A VALUABLE ACQUISITION.

Feilding Star, Volume I, Issue 276, 27 May 1907, Page 3

A VALUABLE ACQUISITION.

188 ELECTRICAL PLANT FOR WELLINGTON HOSPITAL. Thanks to the enterprise of the Board of the Wellington 'Hospital, and the timely visit of Dr. Ewart to England recently ? apparatus has been purchased, and is now being fitted up, which will place our local hospital easily in the front rank as regards electrical examination and treatment of patients by the latest European nfethode. It may safely be asserted that tiie apparatus in question, chosen after painstaking investigation in England, forms a collection of modern appliances for the purposes specified, which at present has no equal in Australasia. Taking the apparatus in detail, the largest machine consists of a nine-horse-power motor (to be operated off the town lighting circuit), which is coupled to a direct current generator. Primarily ,this is required to operate arc lamps employed for the "Finsen" process, but incidentally it will serve to charge storage cells And light the operating room. For Rontgen Ray work were are two induction coils, one giving an 16in spark, for operating-room purposes, and one 12in spark coil, having a table on castors, and which can be wheeled to any ward, carrying with it aU necessary appliances. Tube stands with universal points for adapting the Rontgen tube to any position, also an adjustable couch and photographic gear, accompany these sets. An ordinary trembler make and break contact on the coils is supplemented by a mercury revolving break and Wenhelt electrolytic interrupter, either of which can be used at vflL Full photographic apparatus is included, also fluoroscopes for immediate visual examination. Adequate appliances for both the patient and tno operator are provided to protect from the "burning" effect. Two "Finsen" lights are provided, and their special function is the radical cure of "lupus" and kindred skin affections. This plant is complete in every detail, and has a real value in the class of affection specified. 7 here is also a complete "high frequency" plant for the tieatnr.ent of mental and nervous disorders, for which it is of valuable service. A set of apparatus for electrolytic treatment of the body by immersian of the extremities in porcelain pans, and the passing of electric currents through the body, is als> included, and covers the treatment of muscular and nerval disorders by electricity. A minor but necessary, adjunct is an apparatus for laryngeal examination by electric light, and an electric cautery outfit. , Needless to say, there are innumerable adjuncts, such as indicating n.eters and special appliances to suit varying conditions, accompanying the plant, and Dr. Ewart is deserving of every praise for the painstaking way in which he has* gone into the subject. It only remains to again congratulate the Wellington public upon the acquisition of electrical apparatus which will place their, hospital in the forefront as regards the intelligent and practically instant understanding of CA96B which under ordinary circt mstanoa might be obscure for a time.— Post.