Year: 1879

THE SPHYGMOPHONE.-A a recent
meeting of the Medical Society of Lon
don, the Oldest of the learned societies
of medicine in England, DR.. Richardson
brought before the meeting new in
strument he has designed, which bids
fair to find large field of use in diagnos-
ing diseases of the circulatory system. 1t
consists of an ingenious combination of
the sigmograph, by which the beating
of the pulse is graphically delineated on
paper, the microphone, which magnifies
sound, and the telephone, which so mar
velously enhances the power of hearing;
and its effect is to render the beating of
the pulse distinctly audible. The clock
part of the sigmograph is replaced by
microphonic slide, the working power
is small bi-chromate battery, a sigmo-
phone, then n rest for the wrist, and
finally Bell telephone. The principle
is that when the pulse is working the
needle series of motions are made
along the microphone slide instead of
along paper, and the sounds then pro-
duced are communicated from the mi
crophone to the telephone. By modify
ing the battery power, the Intensity of
the sounds can be increased so rs To be
heard 80 yards from the instrument or
so disminished as to be quite inaudible
to patient, and to require that the ply
sician shall apply the telephone to his
ear to be able to distinguish them. In
its present stage of development, DIR.
Richardson said the sphygmophone was
not SO applicable to the cardiac as to the
wrist pulse, but he had almost arrived at
an instrument which he anticipated
would indicate failure of chest move
ment in particular parts of the chest.
An experiment with the instrument was
then made, and the sound of the pulse
beating at the wrist of one of the gen.
tlemen present made audible with diff
ferent degrees of intensity. DR.. Rich
ardson then gave an account of his own
experience with the instrument in spe-
cially Indicating palpitation, aortic de-
ficiency, increased and deficient arterial
relaxation, partial intermittence, and
anemia, and his reasons for believing
that its use would throw increased light
on these arrangements of the circula-
tion.-London Standard.


THE New COPYING PRoCEss.-This
process consists in transferring to pad
or tablet, composed essentially of Il gel
atinized solution of glue in glycerine,
writings made on paper with a strong
solution of one of the aniline dyes-vio-
let or blue being generally preferred


and from this obtaining duplicate copies
of the original by simply pressing sheets
of paper on the transfer. The mOduS
operdndi of the copying is given briefly
as follows: Write with n steel pen on
ordinary writing paper; allow to dry;
press the writing gently upon the tab
let, allow it to remain a minute, when
the greater part of the ink will have
been transferred to the gelatinous sur
face, and as soon as the paper has been
removed the tablet is ready to take i'm
pressions from. Place ordinary writing
paper upon the charged tablet, smooth
ing over with the hand, and Immediate
| ly remove the sheet, which will be found
to bear q correct copy of the original
writing; repeat with other sheets until
the transferred ink becomes exhausted.


Immediately after, wash the tablet with
water and a sponge, let it dry, and it is
ready again for use. With tablet and
ink prepared according To the following
80 good copies from one transfer have
been obtained, and doubtless with care it
would afford twice this number. The
proportions for the pad or tablet are !:


Gelatine, ounce; glycerine, Ia fluid


ounces. Cooper's gelatine and pure


concentrated glycerine answer very well.


Soak the gelatine over night in cold


water, and in the morning pour off the


water and add the swelled gelatine to


the glycerine heated to about 200o Fab.


over a saltwater bath. Continue the


heating for several hours to expel as


much of the water us possible, then pom


the clear solution into Il shallow pan OF


on a piece of cardboard placed on a


level table and having its edge turned


up about one-eighth of an inch all auound


to retain the mixture, and let it remain


for six hours or more, protected from


dust. Rub over the surface u asponge


slightly moistened with water, and Lei


it nearly dry before making the first
transfer. The ink is prepared by dis
solving l ounce of aniline violet or blue
g r B to By in fluid ounces of no,


water, and, on cooling, adding ounc,


of wine spirit with one-fomth ounce O
| glycerine, few drops of ether, and
!, drop of carbolic acid. Keep the ink il
) awell stoppered bottle.-- Seientsffc inner


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