Evening star., 1903-08-15
HEALING BY MACHINERY.
Automatic Devices Which Take the
Place cf Expert Surgeons.
From the New YCrk srcss.

From the New YCri srcss
Hospital patients can be nursed by
machinery An inventor has recently pat
ented an ingenious little machine, consist
ing of a small box, in which is q self-reg-
istering thermometer. connected electrically
with tiny bell. This register is pat under
the armpit of person suffering from fever,
and when his temperature rises the bell
rings and the doctor or nurse is summoned.
A wound stitching machine is the inven-
ton of another doctor named Michel. 1t
works very much more rapidly than the old
method of stitching by hand, is painless
and effective. 1t consists of case or
sheath holding a number of nickel hooks
or bands. like those used for the corners of
cardboard boxes TiIcy put in position
with q pair of forceps and can be adjusted
at the rate of twenty-five a minute. Their
rounded points do not penetrate the lower
layer of the skin, but only the iridermis,
and therefore the pain caused by them is
very Slight They have the additional ad-
vantage of being very easily disinfected.
A most curious invention is that of DR..
Coakley for stimulating q weak heart. 1t
consists of hollow needle some eight
inches long. made of an alloy OF gold, and
driven by a little electric motor. 1t is SO
Shaped that it be used to actually
pierce the heart and inject into it a soiu-
ton of salt and warm water which viii
Stimuia te the organ and prolOug and
save life. Somewhat similar is the device
of Dr.. Cordler, which is for the cure of neu-
raigia and similar pains. IL is a sort of gi-
gantic hypodermic syringe. by the aid of
which not medicine but air can be injected
beneath the skin OF the sufferer. \ sort of
bubble of air is formed under the skin, and
this being kneaded along the painful parts,
gives instantaneous reilef IN revere cases
of sCiatica, lum5aso and other neuralgia
Affections.
For the cure Of consumption machine
has been devised which can also be opera
ted from the lamp socket of an ordinary
electric light. 1t consists of 4 transformer
and what is called an Audriols tube. This
converts the oXy-hydrogen of the air into
ozone. Ozone is the active agent in sea
air, and one of the most effectual killers
of the consumption microbe. Most elabo-
rate machines. of which the controlling
power is electricity, have been devised for
curing headaches and other temporary all
mentS. and for the purpose of massage.
One is q sort of metal helmet, through
which alternating currents of electricity are
passed. Another communicates very rapid
vibrations to the head. There is a third,
not electrical but purely mechanical. which
is used for massaging the liver, and SO cur
ing the miserable pains induced by indi-
geStion.
Insomnia is now treated by a simple ma
chine which passes an electric current
through the body of the patient This cur
rent is Interrupted 200 times a second by
the device, and it is to this interruption
that it owes it's efficacy. A person kept
under its Influence for sufficient length OF
time not only goes to sleep, but is hypno-
tzed and becomes absolutely insensible to
pain. In this condition any operation can
be performed