New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-01-26
stones throw Of the Interior Department and his wife,
who is relative OF the noted Florence Nightingale 10
THE ELECTRIC LIGHT IN SURGERY.
A NEW INSTRUMENT INVENTED BY DE. ". JRoDERTs
SUCCESSFULLY TESTED YESTERDAY.

SUCCESSFULLY TESTED YESTERDAY.
Dr.MiltOn J. Roberts, professor of OrthopediC
Surgery and Mechanical TheraI eutics in the Post
Graduate Medical School, hns invented an instrument
which no called the electro OseotOme Yesterday after
noon he demonstrated the advantage OF his discovery by
performing one Of the most difficult operations In
economic surgery The patient young nan about
twenty-five years OLD, stGdent IN tho Burlington, W..
Theological school few days before the holidays be
fell the college campus but got up readily lie felt
sharp pain q moment hut II wore away and ut night
hs had almost recovered days later when he was
sitting in tine lecture ho felt sudden pain In tho
hip which has not LETT Lin since that time. Tho sufferer
was brought to this md examined ~ DR.. Forrest.
who failed md any for tho trouble. He advised
the young man to consult Dr. Roberts. The patient did
So and two weeks ago he'd assigned to him In tue
surgical ward % the Post Graduate Hospital.
Dr. Roberts thGu ,ht tat there pus In the Joint
and that it coud be let or ana tho leg saved without
saving he joint away. tho operation was performed
yesterday IN small room on the top floor OF the nos
pit9l Or. Roberts ana three a's]t.n were there
early and by the time The who had boon Invited
to witness tho operation arrived there was nothing oii
FOR them ~ 10.
How are you going to the extent OF The Injury tn
the cavity % the houcl" asked ono OF them.
Ihnye provided for that uts emergency" siDiinHy
replied ~ Roberts. and Eo held MP luo Inc tnd"s
cent electric lamp not larger IMAM pea;
the bone ,TE'' and let You IN look into ~
Then Dr.. Roberts described the OIiooklhI instrument
I ITe c cuH It an r'cctro-ostcotomc.
il consisted Of cylinder OF hard rubber, about eight
was powerful RumkpIt coll From mo bottom oi th'
cylindCr slender steal shaft three inches Ions pro
truCed. II was 50 constructed tEGt as soon a'
the cylinder connected with "a battery Vi
hiiocu cells il BEGAN 20 TeNOlNr. Dr. ROBERTS f2tl
when nj ran force II made 1000 turns In "A
minute. \ CGrrUHtbrrakcr, ny means OF when th'
movements OF The shaft could be regulated was close TO
the handle. and required ohiy iGht touch 10
coon he was unconscious. The assistant washed
The ing witR ro "Hif f a1 nos sS'gg T.
and cleaned. over tho injured leg. This was done u
guide him ,u finding b.s bump. known az the grrsj
operation With difficulty ne found II under the swol on
tssues That hill 1t. Then hc drove long Keen ScAp-l
W.h two strokes he jlsd tho nesh us.d'
aud exposed the bono FOR a. distance OF hNr
- ;h- tory. ana Or. fopors adjusted thin GIN st.
l, Il cheeS,=scr In the shaft lie pressed IL asalns,
lhr U"". which m Ix l. and pe"sV Tbtrria He
sound heard. In ess Than three seconds II bored
iato the bonn, and The current being otSsen, y,
II the powdered bono that chung to IT, aud an astlsaht
DR.. Elliutt. examined tls specimen unIrr t' hirio
Scoop. lie announced tho presence OF rus cells rs d.
III, ..t.-t ali doubt and Or. Roberts proceed ca.
lie changed the glWrt FOR o larger ono and thei
three inches in diameter In le'i thaI
three seconds hner wpns away t3c blood tao Tao oP,fa
Tic surgeons bent down low and looked inside Inc
bright rsht ni""lntLe" Ite "h co'1I hnc
cislry stcr Evrrythin was "a plain As II stryak OF
sunlight hat entered without any dicu,y VI, NC o
was revealed. BY means Of cieYrry shalel
chi,- the dsrhlrd bone was cut away anu c9uA uur
% drain oG the rn' thht might form III lho iu'ulu
In twenty minutes aIcr INC LIs' V't VI,
made rho operation Wa, completed, ana Only
rgorca G ''l" Genr unusual oceafs IL,
patient viii be aJ 10 walk h8cs Ia ten Ghy%