Arizona republican., 1893-07-22
MEDICAL SCIENCE.
Some Wonderful Inventions for
 the Use of Doctors.
Electric Search Lights That Are Employed In Exploring the Interior of the Human System for Various
 Diseases.

By the latest application of electric ity to the medical science it has be- come possible to utilize the human head as a lantern. This was proved by Dr. Wendell c. Phillips the other night before meeting of the laryngological section of the New York academy of medicine. The elec- trical apparatus used is called "head illuminator. It consists of a small in- candescent globe and an electric light of three candle power and about as big as a grape. It is adjusted to the end of a rubber tube, which in appear ance resembles a lead pencil and through which the wires reach the globe. In demonstrating the proper ties of this light before the academy of medicine Dr. Phillips called a small boy to the platform and placed the in strument in his mouth. The boy closed his lips, all the lights were turned out and then the light in the instrument was turned on. Immedi- ately the boys checks became translu- cent and every vein and imperfection of the skin stood out with distinctness. The light also shone through the upper part of the face.
 ''The beauty of this illuminator," said Dr. Phillips to a Herald man, ''lies in the fact that it enables us to read certain conditions of the head which could only be learned hereto fore by operations or probings. If the light shines through one side of the face and not the other we know the dark side is affected. It also throws light through the bones of the face and discloses formations of the bone which, under other circumstances, could only be ascertained by drilling to the bones. Placed in the corner of the eye, the light shines up through the cavity in the frontal bone just over the eyebrow. Catarrhal diseases are thus located"
 Here the doctor placed small sec tion of rubber hose over the light which he held in his hand at the time.
 "Now notice how this shines through my thumb" he continued Well, if there was a splinter there it could be accurately located. Any disarrange- ment of the small bones of the hand could be ascertained in the same man ner This practical use of electricity in surgery is not new, however" add ed the doctor. "The first man to util- | ize it was Voltolini. In regard to these newer instruments which I have about me have just added Improvements. | Here is search light" said Dr. Phillips, taking up curved piece of nickel made to fit over the head and come down between the brows. Be- | tween the brows was lens which stood out like the glass of ulls-eye 1 lantern. It was connected by wir
 with a storage battery. A switch was turned and bright light shone out from the apparatus like star on the forehead of ballet dancer. This light" said the physician, shines into and down the throat of a patient who l is being examined for throat troubles. 1 This latter examination can also be ! performed by the insertion of a small electric light the size of pea. There l is another instrument consisting of a flexible tube with small lamp at the l end and connected with a battery. The patient swallows the lamp, and when it reaches the stomach it shines through so diseased organism can be plainly read from the outside. The circulation is visible and an abnormal development stands out like mole on persons cheek. All these imple ments and devices" added Dr. Phillips in conclusion, "are the result of study made by prominent physicians and surgeons. I have not invented these things have only developed them We haven't reached the highest devel opment of the use of electricity in tho medical science yet. We are working now on new lines"