The San Francisco call., 1895-10-13

1l0 ili1tIdl current, the passage from one
step to another, as the voltage was in
creased to the point of becoming effective
ior anestheuc purposes, was accompanied
oy Jerking, jumping sensation that few
peopIe had the nerve to endure. DR.. Gill
leCte described a new instrument in which
TINS difficulty has been entirely overcome.
1t consists of nickel plated cylinder, 16
inches high and inches il diameter at the
base. On nthet top of the cylinder is switch
lor turning the current on and off. and
an index which enables the operator to
nave always under his eye the exact
voltage with which he is operating.
The delicacy of the instrument may
be Judged from the fact that gradation
OF current as tne as -thousandth of
volt can be given. Supposing that it is
lhtended 10 subject tooth to excavation,
a process the mere mention of which
prlngs back the memory of moments of
Keenest torture to those who have had to
undergo 1t. An electrode, shaped like
claw, Is lifted at its approaching points
with small rubber cups. These cups hold
cotton, which has been saturated with
cocaine. The eIectrode is inserted in the
mouth and the rubber cups close on either
SIDE OF the gum in which the teeth to be
influenced are set. The current is turned
on SO gradually that the patient cannot
feel 1t. The strength is slowly increased,
not by Jerks. but with a smooth, wavelike
action. From the one-hundredth of a volt
the register shows one-fiftieth, one-twenty-
fifth, one-tenth, one volt, and then on to
nVe, ten and probably twelve volts. This
taxes from one to five minutes. according
TO the resistance of the patient, and the
tooth is then ready for the operation. 1t
can be extracted, eXcavated, or the nerve
can be eXtlrpated, without the patient
1eenng the slightest pain or inconvenience.
Inc current has passed from one rubber
cup, through the gum, to the cup on the
other SIDE, and in passing has driven the
cocaine through every fiber of the tissue
and the dentine. The teeth are absolutely
anesthetlzed. This new application of
cataphereSis to dental work has been en-
Enthusiastically received by dentists, and it
is most assuredly destined to revolution
lze many departments OF their work Not
only does 1t banlsh forever the horrors of
the dental chair, but it opens up the pos
slblllty OF many further affiliations. For
instance, heretofore the bleaching of teeth
has been done in clumsy and inefficient
manner by the use of peroxide of hydro
gen; by the new catapheric process, in
stead OF cocaine, pyrozone, a commercial
form OF hydrogen dioxide IS applied by the
electrode to the cavity and driven right
through the teeth by the turning on of the
current.
SPECIAL FREIGHTcARs ON ELECTRIC RAIL-
wAYs.-The freight traffic on electric rail-
ways has led to the construction of many
new forms of freightcars. On one line a
large quantity of whisky is handled. A
large boxcar, which also carries general
freight and supplies for local service, has
been made for carrying to the station of
the steam railway the barrels of whisky
from large distilleries in the dis
trlct. The car is % feet long and 10
feet 6 inches high from rail to top of
roof. 1t is also used as locomotive, and
hauls three loaded boXcars between the
railway and the distilleries. The car is
mounted on a pair of four-wheel trucks,
with % horsepower motor on each axle
and weighs about fifteen tons empty.
In Spokane, the electricians which
haul wheat and flour between the
mills and the railway station have dis
placed the drays formerly used. The grain
cars, which have been specially built for
the service, are 20 feet long and the grain
compartment is II feet long, 6 feet wide
and feet inches high, with capacity of
1900 pounds, or 200 bushels of wheat. At
the freight station the floor, which is
hinged and carries steel hopper, is raised
and the car is loaded with grain from the
main line cars. On reaching the mill the
car is run over a chute, the gate of the
hopper IS opened and the grain is dumped.
The floor is then let down to cover the
hopper and the car is loaded with bags or
barrels Of -four to go to the railway station.
Whenever the streets along the line re-
quire macadamizing the car is used for
carrying and discharging the broken stone.
1t has an Edison double reduction motor
on each axle.