The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-04-03
A STOMACH RENOVATOR
WONDERFUL LITTLE INSTRUMENT
TESTED AT a MEDICAL SCHOOL.
It's Viewed with the Aid of
ROentgen R~ays-knOwn to Science
as a GyrOmele.

CHICAGO, April with a little ma
chine which looks like an egg beaten DR..
Fenton b. Turck performed the feat of
laundering the inside of a mans stomach
at the Postgraduate Medical School yes
terday, and by means of the Roentgen ray
he at the same time viewed the internal
apartment where his little device was at
work. The operation marks an era of
progress in the medical world, as yester-
days experiment was the first Of its kind
made in full view of the operator.
One of the largest and most complete
~Roentgen-ray outfits ever produced by the
General Electric Company was furnished to
the college for the experiment, and w. j.
Ferris. the company's expert, operated the
machinery. Attached to the end of DIR.
Trucks instrument, which is called a gyro-
mele, or revolving sound. was a flexible ca
BILE of spiral steel wire. on the end Of which
was a small sponge. The cable was in
closed in a rubber tube, and this, with the
sponge, was swallowed by the patient. The
latter, who was stripped to the waist, then
stepped before the koentgen light, the doc
tor put the microscope to his eyes and an
attendant turned the handle or the gyro-
mele. The cable reVOIved as fast or as slow
as was desired, the sponge at the IarJner
end proceeded TO Its WORK oil securing the
inner walls OF the patients stomach, While
the doctor, through the microscope, viewed
the work by locating the metaliic cable by
by pushing or pulling on the cable the
various portions OF the inner walls of the
stomach were operated upon and the matter
which was gathered in the sponge was then
removed for microscopic examination. No
nausea or other discomfort was felt by the
patient. though he stood before the rays for
over an hour while the doctors in attend
ance, the nurses, the operator of the X-ray
OUTFIT and q newspaper man examined his
interior A. the close OF the ordeal he WAS
CRAFTY his curiosity to see the operation by
temporarily taking his place as patent and
swallowing the sponge and tube despite MS
assertions that il had not hurt him..
The Roentgen-ray outfit placed at the dis
posal of the college is capable of throwing
Il f"ourteen-inch spark OF great density anu
Illuminating a very large Crookes tube.
BY its means it was not only possible to see
the ribs and backbone OF the patient, but
TO View the vibrations OF the heart and TO
outline the liver and kidneys. Mr.. Ferris
Will operate il at the Postgraduate Med
ical School, at Dearborn and Twenty-fourth
streets. for the next four or nve days, and
extends a cordial invitation to physicians.
surgeons and others interested to call and
see 1t in operation.
of the stomach and intestines at the school,
Is enthusiastic in his praises Of the prac-
m meat eTna a y ~ her 8I SeTan ngep ioiRs y Means n
Of the gyromele. which has a hole in the
handle through which an electrode can be
connected. internal electrical treatment or
massage OF the stomach can be applied. BY
using a double tube a rubber bag contain
ing hot or cold water can be inserted in the
stomach, distended with good results in
many cases and siphoned out. A fine spray.
medicinal or otherwise. can be given TO the
whole stomach which can be disinfected.
congested organs stimulated and the mus
cular power OF the organs restored.
In cases of severe accidents or following
operations where the patient is In danger
of dying of shock the tubes can be inserted.
the water bag distended with water OF as
high as $50 degrees temperature and the
blood distributed 10 the surface. thus re-
lieving the solar plexus and putting the pa
tient out OF danger. This simple method
could be readily adopted by police ambu-
lance service In cases OF street accidents.
where the patient often dies before reach
ing the hospital or during or after some
emergency operation.