Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1899-02-16
A NEW INVENTION.
introduced Into the Dental PROBES.
sion to Relieve Pain.


For a number of years it has been a
question with men of the dental pro-
fession whether OF not, in their vast do
main of scientific research. it would
ever be possible to invent Or discover
some means by which they might obvi-
ate the much dreaded suffering and
allay the awful pains incident to the
filling of teeth. In fact, this question
had it's origin along with that of the
science of dentistry, and from that
early period until aeent years it has
perplexed the minds of some of the
most profound thinkers the world has
ever known. Since the time of Leon
ard Koecker, who was first to estab-
fish the claims of the art to take rank
as distinct branch of science, nu-
merous theories and devices have been
put forth, and though there existed in
these the embryo of the present branch
of surgery-cataphoresis, they IN them
selves were all futile attempts.
This study, which in its primitive
stage was called electrical osmosis, has
in the last few years developed into one
requiring thorough knowledge of the
fundamental and scientific principles
undertaking the practice of surgery in
general.
In 1897 it was shown that the cata-
phoric principles could be easily ap-
Piled in the practice of dentistry, and
sjace that time it has proved to be a
great aid in that profession. This fact
caused many new inventions to ap-
pear, and following their natural
course of history, all sorts and condi-
tions of cataphoric appliances have
been put on sale and extensively ad-
vertised.
Just recently Dr.. George A. Sprin-
KEEL, the well known dentist, received
one of the most complete outfits of
eataphoric apparati ever seen in this
part of the State. Besides being
great addition in beautifying his
handsomely equipped office, it has al
ready been the means of saving great
Heal of suffering to number of per-
sons. This set of instruments consists
Of a box of generating cells. a current
controller, a milliamperemeter and
air of cataphoric electrodes.
There are number of people who
have horror of any operation requir-
ing the use of electricity, but there
could be no possible objection to the
application of electrical medicamental
diffusion in filling teeth. Such
thing as there being any danger is en-
tirely absurd, for the current neces-
sary to put tooth into state of an
esthesia is not even perceptible to the
naked hand. 1t is SO very slight that
the current required to ring small
bell for one hour would suffice for two
or three hundred hours of cataphoric
application.
The current controller is graduated
indicator and is used in applying the
voltage and current to the patient by
very small increments. The milliam-
peremeter is the most delicate instru-
ment in the outfit. It consists of
small cylindrical case, with gradu-
ated scale, and Indicating needle of an
extreme sensitive nature. By this the
exact resistance offered by each pa
tient is marked and the flow of current
necessary in any operation is told at
glance. The cataphoric electrodes, or
what are generally known as the poles
of the current, are simply the knobs
attached to the wires. One of these
is held in the patients hand and the
other is put in contact with the tooth.
By 80 manipulating, the subject Or
tooth is completely anesthetised, thus
rendering the nerves of same entirely
insensitive to pain, and any operation
can be performed upon 1t without the
least discontinue to the patient.