Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-05-18
ANOTHER GREAT DISCOVERY AND
INVENTION.

A most important discovery and inyen-
ton in surgical science has been made by
DR.. J. II. Girdner. of New York, which
he has given, according to the ethics of
the profession, to his brethren of the
scalpel. 1t consists of telephone wired
to probe, by means OF which bullet
touched in the body by the probe causes
the telephone diaphragm to vibrate and
give out the "click" so familiar to all users
of the telephone when the ear is against
the transmitter at the opening or closing
of the electrical circuit But in this case
no battery is used and the electrical cur
rent that operates the instrument is drawn
from the body of the patient himself, thus
demonstrating that in every human body
there is sufficient of electrical power to be
made manifest audibly upon a telephone
diaphragm.
The value of this probe discovery can
scarcely be overestimated; to the surgical
world it will prove an invaluable aid, and
almost wholly displace the unreliable por-
celain-pointed probe now used to ascertain
the location of bullet. This porcelain
probe-when it takes the place of the old
time probe that locates by feelings used
to reach the bullet, and when it is supposed
to be found the porcelain point is rubbed
against it. II, on withdrawal, there are
marks Of lead on the porcelain point, the
surgeons search has been successful. But
prior to this, he may touch bone and hard
substances frequently and be unable to de-
teruine whether the location of the bull
let is found or not Moreover, as DR..
Girdner shows, where ball has been long
in the body, thick crusts of salts of lead
frequently form and prevent the marking
OF the probe. So, too, if there is grease upon
the ball, it may prevent the marking.
Even where it is marked, a great deal of
rubbing is first required, even in the most
favorably located gun-shot wounds. But
if the location of the ball can be deter
mined the moment it is touched, and all
possible mistake avoided liable to occur by
coming in contact with other hard sub
stances, time of the most vital Importance
is saved, and human suffering lessened by
the decrease of probing.
The telephone probe is thus constructed
The receiver of the telephone is of hard
rubber; in the center is a small bar of soft
iron coiled with insulated wire, the two
ends passing back to binding posts. The
soft iron bar extends beyond the coil and
almost touches delicate metal diaphragm.
When current of electricity is passed
through the coil the iron bar of course be-
comes magnet and it at once attracts the
diaphragm, causing it to vibrate; with the
breaking of the circuit the diaphragm
springs back to place, and hence the
click so familiar to the ear of users of
the telephone. From the binding posts
run two wires; one terminates in hollow
dubious piece of steel, and the other in a
metal clamp holding long needle, or
probe, perfect contact between the wires
and probe and handle being assured. A set
OF needles of various forms and sizes Is also
provided for use when there is no direct
channel to the bullet, and it is necessary
TO thrust into the tissues.
In use the bulb is inserted in the pa
TENTS mouth and the lips closed. The
operator puts the telephone to his ear
while he passes in the steel probe. When
1t meets with hard substances not metal
no response is heard, but if it touches the
bullet sharp click Is heard, caused by the
current of electricity in the body signaling
the closing Of the circuit The needle grip
can now be loosened and the plobe left in
position as a guide direct to the ball.
To remove any skepticism concerning
his invention, DR.. Girdner suggests the
means by which any one can demonstrate
the claim made for it:
Place the steel bulb in a person. mouth.
have the lips close, so that perfect electrieI
contact exists. Moisten one of the patients
hands thoroughly and place in it piece of
Lead, large enough that the hand can grip il
nus hnhAle contact with the
moistened palm Place a piece of bone in the
same hand along with the lead. and when the
hand IS closed ycu can probe between the fin
gers and you win find that when the lead a. L
touched by the piObe, even the slightest toucb
you viii hear a distinct response in the teIe,
phone, but no response will be heard when the
bone is probed. 1t is essential thot the metal of
the bulb and of the probe be the same and diff
terent from that of the missile to be located
The speculation upon which the in
ventor enters after describing his instru-
ment to the New York Academy of Science,
is lofty flight, but who shall say in this
day of research and discovery that it may
not be determined to be feasible and reli-
sble to utilize this currept of electricity in
the body, for the purpose of diagnosing
certain diseases, as he suggests?
The facility with which we are able to Oh
tam current of electricity sufficiently strong
TO oPei ate this instrument from the body of the
person operated on, is fact which seems To me
OF great Importance, tor il holds out a hope that
we may III future find such electrical differences
to exist between healthy and diseased tissues
ana systems that it may prove of great assist
ance IN the diagnosis and treatment OF diseases
| have already found that difference exi.ts in
the strength OF the current in different indiyid
uals, and in the same individuals under VARYING
circumstances"