Jasper County Democrat, Volume 1, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 February 1899 — WATCHING THE STOMACH. [ARTICLE]

WATCHING THE STOMACH.

The Ex-Ray Enables Physicians to Study Life Functions. The application of the Roentgen rays, especially in the domain of medicine and surgery, are of constantly widening usefulness, although one hears less of them in the daily press, now 'that the keen edge of novelty has been blunted by a world’s appreciation. Two fields of exploration made possible by the fluorescence of vacuum tubes, and recently entered, are of noteworthy promise. One is the examination of lung tissue in the case of consumption. The healthy lung gives comparatively little shadow in the sciagraph, while the diseased tissue has a much darker appearance in the picture. It is thus possible to ascertain exactly the part affected, and to attempt palliative or remedial treatment accordingly. The other recent use of the Roentgen ray of especial value is in observing the movements of the stomach and its contents in the preliminary digestive process. By mixing subnitrate of bismuth, which is said to be a harmless powder, with the food, the movements of the stomach may be seen by means of the fluoroscope under suitable conditions. The knowledge thus gained is of great importance to the physiologist and the physician, and many facts hitherto nnknown are revealed. It is not strange that an English writer playfully remarked that the X ray may yet be employed to read the riddle of the Sphinx. It is certain that Prof. Roentgen gave to the world a discovery which is bringing to mortal gaze many of the deep-hidden mysteries of nature.—Western Electrician.