The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1896-09-03
GREAT GAIN TO PHYSICIANS.

A GREAT GAIN TO PHYSICIANS
Medical Results Of Late Improvements In
tho Roentgen x Rays.
An important improvement has been
effected by the General Electric com.
pany, of Berlin, in the Roentgen apra.
ratus, ann especially in the vacuum tube,
SO thatit is possible to observe peculjari'
ties in the interior OF the head and
throat, and especially the action of the
lungs and heart, by direct inspection
with the fuorescent screen. The re.
suits were demonstrated before medical
men representing the chief European
capitals at the recent 25th surgical
congress in Berlin. The screen en-
ployed measured about ten inches by
eighteen inches, and consists of small
crystals of platinocyanide of barium
busted on to an adherent surface. Al
though theresults obtained are probably
capable of further improvements, still
they were sufficiently good to indicate
the probable value in the very near fu-
ture of the "X" rays in diagnosing Ger.
tain conditions. They were, at any rate,
far in advance of anything that has get
been achieved. It was thought on the
discovery of the TX" rays that a new
epoch in diagnosis had been reached.
Experience, however, has since shown
that the application of the discovery
was restricted to the exploration of the
extremities in the examination of bony
structure and in the search for foreign
bodies. The photography of the chest
and abdominal cavity by means OF the
"X' rays has been attended with but
small success, at least to be Of any value
in medical diagnosis. By means, how
ever, of this new tube, which appears to
afford the maximum energy in regard
to the production of "X" rays,the labor
and trouble of photography may be
dispensed with, and direct vision OF
certain abnormalities of the heart and
in the chest may, as was shown in this
demonstration, be gained.
The following were among the results
shown: When the head was placed be-
tween the tube and the screen the thick
ness of til. scalp was easily visible, tho
hair not appearing. The light pene"
trates the cartridges of the nose, which
are only visible in slight shadows. Tho
frontal cavity and the antrum of High
more are to De seen as distinctly light
er areas. In the neck are to be seen the
shadows of the esophagus, of the hyoid
bone, and the carti]ages of the larynx
(the last not as distinctly as the hyoid
bone), which both in rest and in move-
ment are easily detected. If the light
be thrown through the thorax from be-
hind, the screen gives the following pic
ture: In the middle occurs dark broad
stripe, the sternum; on both sides are to
be seen horizontal shadows crossing
each other, which are plainly the ribs;
the lower margin of the thorax is repre-
scented 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 vcrtebrae are seen,
and not the sternum. The shadow line,
which is constantly moved on inspira-
ton and expiratio for about three
inches, is the diaphragm, 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
diaphragm and the ribs are situated at
a very acute angle with one another.
Another big shadow is seen Immediate
~ above the diaphragm and in the mid
die of the thorax. This shadow (that of
the heart) consists of an intensely dark
central part with a light periphery.
This movement of the heart is distinct
~ visible, principally at the apex, hut
on close examination the movement OF
the aorta may be noticed also. The
heart shadow and the movement are
emphasized after a deep inspiration has
been taken through the stomach. The
limits of this organ may be we'll seen.
but the definition is far better after it
has been distended by the administra-
ton of an effervescing mixture.
These results demonstrate pretty con-
clusively. we think, the possibility in
the near future of the x rays becoming
a powerful aid in diagnosis coupled
with the employment of fuoresccnt
screen. Already it has been fruitful in
not only confirming previous methods
of diagnosis, but in affording means OF
ascertaining with some precision Ger
tain symptoms which by methods now
employed would not be indicated. The
movement of complex joint, such a.
the carpus, were clearly seen, and will
throw a new light upon surgical anat-
omy.-London Lancet,
ITS SILENCE HARDENING.