Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-07-15
ON THE INSIDE TRACK.
Dentists and Surgeons Now Explore the
Human Interior with the Electric Lasnp.

Dentists and Surgeons Now Explore THE
Human Interior with the Electric Lasnp.
From the New York Sun.
frof Elsberg exhibited in this city about ten
years ago one OF the earlier applications ~ the
electric lamp as an adjunct TO surgery, and the
recent exhibition Of an illuminated human head
at the Academy Of Medicine is a further develop
ment OF the same interesting subject The in
candescent electric light is now employed in q
variety OF interesting ways by physicians ana
dentists. One OF the earliest uses of the tiny
lamp was for the purpose Of detecting spots Of
decay In teeth that upon ordinary inspection
seemed sound, or at least did not reveal the ex-
act location Of the defect A small incaudes-
cent lamp placed in the mouth o, n subieet an
inumlnates the teeth that no defect can eseApe
uetecuon- Prof. ElsbeIg's experiment was FOR
the purpose ~ demonstrating the yalue "a
sne electric light in explorations of the
cneek bones. These bones are hollow. lined
Win mucous membrane and connected bv on
noes with the nose. The cavities. also liz go
near the roots OF some OF the teeth that an ulcer
at the root Of such a tooth sometime. respl,. IN
tne escape OF pus into the bone cavity The
consequences OF this are often grave ana as
no ordinary inspection can reveal the presence
OF pus IN the cavity until great harm Il done
tne re'elauons OF the electric lamp are Of areat
value; When small electric lamp IL taken
Into the mouth the whole face is lighted nm
ana even the bones are TO q considerahi. a.
gree illuminated. II there is any foreign s,h-
stance In the cavity Of the cheek bone the llrht
reveals il.
After this use OF the electric LIGHT cam. ,,s
application TO the illuminatio OF dIse.sed
stomachs Doctors nowadays use the stomach
pump very little, but wash out troubleso,na
stomachs with the aid Of a fuunel.a r1abber
tube and warm water, much as they would vash
any cavity. When the stomach is to be illusoi-
n fr1h 60 lrt. --.sl
lamp at the lower extremity, the wires running
up through the tube. The patient takes drink
OF water before swallowing the electric lAm1,. in
order that the walls Of the stomach NAV be fis-
tended and not come in immediate contact With
the lamp. The current is then turned on and
the abdomen appears an illuminated mousd.
The skilled medico electrician processes 70 De.
tect many disturbances Of the stomach by .ia
OF this illumination, but the science and arr Of
studying mans iusides from the outside by
the aid Of electricity 10 YET comparatively new
and there il much to be learned
One Of the most wonderful uses Of the eleo.
trio light is the exploration OF the bladder. In
the case Of this organ the surgeon passes iu q
prism aud an electric light, and manages not
only 10 illuminate the interior, but actually 70
see It's various parts reflected 10 q mirror from
the prism By the aid OF this contrivance NE
very last secrets Of the bladder are laid open 70
the surgeon.
The electric lamps employed by dentists shd
surgeons in the study OF the human interisr
are tiny affairs, made with the utmost care, 40
that they shall not irritate parss with which
they come in contact A special dental lamp Il
about seven-eighths Of an inch long and sons-
what less than three-eighths OF an inch in diarn-
eter. II Is OF one-half candle power. and ii Ia
used to light up small cavities in the teeth.
larger one 10 an inch ard half long and hslf
an inch In diameter. IL also is Of one-half cSa-
die power. The tiniest Of all h the pea lamb.
which is not larger than pea Of medium sise
and pear shaped in form II, too, is OF one
half candle power, and Is 80 small that il does
not seriously interfere with the dentist as he
manipulates his implements Of torture. Small
pear shaped lamps Of one and two candle power
are also made for use in surgery. There IL
little heat from these small lamps, and TIE
effect OF their light In Illuminating human cayi-
ties Ia marvellous.
The hand, the fnger, and almost any part AZ
the body, may be explored by placing il between
the eye and contrivance applied With . small
but powerful electric lamp. The use Of these
lamps IN surgery is capable Of indefinite exten-
sion, and the prospect il that the phrase s-bAok
a. the inside Of crow" will have no signic-
canoe for the surgeon OF the future