The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-07-29
WONDERS OF ELECTRICITY.
The Electric Heating Principle Applied
With Great Success In HOspitals-Au
Electric Motor For Dentists.

Tho Electric Heating Principle Applied
With Great Success In HOspitals-An
Electric Motor For Dentists
From the Pittsburg Times.
A valuable utilization Of the electric
heating principle has been made In
hospitals and sick rooms. The electro
therm, or electric heating pad. has been
devised to take the place OF the various
troublesome methods hitherto In vogue
for applying and maintaining artificial
heat In local applications. The cleo
trotherm Is a flexible sheet or pad. con-
tanning wires Embedded In asbestos
When these wires are connected to the
socket OF an electric lamp or the termi-
nails of a battery sufficient resistance Is
offered to the current to produce a con-
stant and uniform degree Of heat. There
are many cases demanding a steady
local heat In which 1t Is of the first i'm
portance that the patient should remain
undisturbed. Under such conditions
there Is often serious risk In the move
ment Of q patient, in changing the hot
water bottles ordinarily used. In addi-
tion to this there are always the factors
of the latent heat OF the bottle. and the
varying sensitiveness of different per-
sons to be considered. Frequently 1t Is
most difficult to preserve exactly the
right degree of heat without burning
the skin OF the patient. Here the cleo
| trotherm Is manifestly of the greatest
utility. The heat can he kept at the uni
form point for any length of time. and
| its temperature can be regulated with
| hA M In ina
| switch Is attached to the wire, and will
give any heat from 1870 degrees to 300
degrees Fahrenheit. A higher tempera-
ture can be obtained. If need be. by the
use of additional covers. The electric
heating pad is made in different shapes
as a pad for ordinary sick room uses /;
as foot mat. covered with wicker
| work; and as species of overcoat for
entirely swathing and heating the neck
| and the uper part of the body. The
| cost of Its operation Is extremely low,
| and given number Of pads will do
the work of about twice the number of
bottles The effect of poultice or moist
heat can be obtained by increasing the
pad in one or more thicknesses Of wet
flannel Thorough tests have been
| iiaue' anu tHe Hieii''ii pIoleSsioh Tedi-
ICES that in this new electrical device
1t has secNred greatly improved
method Of applying artificial heat.
| A new machine has been introduced
for the purpose of safely and conve-
niently adapting the power of electricity
to the uses and requirements of dentis-
try. The operation of a small electric
motor enables the dentist to dispense
with the foot lever commonly used, and
to concentrate all his attention on the
work in hand. In the filling and stop
ping of teeth the electric dental engine
is specially serviceable. as the various
mallets used can be run from slow to
the very highest speed. 1t was noted
as curious that a large number of the
early orders for this device came from
seaside places. Upon inquiry 1t was
found that many city people realize
their need of dentist only after they
have left their homes. AS soon as they
reach the seaside their teeth begin to
throb with pain. The reason given by
the dentists is that the change of all
and the invigorating outdoor life which
the summer idlers lead, strengthen and
stimulate them. Their hearts have a
stronger beat, and If there Is a weak
spot anywhere about them the pres.
sure of the quickened circulation finds
it out. Thus it happens that teeth
which gave no trouble in the city bring
grist to the mill of the seaside dentist.