The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1897-02-20
HEAR YOURSELF WINK.
The Phonendoscope That Detects Dis
II NV Il ~

The Phonendoscope That Detects Dis
ease by Sound.
You can hear yourself wink. A Won
derful machine has been invented by
which the hitherto imperceptible sound
of the action Of the eyelid is made clear
and distinct to the ear. The Invention
is called the phonendoscope. The new
wonder was designed to be used by
physicians and surgeons for detecting
the presence of disease by sound. With
its perfection it will be possible for
the medical world to prepare perfect
chart which will enumerate the sound
of every disease known, and to instant
~ detect that sound with an applica-
ton of the phonendoscope. There will
be no mistake or demonstrations in
the matter of a diagnosis. The delicate
instrument which those who are for
tunate enough to catch glimpse Of
now handle as carefully as if it were
made of diamonds, consists of "a circu-
lar Sor tympanum box of highly-polish-
ed metal. On one of it's fat surfaces
there are two apertures for the attach
ment of that number, of little rubber
tubes, each fitted with tiny elbow nub
to be placed in either ear. The other
surface shows a thin and sensitive disk,
which is readily thrown into vibration.
The thin disk, being controlled by the
compressed air of the circular box, is
so sensitive that the faintest breath
upon the disk sends wave current
through the box, into the rubber tubes
and against the ear drum of the listen
ing person. Not only can this breath
upon the disk be heard, but it's force in
transit is multiplied a thousand-fold,
so that when it reaches the ear it
sounds like the roaring of a gale of
wind at sea. Tapping the disk lightly
with the fingers sends a sound into the
ears like the tramping of many horses,
and the wink of an eyelid gives forth
a sound like the fall of heavy waters
BY the arrangement of the rubber con-
Meeting tubes it will be understood that
the ends can be put into the ears so
that any one can hear himself wink or
detect the sound of the most gentle
breathing.
For the use of surgeons in the locat-
ing OF disease is an ingenious contriv-
ance, which consists of second disk
attached to the first, with vulcanite
rod fastened so that the area of auscu-
lation may be extremely circumscribed.
BY adding the rod, the conduction of
sound is only slightly diminished, and
thus are combined the principle of the
solid stethoscope with that of the
tympanum. The rod usually attached
to the instrument is about two inches
long, but rods of greater length are
often used in exploring cavities of the
anatomy which communicate with the
exterior. If one of the larger rods be
inserted in the mouth, the sound of
swallowing can be heard, and the drop
ping of the soft palate is plainly audi
Bile. Used in connection with the
microphone transmitter of the tele-
phone, it would reproduce the beating
Of an irregular heart or the wheeling
of diseased bronchial tube lat a great
distance. Branched tubes are also
furnished, by means of which a num-
Der of persons may listen to the same
magnified sound at the same time. This
furnishes one point at least upon
which, when doctors disagree" opin-
ions will :coincide.-San Francisco Ex-
aminer.