Daily Yellowstone journal., 1889-08-17
PICTURES OF PATIENTS.
Photography by Flash Light "a Great Aid
To Physicians

delivered an Interesting auufess OeIOfe
! the photographed section of the
American institute on the subject of
Flash Light Photography in Medi,
cine and Surgery" DR.. Roberts, who
is connected with the hospitals on
Rmdail's Island aud with the Wo-
mau's and st. Elizabeth hospitals in
tins city. has devised some very valu.
able apparatus for fash light photoE
raph}. and used it TO illustrate his
aL.lurS,
d. Roberts said that the utiliza-
uuu OF photography by physicians is
a work that is now attracting much
attention. The fundamental basis of
surc'>s IN medicine and surgery is the
accumulation of accurate records aud
| tie arrangement of data on which 10
ba e opinions. Without more positive
/ pp1DlN;> Of eases than physicians lie.
srrIplIpns disputes are endless. AS a
nrutpl of evidences of phenomenal
growth, abnormal developments and
dc.Urmltles and parasites and germ
lie, photography is of especial value.
Words describing objects, however
accurate, do rot convey 10 tile mind
,lc actual condition Of affairs. a
picture must be presented To the mind
before a person is in a position TO
Judge OF a particular case. For doing
ihis there is nothing 10 compare with
photography.
The ordinary form of photography,
which employs sunlight, requires spe-
cially constructed rooms. If ply
slcian attempts 10 photograph a pa
tient by sunlight in his Office or in the
ward of a hospital the result is unsatis.
factory. The lights cannot be regu.
lated so rs 10 produce a good picture.
Sunlight is too i~nconstant and subject
10 such great variations that it can
seldom be used. The activity of the
rays Of light varies in strength with
the time Of the day, the season, the
latitude and the amount of moisture
in the atmosphere. Ideal photography
for medical and surgical purposes in.
wolves the making Of good pictures in
the homeso patients and in the offices
OF physicians. Many patients will OBJ
ject to be taken to public galleries
when they would consent 10 he pho
tographed in u private room. Ply
sicians should be able 10 take photo
graphs Of a patient at any time OF the
day, when the work is most conven.
lent and the conditions are most suit
able. This renders il necessary that
all of the apparatus be portable and
the lights be artificial.
Artificial lights may be divided into
two kinds-those of long and those of
short duration. Lights of long dura-
ton are the magnesium ribbon light,
the electric light, the oxy-hydrogen
light, gas light and oil lamps. In the
present state Of Photographic art, pro
longed exposure is unnecessary. All
that is needed, therefore, is a bright
light Of ordinary duration or the flash
light.
The form of this light best adapted
for the use Of photography for medical
purposes is in the shape Of a powder.
This produces a broad sheet Of flame
the instant that il is ignited. IL is es-
sential that the exposure of the plate
in the camera and the ignition Of the
powder occur at the same instant. To
accomplish this considerable practice
is necessary. Certainty of action in
manipulating both the light and the
shutter Of the camera is best obtained
by the use Of an electric current
The apparatus for doing this is very
simple. a small magnet attached TO
the front Of the camera has a lever
connected with its armature, which
holds the shutter in position. On clos.
ing the shutter, by mean Of a key
board at a convenient distance, the
shutter is released and the plate ex.
posed. The current at the same time
ignites the magnesium powder. This
is placed in an elliptical trough in
front ola large concave mirror, which
serves TO reflect the light and increase
the effect. The mirror is attached 10
a movable tripod in such Il manner
that il may he adjusted to reflect the
light in any direction. Short sections
of steel wire are placed IN the trough,
being connected by insulated wires
with the battery and keyboard. The
current heats these wires TO incandes.
cencc. and thus ignitcs the powder.
A battery of three cells OF ordinary
size is sufficient TO operate the light
and camera. The whole apparatus is
portable aud may be set up in any or
binary room in a few minutes,
Photography has heretofore been
used TO reproduce the appearance of pa,
tients afflicted with hunchback. spinal
curvature, club foot. diseases Of the
joints and skin diseases. The improve
rlents in photography and the use Of
Hash light will extend the use Of the
art 10 nearly every branch Of medical
science. II will enable a physician
to photograph a patient before treat
mcnt. during treatment and after
treatment. thusshowing every stage Of
a disease. and the effect of the method
Of treatment followed. II will enable
the physician 10 obtain evidence thai
every n will accept as 10 the sever.
ity Of the case and the success Of the
treatment, Photography may be EN-.
ployed during surgical operations 10
show the exact position Of the surgeon
and his assistants during important
operations. The direction of the in.
cision and the parts exposed may be
shown, and in fact the whole process
Of a modern surgical operation may be
reproduced by photography. This will
be Of great value for the instruction
OF students and the information Of the
medical fraternity New York Mail