History of medical practice in Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

298 History of Medical Practice in IllinoisTrans, of the 111. State Med. Soc), which he devised that was "self-illuminating,not requiring the aid of a hand or forehead mirror." The instrumentalso had a bulb attachment which could provide passive movements of thedrum. In the same article Bishop presented an improved tonsillotomewhich "reduces the painfulness of the operation by one-half; it divests theprocedure of any danger of an accident to the operator or patient; it makesa skillful and easy operation possible with a minimum amount of experience."In addition he presented a self-retaining nasal speculum made ofspring-wire.On page 206 of the Transactions for 1888, Ingals was listed as Professorof Laryngology, Rush Medical College, and Professor of Diseases of theThroat and Chest, Woman's Medical College, Chicago, when he reportedon "Chronic Rheumatic Laryngitis,Throat."or Chronic Rheumatic SoreDr. R. J. Mitchell, of Girard, Illinois, reported 21 cases of diphtheriawith recovery. (Trans. 111. State Med. Soc, 1888, p. 31 1.) He said there hadoccurred no death among his patients in ten years on the following treatment:quinine grains 30, hydrochloric acid drops 30 to 1 ounce of watersprayed in every 2 hours; tincture ferric chloride and quinine internally,followed by alcohol 1-6 or whiskey 1-3 and water ad lib!!Dr. Ingals wrote of using a double tapered bougie tip for stricture ofthe esophagus. (Trans. 111. State Med. Soc, 1890, p. 318.) He gave an unfavorableprognosis in strictures from burns, scalds, chemical causes andmalignancy.In the last decade of the 19th century, electricity, which was to play sucha prominent role in the instrumentarium of the otolaryngologist, had notmade itself felt. The time can best be identified by quoting from the descriptionof examining technic in the book by Horace F. Joins(Diseases ofthe Nose and Throat, A Text-Book for Students and Practitioners, F. A.Davis Co., Publishers, Philadelphia, 1893), "F°r purposes of illuminationordinary daylight can be utilized, but, as this is usually too diffused, it isbetter to make use of the sun's rays or some form of artificial light. Gaslightfurnished by an Argand burner is mostly employed, because it is moreeasily controlled; but it is not always sufficiently powerful for examiningthe trachea, when it may be necessary to employ electricity, magnesiumwire, oxyhydrogen, lime, or some equally powerful illuminant. A verygood light, as suggested by Sajous, is obtainable by dropping a small pieceof gum-camphor into the tank of an oil-lamp A small incandescent lampmay be attached to the front of a head-band (photophore), by which thelight is thrown directly to the point desired. This is more or less cumbersome(although now made of aluminum) and necessitates wire attachmentsto the battery or dynamo."