The haemarumascope / by Octavius A. White.

  • Octavius Augustus White
Date:
1877
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The haemarumascope / by Octavius A. White. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    It lias been found important, also, that the diameter of the tube should bear a certain relative proportion to the diameter at the base, in order to render it highly impressionable to every pulse feature which may tran- spire beneath, when applied for scientific exploration. The shaft of the tube will be found carefully graduated into centimetres, to facilitate quick estimation of the features to be noted. In order to prepare the luemarumascope for an observation, a fraction of a drop of filtered solution of rose aniline in alcohol, with some essential spirit, must be introduced. The essential spirit is thus employed in com- bination with a view to its quality to diminish friction within the bore of the tube. The introduction of this sensitive solution into the calibre of the instru- ment must be effected with such skill as to insure unbroken solution of continuity in the column of fluid. When so accomplished, the two ex- tremities of the tube being left free, the fluid naturally gravitates to the most depending portion, which is just immediately at the lower bend of the instrument when held in readiness to be applied. Should the column of fluid, however, at any time become disunited within the shaft of the instrument by accidental admission of air, recon- solidation can be again readily effected by holding the instrument upright and by means of firm and steady pressure of its larger extremity upon the palmer surface of the hand, force the entire volume of the fluid upward to the smaller extremity. By this simple manoeuvre all air bubbles can be expelled, and the return secured of a united column of fluid back to its proper place, ready again for an observation. No demonstration has ever yet been afforded of characteristic blood- movement within the veins. The manifest difficulties attending the exami- nation of a current so undemonstrative have doubtless deterred many observers from essaying in that direction, and the question still recurs among physiologists respecting the cause and nature of the heartward stream of the circulation. That there are peculiarities of great therapeutical concern to observe about the venous system none who have carefully considered this subject can deny. The venous system is undoubtedly liable to its own peculiar class of derangements, and from it we have reason to look for most con- gestive actions. The manifestation of a palpable venous pulse has always been regarded as a sign of disease ; and Niemeyer and others have affirmed that when detected about the veins of the neck, it signifies that regurgitation is taking place actively through the tricuspid valve. Pulsation in veins is certainly rendered more manifest when any obstacle prevents too free flow of the blood through the pulmonary artery, or when the auriculo-ventricular valves fail to close with accuracy the passage in which they are placed. The learned physiologist, Hales, taught that all the blood which is
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