The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-08-02
A NEW SURGICAL LAMP.
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 One of the newest adaptations of slec- uic uluminations Is in the shape oi a very small lantern. which can he intre- duced into tho mouth. throat. and ia some cases, the stomach, icS the purpose ef aiding surgical and dental operations which cannot be carried cn without ligh, and tor which st has been extremely diifi. cult hesetofore Co cbsasn hght hy mirrors CT other means. Experiments have heen making tor some yeArs to perfect appar- ssus of this kind. Since 1881 E. T. Starr. an expert in electrical science. has been working as insessals upea minute cleo trscal lamps. and al lass has succeeded sa getting highly satisfactory results. Patents have been obtained. The in. ssrumens has been critically examined by dentisfs and susgeoas and has already been used 10 practice.
 The lamp primarily consists cf dell- cate glass bulb, from which the air has been withdrawn and as nearly a perfect vacuum created as possible. The bulh varies ,n shape. being spAeso,dAl. AAt and compa>s-shaped. and also eyiindt,- cal. ~,th a conlcal termination. Through the thin walls of the lantern run the con ductlng w,rss. connected by \ carbon arc. on which the electricity cenues, and which thus becomes the place oi light The glass lantern is very small, the eylin. dricAl shaped being scarcely half an inch tn length, and with diameter not nearly so great as that of an ordinary lead pencil. The compass-shaped lamp is afSs,,,s ,ns,na,s~~ af .u ,.ek ,k,~k ..i has diameter of three.quafsers of an inch ,o an inch. while the sphero.dal seems scarcely larger than good sised pea. The lamp is attached to handle, from seven to nine inches !ong. and about hall an inch thick, through which run the wires eonneesing wish the battery. The handle and the lamp can he scpss. ated. and shus but one handle IS neeees- safy ioi usr ~ith the different forms oi the lamps. The intensity of the poses and hence the bt,lhsney ef the Al ef light, can be regulated by moving along the handle a r,ng winch connects wl,h the wires. The handle has several osn;s and it's positions can be arranged n d. most any way 60 as to adap, |, ,e the shape of the cavity which Il ls proposed so illuminate. Mirrors can also be fastened to the lamp and Ugh, tehected to places where the lamp eanno; D. in troduced. To prevent the too grea, diffusion oi light and the radiation al, heat, the lamp may be partially covered with q hard rubber ot gu,,a. pereha case.
 When the lamp IS placed in the mouth oi 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 oi surgery and dentistry, and en- able an operator to conceive a much mosc thorough diagnosis of ase than the use ot any other means previously known. Placed behind the teeth, the intense light renders not only the teeth. ba, even the gum above. highly tran spafent If the teeth are good and un' decayed. no lInes will be sislble bu, the presence of filling of ot the mere be ginning of decay may at once he seen When the lamp is placed within the mouth and the lips are closed the entire front structure of the mouth is brought 10 view. The bone and tooth formations are easily discoverable. and even the ID lcrior of the nasal passages. In the same way the instrument IS of gtea, value ID the treatment of obsteti,e sl disease. and in studies Of inc ssomaeh. No anpIcAs. ant sensations are experienced by patients. even in cases of pro,rac'ed ase, no other effect being noticeable than that which follows the drinking ot ho, cup oi coffee.
 The difficulties in bringing this appli. cation "f the electric ligh,,o practical use were due principally to the far, that none ofthe electrical manufacturing companies in America make the righ, kind of q lamp. Mir. SiaIr tIied them al. and |; getting what he wanted Tn the very bes, shape, was compelled to go to Europe More than a score of different lamps cartoons and means of conveying power had .n he tried before the best wal found.