On stethometry : being an account of a new and more exact method of measuring & examining the chest, with some of its results in physiology and practical medicine also an appendix on the chemical and microscopical examination of respired air / by Arthur Ransome.

Arthur Ransome

Date:: 1876

Credit: On stethometry : being an account of a new and more exact method of measuring & examining the chest, with some of its results in physiology and practical medicine also an appendix on the chemical and microscopical examination of respired air / by Arthur Ransome. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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$II.] just perceptible in the narrow interspace between the fourth and fifth ribs, inches from the central line of the sternum, 2 inches from the nipple, and |-.an inch below its horizontal level. The difficulty of comparing together a number of cases in terms like these would be so great as to be almost impossible, especially when variations in the nipple-site occurred. 3. The points and lines of reference are themselves liable to alter their position, both in movements of the body or in the work of respiration and the processes of disease. Dr. Sibson notes that in emphysema the sixth rib is some- times so much raised as to be only about i inch below the nipple, whilst in phthisis, on the other hand, this same rib may be as much as 4 inches below this point on the affected side. The nipples also vary somewhat in position in different persons even in health ; thus Luschka {Die Bnistorgane, p. 11), remarks that in most cases the left nipple lies close to the lower border of the fourth rib, but it may sometimes be found a rib's breadth lower. The clavicles are placed at various angles with respect to the sternum, and how greatly the scapiclce alter their posi- tion is known to every observer,^ 4. Again, there are not a few cases in which we should be glad not only of a means of greater brevity of noting, ^ In his Medical Anatomy Dr. Sibson gives the following measure- ments of the movements of the scapulre in one subject:— When erect, and the arms pendent, the spines were s| inches apart, and were opposite the third dorsal spine; the angles were 6 inches apart, and were opposite the eighth dorsal spine. When the aims were drawn back the spines approached to i^ inches and the angles to 3 inches. With the arms stretched upwards and fonvards the spines were 9 inches asunder and the angles 13 inches ; and with the arms crossed over the head the lower angles were 16^ inches apart. When the shoulders were shrugged as high as possible, the spines were level with the first dorsal spine.$