The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-07-19

meter would be very useful to him as
a means of giving him the exact
knowledge he requires. The first men-
toned meter resembles two strips Of
steel, so thin as to be flexible. These
are fastened together with pivots about
One-ffth of an inch long Between the
steel plates or strips is the mechanism
of the meter, and fastened to the por-
ton of the steel that comes against
the wrist is a thin strip of what looks
and feels for all the world like oiled
silk. In a mortise at the top Of the
meter, one sees certain figures which
change from time to time with the
physical condition of the meters wear
er These figures denote the rise and
fall of physical condition just as the
mercury in the thermometer indicates
the changes in the weather.
The secret Of the Interpretation of
the meter, or rather the exact inter
probation, is as yet confined to ply
sicians, although the wearer of the
meter, of course, knows whether his
vitality seems to be increasing or les
sening. When the course of exercise
Is finished, the rider removes the meter
and takes it to his physician who I'M
locks the instrument and takes there
from tiny roll of paper on which are
the figures which show the variations
of vitality, etc. of the cyclist. Dr.
Odiardy has given the bicycle health
meter the most attention of anyone
except the inventor and declares that
1t is the first step in the direction OF
permitting every man to know at all
times whether his health is good or
bad and exactly what degree in either
case.
The bicycle health meter is also be-
Ing adapted by this same physician to
other uses, or rather, he has utilized
the principle thereof and claims to be
able to diagnose with infinite celebrity
and accuracy the physical condition
of any human being by means of this
meter, which he has induced the in
vcntor to slightly change to CORE
spond with his theory. In explanation
of this system the physician says that
If we would qualify ourselves for a
shrewd guess as to what abnormal or
pathological tendencies a given patient
is likely to develop, we must watch
the patient in a transition from health
to illness and vice versa. In this way
we can discover exactly in what direc-
ton lies his line of least resistance to
the inroads of disease.
The doctor will take the patient while
he is well, attach this meter to his
wrist, bring him into a temporarily low
condition by causing him to be sudden
~ fatigued, and then note the result
by means of the nervous system, etc.
Fatigue of this sort is most quickly
and harmlessly brought about through
the lungs. For instance a man is re-
quested by taking long breaths to keep
the mercury at given height in the
column of a little instrument called
the manometer which registers the
ruickness Of the flow Of blood. After
a person has undergone this exertion
for five minutes, it brings about a
general fatigue in which the PATHOLOGY
cal tendencies individual to the person
are Immediately apparent to the physi-
clan.
This is the way that the doctor pro-
reeds. Before he begins the experiment
he carefully ascertains by means of
the health meter the exact physical con-
dition of his patient. First comes the
temperature. Then note is taken of
the color of the face. meaning as to
whether or no it has the hue Of health.
Then he feels the pulse, listens to the
beating OF the heart. notes the rate