Nervous diseases : their description and treatment / by Allan McLane Hamilton.

  • Allan McLane Hamilton
Date:
1878
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Nervous diseases : their description and treatment / by Allan McLane Hamilton. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    83 j)iiralysis. Tlie inslriiments of tlie two lirms I liavc mentioned, besides tliose of Drescher and Kidder, are ull good. Two or three cotton-clotli covered electrodes of different sizes, or flat sponges witli riibl)er backs, with fine wire pole cords instead of tlic flimsy gold-thread connections in ])rcsent nsc, which oxidize and break, will be needed, as well as a bundle of fine wires held in a handle, which is known as the electric brush. Rubber Mus CLES, ETC.—Dr. Van Bibber, of Baltimore, has devised a very useful apparatus for the treatment of paralysis, especially of lead paralysis. It consists of a strap for the hand or other part which needs support, and one for a point of attachment of the muscle. When properly applied, the rubber pipe, which takes the place of the paralyzed muscle, raises the hand, so that the strain upon the enfeebled muscle is relieved. Dr. Van Bibber has also used court plaster for the treatment of ptosis and other minor paralyses. The Hypodermic Syringe, Ether Spray Apparatus, and Spinal and Cranial Ice Bags, should be procured by every physician who has occasion to treat this class of diseases. Cauteries Until a few months ago the old form of cautery was used almost exclusively. These are of iron, and are sometimes platina covered. When they are needed, they are heated in the flame of a Bunsen burner, Russian blast lamp, or some such contrivance, but lose their heat very rapidly, and generally assume a dead red color when they are to be ap- plied. The glass rods, heated in a like manner, though somewhat more convenient, become very quickly cool. Dr. J. J. Putnam, of Boston, exhibited at a meeting of the American Neurological Association the fii-st gas cautery which was seen in this country. In some respects it was imperfect. It produced a noise which was harrowing to the patient, and it was expensive and cumbersome. The apparatus consists of two pipes (one within the other), which convey air or oxygen and illuminating gas to a common burner. These tubes are connected with stopcocks (Fig. 8, A, 2, 2), which enable the operator to control the size of the flame. A handle (1) covered at one end by a shield, completes tlie body of tiie instrument. At the end of the burner is a dome of platinum, which is fastened to the end of the burner by a ring and clamp {B, 4), so that, by a simple movement, the dome can be removed and replaced by another. About the lower edge of the pla- tinum, is a small collar of wire gauze, expanded at its lower end, which prevents the escape of any return flame {B). From the two stopcocks pass rubber tubes, one to the gas-burner, the other to a T of brass pipe, the middle branch of which extends into a large spinal ice-bag {A, 3). This is covered by a strong net. To the other branch a rubber tube is attached. This tube terminates in an ordi- nary rubber atomizer-bulb.