Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-10-15
A GREAT GAIN TO PHYSICIANS.
Medical Results, OF Lutte Improve
ments I'm the ROent6en y Rays.

Z
ments In the R0ent&en u Rays.
From the Lancet.
An important Improvement has been ef
fected by the General Electrical Company
of Berlin in the Roeltgen apparatus. and
especially in the vacuum tube, SO that 1t is
possible to observe peculiarities in the In
terror Of the head and throat, and especially
the action of the lungs and heart, by direct
inspection with the f1uorescent screen. The
results were demonstrated before medical
men representing the chief European CAPT.
tails at the recent twenty-fifth surgical con-
gress at Berlin. The screen employed
measured about ten inches by eighteen
inches, and consisted of small crystals of
adherent surface Although the results OBJ
tanned are probably capable of further i'm
provement, still they were sufficiently good
to indicate the probable value in the very
certain conditions. They were, at any rate
far in advance of anything that has yet
been achieved. 1t was thought on the dis
covery of the x rays that a new epoch in
however. has since shown that the appli-
cation of the discovery was restricted to the
exploration of the extremities in the exam
nation of bony structure and in the search
chest and abdominal cavity by means of
the rays has been attended with but
small success, at least to be of any value in
medical diagnosis. BY means, however. of
maximum energy in regard to the produc
ton of x rays, the labor and trouble of pho
Biography may be dispensed with, and a
direct vision of certain abnormalities of the
heart and in the chest may as was shown
in this demonstrat ton, be gained.
The following were among the results
shown: When the head was placed between
the tube and the screen the thickness of the
jvyy tcf1> Lo.,.
pearing. The light penetrates the car.
tilages of the nose, which are only visible
in slight shadows. The frontal cavity and
the antrum of Highmore are to be seen as
be seen the shadows of the oesophagus of
the hyoid bone, and the cartilages of the
larynx the last not as distinctly as the
hyoid te':e>, which both in rest and in move
thrown through the thorax from behind,
the screen gives the following picture: In
the middle occurs dark broad stripe the
sternum; on both sides are TO be seen hori-
zontal shadows crossing each other which
are plainly the ribs: the lower margin of
the thorax is represented by a shadow, the
left side of which is pale and thin. but the
right side is intensely dark. The picture is
still better If the rays be thrown from the
front and the screen placed behind, only in
this case the vertebrate are seen and not
the sternum. The shadow line which is
constantly moved on inspiration and ex-
pa atioii ioi dDOul tITee lncneS. is the dla-
phraSm, and the darker shadow on the
right side is the liver and the lighter on the
left is the stomach
This picture shows, further that the dia-
phragm and the ribs are situated at a very
acute angle with one another. Another big
shadow is seen Immediately above the dia-
phragm and in the middle of the thoraX
This shadow chat of the hearth consists of
an intensely dark central part with light
periphery. This movement of the heart is
distinctly visible, principally at the apex
but on close examination the movement of
the aorta may be noticed also. The heart
shadow and the movement are empha sized
after deep inspiration has been taken. If
now the tube and screen be moved down
ward, the light is thrown through the
stomach. The limits of this organ may be
well seen, but the definition is far better
after 1t has been distended by the admins
tration of an effervescing mixture.
These results demonstrate pretty conclu-
sively, We think. the possibility in the near
future of the rays becoming a powerful
aid il diagnosis coupled with the employ
ment of a fluorescent screen. Already it
mas been fruitful in not only confirming
previous methods of diagnosis but in afford
ing means of ascertaining with some pre-
cision certain symptoms which by methods
now employed would not be indicated The
movements of a complex joint, such as the
carpus. were clearly seen, and will throw a
new hight upon surgical anatomy.