983

New Inventions.THE ATHMOSCOPE.

IT has seemed to me that much could be learned, andthe diagnosis of lung affection considerably aided, byauscultation of the breath sounds as they issue from thelarynx into the oral cavity. The column of air which passesdirectly from the pulmonary vesicles and alveoli along thebronchioles, bronchi, and trachea, conveys all the physio-logical or pathological sounds produced in the lung tissueinto the oral cavity, and thence into the outer air; and theabove-named apparatus has been designed for the purposeof affording a means whereby the auscultation of thesesounds may be the better effected. It consists simply of a

FIG. 1. FIG. 2.

hollow metal ball about the sizeof an orange, made of thin"musical brass," through whichthe patient is made to breathe; awide mouth-piece is fitted on atone pole, while the opposite poleis perforated by an opening ofa similar size, to admit of thepatient- breathing through the

ball, This serves as a collector and intensifier by resonation’of the sounds, normal or pathological, which pass throughit. (Fig. 1.) In order to convey these intensified soundsto the ear of the auscultator, a hollow metal stethoscope,the bore of which communicates directly with the interiorof the ball, is attached by a screw joint to the side of thelatter; or should the patient be recumbent, a flexible stetho-scope consisting of an indiarubber tube, to which an ear-pieceis fitted, may be used instead, as shown in Fig. 2. The patientmust be directed to breathe through the ball, not throughhis nostrils. (Fig. 3.) The mouth-piece is made wide, so

FiG. 3.

that the mouth is kept well open, thus allowing the columnof air to be comparatively free from impediment, the vocalcords then being widely separated, the tongue depressed,and the lips and teeth removed, for practical purposes, outof the way Laryngeal sounds may be distinguished frompulmonary by the nearer approximation to the ear, and theharsher noises of the former. By this means any additionto the normal sounds of the breath is readily perceived ; thecrepitation or degeneration sounds of phthisis, the moister

rales and rhonchi of brorachitie, the bronchial breathing ofred and the crepitatio redux of grey hepatisation, or thewhistling noises and rapid laboured inspirations of asthmaticaffections &c., may soon be diagnosed, and a more extendedstethoscopic examination made. In addition to these, afairly accurate knowledge may be arrived at concerning apatient’s capability of taking a deep inspiration, the rhythmand regularity of his breathing, and to a certain extent thecapacity of his lungs. Simple as is this instrument in aimand construction, I hope it may not be without a real usein aiding the diagnosis of lung disease.

i Woolwich Infirmary. J. MATTHEW CAW, M.B.

ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS OF ENGLAND.

THE following summary of the conditions relating to theuse by Fellows and Members of the new work-rooms at theCollege has been issued :-

Subjects of Research.-Anatomy, Physiology, and Patho-logy, Human and Comparative, including Histology; Hygieneand Therapeutics in their relation to Surgery.

Conditions of Study in the Work-rooms.-Appointmentswill be made by the Council for definite periods. Whenapplication is made for an appointment a prospectus ordescription of the proposed investigation shall be sent in,with as complete a list as possible of the necessary instru-ments and apparatus. No new line of research, other thanthat originally approved by the Council, shall be undertakenwithout their previous sanction. Reports of progress shallbe made to the Council at stated periods of investigation.The place and mode of publication of results of work shallbe determined by the Council. If any assistance be re-quired the investigator may provide it, but the person orpersons proposed must be approved by the Council. Nofixed hours of attendance will be required, but a recordmust be kept of actual hours of daily work. The necessaryinstruments and materials will be provided and expenses ofinvestigation will be defrayed by the College, but no pur-chase of any additional instruments or apparatus shall bemade without the sanction of the Council.

MIDLAND VOLUNTEER MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.

THE third annual meeting of this Association was heldon April 26th at the Great Western Hotel, Birmingham,when Surgeon Freer read the annual report, in which thecommittee recorded the continued usefulness of the Associa-tion and the additional interest taken in ambulance work.The report also stated that there were at present thirty-nine members, most of the battalions and batteries in theMidlands being represented, the committee expressing ahope that members would induce their friends in theVolunteer Medical Service to join. The annual manoeuvreshad been held at Oxley Manor, by invitation of ColonelGough and the officers of the 3rd Volunteer Battalion,South Stafford Regiment, and had been highly satisfactory.On the invitation of Colonel Lord Burton, it was decided tohold the annual field day this year at the encampment ofthe 2nd Volunteer Battalion, North Stafford Regiment inAugust, and a vote of thanks was accorded to ColonelLord Burton, Surgeon-Major H. M. Morgan of the aboveregiment being elected president of the Association for theyear. Surgeon E. S. Freer was re-elected honorary secre-tary, and the names of Surgeon F. H. Appleby, 4thVolunteer Battalion, Nottingham Regiment, and SurgeonJ. S. Wilson, 2nd Volunteer Battalion, South Stafford

Regiment, were added to the Committee. The questionof amalgamation with the Volunteer Medical Associationwas brought forward, and it was decided that the Presidentand Secretary (both being members of the Council of theVolunteer Medical Association) should lay the subject beforethat Council at their next meeting, and report to the membersat a special general meeting to be called for the purpose.The subject of the Royal Warrant for a reserve of medicalofficers was also discussed, the feeling of members beingsomewhat divided; and it was decided to bring this subjectalso forward at the special general meeting.The subscription to the Association is 5s. per annum,

payable to Edward S. Freer, Acting Surgeon, lst VolunteerBattalion, Royal Warwick Regiment (Hon. Sec.), 7, Newhall-street, Birmingham