstetri-
cal disease, and in studies of the
stomach. No unpleasant sensations
are experienced by patients, even in
cases of protracted use, no other effect
being noticeable than that which fol-
lows the drinking of a hot cup of coffee.
The difficulties in bringing this appli-
cation of the electric light to practical
use were due principally to the fact
that none of the electrical manufacture
ing companies in America make the
right kind of a lamp, Mr.. Starr tried
them all, and not getting what he
wanted in the very best shape, was
compelled to go to Europe. More than
q score of different LAMPS. carbons and