Evening star., 1927-05-17

which barbital, one of the newer sleep
producing drugs, is administered be-
fore the local anesthetic. This pre-.
vents the fatal action of the local
anesthetic on the centerS of resplra-
ton which sometimes throws the pa
tienr into asphyXial conVulsions from
which death results. Barbitai Is
drug of the choral group, from which
all elements have been removed eN-
cept those which induce normal sleep.
The physician does not administer
enough actually TO put the patient 10
sleep, but only enough to prevent the
effects of the anesthetic on the timing
functions of the heart.
The DEVELOPMENT of anesthetlcS, IL
was explained by DR.. John II. Evans
of Buffalo, president of the congress,
started about the time Of the American
Revolution. when the idea OF using
gases in the treatment of disease
started, but this has largely been drop
ped since. DIR. Evans predicted re-
turn to gas therapy, particularly IN
the use Of oxygen. This has exactly
the opposite effect to an anesthetIc,
increasing the negative electrical po'
tential of the body. 1T is the greatest
single factor in human life. II mas
generally been believed that admins
tration of pure oxygen continued Tor
any length of time would prove fatal,
hut DR.. Evans reported cases where
patients have suffered no Ill eHects
from prolonged treatment in this way.
Effects OF Oxygen.
Effects of oxygen treatments have
been pronounced, he said, in the treat
naent of asthma and very effective in
l.t1
diseases, He detailed a method of adj
ministration with face mask or ma
sal inhaler similar to the mechanism
used for giving ether. One advantage,
il was explained. is that the oxygen
treatment can be given at low cost
so as to be within. reach of patients
who cannot afford expensive hospital
treatment. ..
DIR. John L. Sampson of San Fran
cisco described method of repro
ducing and recording heart sounds
by a new type of phonograph and
then photogra phing the sound waves
on a Aim so that the physician can
study them at leisure. In the past
the only method Of examining heart
sounds has been with the stethoscope.
the physician forming his judgment
by ear alone. This was very likely to
Deaths on the operating table in
known cases of heart ailments. it was
pointed out, are not one per cent
greater than among people with per-
feet hearts. But in II per cent of the
cases where the patient although the
heart may be apparently normal, has
weak heart sounds, there is no re-
covery, With the phonograph and
photograph method. the heart action
of the prospective patient can be
studied for a long time before he goes
OH the operating table.
Britisher Is Guest
A new method Of recording blood
pressure by electricity was explained
by DR.. d. r. Barr of Rochester, n. Y
The pulsation coming through the in
| flated armband can be recorded on a
circular chart. All human error is
eliminated. The apparatus can be adj
| justed by the layman and then for
warded to an insurance company or
| hospital where it can be studied at
| leisure.
Scrolls were presented by the Con-
| gresS to DR.. II. NJ. Cohen of Man
| chester. England, and DR.. Arno b.
Luckheart. DR.. Cohen. the guest of
| honor of the society, is editor of the
| British Journal of Anesthetics. DR..
| Luckheart of the University Of Chi
cago Medical School was honored for
| his researches which have established
| ethelyne gas as a standard anesthetlc.
| A scroll also was awarded to DR. Car
rol Koller of New York City, declared
F.! to be the discoverer of the local an
esthetic properties of cocaine and the
| first to demonstrate the possibility of
| painless eye operations under cocaine
! in 1884
A loving cup was presented to DR.
| William Hamilton Long of Louisville
| Ky, who has done much to further
| the use of.anesthetics in the hospitals
| of the South DIR. Long. it was de-
clared at the special honor session
| last night, is the true successor in
the South to DIR. Crawford w. Long
| the discoverer of the anesthetic prop
critics of ether.
| To most mothers life is Just one
darped StDckinQ after aDOt her.