Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-02-24

landmark in surgical progress. The his
tory of surgery falls by a natural divi-
sion into two eras-'before Lister and
| after Lister The Historian principle of
safeguarding wounds from every possi-
BILE contamination will stand forever as
the foundation stone of scientific SUR
gerry
Another thing for which the nineteenth
century is conspicuous is the invention
of surgical Instruments, and among the
| most wonderful achievements in this line
are the opthalmoscope, invented by
Helmholtz, in 1851: the laryngoscope, in
| vented in the same year by Garcia; the
sphrymograph and c%ardigraph: the elm
ical thermometer; the electric search
light for the stomach; the microscope:
the spectroscope and Neutrality-suspicious.
ter. but. above all, stand the stethoscope,
by means of which the modern physi-
clan detects the condition of the heart
and lungs. and the test-tube that dis
closed the existence of any irregularities
in the structure or functions of the kid
neys.
There can be no question but that the
discovery of the X-ray was one Of the
most remarkable achievements of the
century. although there is reason to be-
lieve that physicians and scientists in
general have not vet discovered the
means of making it fulfill its full mis-
sion.
lHE ANAL.
History will probably repeat itself with
the X-ray. At first it was a toy, an in
strument thai could be used to amuse,
and, to a certain extent, instruct. Later
it was discovered that it might be made
to do good work in the location of frac-
lures, the position of foreign substances
and the formation of certain portions of
the human system. Little by little these
tests have led to new discoveries until to-
4 n ~ IL Y mn =, hoc r.ko~l ;%c oox~
to other departments of practical medi-
cine to such a degree that it has become
a valuable aid to correct diagnosis. It is
true that the X-ray is still most efficient
as am aid to surgery, but there are rea-
sons to believe that the time is not far
INSTANT when it's therapeutic value will
be so developed that it will be as great
an aid to the ordinary physician in the
discovery of the cause and the treatment
of disease. Already it has been used
with good results in determining the size
and location of tumors, clotS and other
growths, as we'll as for examination in
cases where pulmonary tuberculosis a
been suspected. AS the result of these
tests it seems safe to say that the i'm
portance Of the X-ray has not yet been
definitely realized, and that the expert
ments of the next few years will greatly
widen the scope of it's usefulness,
While the discoveries mentioned are
achievements of the century, it is diff
cult to say which has been Of the most
value to mankind. It is true that there
have been other inventions that have
done much to mitigate pain and prolong
life, and yet, great as have been the
achievements, everything indicates that
We have not yet attained anything like
the summit of perfection. Every year
witnesses new inventions and new dis
%coveries and the next century will doubt
less witness advancements as great as
amy that AVE marked the passage Of
the nineteenth. Still it a be admitted
that the present century is closing a rec
ord of progress in medicine and surgery
of Which the scientist may we'll feel
proud, for the achievements in these
branches of research have certainly kept
pace with the advancement of the age.