The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1895-01-09
MEDICAL MICROSCOPES.
Recent Bses of the Invention In the Study
of Disease.

of Disease.
The invention of the kaleidoscope,
which Is attracting q largo amount
of popular interest, resembles some
of Mr.. Edison's other inventions IN
being really an improvement on or
an adaptation of discoveries of other
men. This in no way implies that
the fame of tho American inventor
is undeserved. On the contrary, it
is due to his genius that mere expert
mcnts of scientists have been con-
vertcd into things of real and lasting
benefit to civilization. Sir Humphry
Davy discovered that carbon could
DO rendered incandescent in a cur
rent of electricity, and that oxygen
consumed the carbon, but it remain
cl for Edison to exclude the oxygen
and to give the electric light to civil
zation. The main essentials of the
monograph were in use before Edi-
son conceived the idea Of making a
practical use of the machine. The
Muy bridge photographs wero the
forerunners of the kinetoscope.
It has been proclaimed that the
time Is now ut hand when books aud
theaters will become raritics, and
the average citizen will be content
to use the monograph and the klnct-
oscope for his pleasure. Such pre-
diotion is oversanguine as yet 1or
the reason that these inventions are
not yet perfect. The beauty OF con-
certed music or of rare singing is
still marrcd by the electric whlr end
the false sounds that issue from the
monograph g diaphragm. Tho splon-
did color and dazzling luster OF tho
operas stage are as yet beyond the
grasp of the kaleidoscope. Perhaps
these things may come some day,
but they have not como yot, and i'll
the meantime the present generation
Is concerned chiefly with tho things
of today. The telephone, for in
stance, Is Of moro immediate use to
civilization than are the phonograph
and kaleidoscope combined.
Science has already found certain
,,ses for Mr.. Elison's later inyen-
tons, however. The monograph
counterfeits permanently many
sounds that are useful to thcrapeu-
tics-the normal and unsound heart
beats, "rales" in the lungs, certain
vocal sounds depending upon special
conditions of the throat or tonsils.
It is of decided benefit to science to
have permanent records that can al
ways be of easy access without re-
course to o special patient. In the
same way the kaleidoscope promises
to be of great utility to medical
science by reproducing physical &C
ton that can be studied in detail Or
comprehensively, as the student de-
sires. In this city some effort III that
direction has already been under
taken, and. more will be developed
from time to time, especially in nerv-
GUS disorders that bring on certain
physical action that Is often SO yio-
lent and vigorous as to battle any at
tempt at close study by means of tho
unaided eye.
The Muybridge photographs show
ed some years ago that the eye was
unreliable for the detection OF the
absolute details of rapid animal mo-
ton. instantaneous photography
alono gives correct representation
Of tho different attitudes taken by
men or animals in rapid action, and
it is quito possible that medical
science may achieve fresh discover
les by the help of the kaleidoscope.
Thus, in studying the muscular &C
ton that results from certain nerve
disorders, it may be possible to trace
the nerves which are affected. Even
in less complicated cases, like lame
ness, q surgeon may be able to reach
conclusions with greater quickness
and certainty by securing the details
of muscular action of the affected
limb, rs the speed of the kaleidoscope
may be regulated ut will. Alto
gether, then, while the reproduction
of grand opera for tho multitude
may be q matter of tho remote fl
ture, the kaleidoscope is something
of moro use to civilization than a
mere pictorial toy.-Boston Adver-
tiscr.