AN ACQUISITION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20124, 18 April 1928, Page 6

AN ACQUISITION

NEW HOSPITAL ANNEXE s VALUABLE X-RAY APPARATUS The wonderful advance that has been made recently in medical research to combat the ever-in-creasing threats of disease is perhaps one of the greatest blessings for which the world has to be thankful to-day. The discovery of radium and the successful experiments with the X-ray force are two of the greatest factors that have facilitated the path of progress of surgery. Alost hospitals have taken advantage of these two important discoveries, and the Wanganui Board has not been slow to act. Indeed the citizens of Wau* ganui may well be proud of the enterprise shown by the Hospital Board, who, with citizens’ help, have caused to be constructed, one of the most up-to-date X-ray plants in the Dominion, if not the most up-to-date. The annexe, which is under the supervision of a highly experienced and competent staff, can well be considered one of the finest acquisitions the city possesses. Interesting Apparatus. A “Chronicle” man had the pleasure yesterday of inspecting the building, the superintendent, Dr W. H. Hastings, explaining at considerable length the working of the various sets of apparatus, which to the lay mind appear very complicated, but xvhich are absorbingly interesting, especially when one can. see the joints of one’s arms and fingers moving under the ray. Dr Hastings also produced a number of negatives taken of diseased parts of the body, and even an amateur would readily distinguish the affected parts. Prompt Attention. The building has a separate entrance, so that the patient can be speedily brought into the operating room, which is approximately 25 feet square, there thus being plenty of room to work in. 'The appartaus is nearly all of the Victor equipment type, some being English and some American. There are various appliances for examining the patient in different positions. The horizontal screening stand has the Xray tube underneath the patient, who lies stretched out at full length on what appears to be a table. Above the patient is a movable screen, which sfiows the impression of whatever part of the body the ray is centred on. This is used principally for examining the limbs. The upright screening stand is another interesting apparatus, it being used for the rapid examination of the •Stomach and intestines, enabling six photographs to be taken at short intervals of time of any particularorganisa. Tie third apparatus is what is known as the Balance Cassette Changer, which is used for rapid stereoscopic examinations of the thorax. These two instruments are be.auti* fully constructed and are exceedingly valuable. The negative photographed is examined on a stereoscopic screen which shows out in bold relief the outline of the object taken. As soon as the photograph is taken it is immediately sent to the dark room, where it is developed in a few minutes. Lead-Lined Compartments. Other parts of the building inspected were the treatment and power-generat-ing rooms, which are both heavily lined with lead for the purposes of deadening the noise and for the safety of the operator, who is closeted in a separate room, also lead-lined. The lead has the effect of checking the force of the rays, which could do considerable damage if they were allow’ed to escape. Dr Hastings showed the reporter a small quantity of radium, which it was noticed, he did not handle for any length of time. The radium was enclosed in a small lead vessel about the size of one’s thumb-nail. This small quantity is worth about £5O. Suffering Eased. Another interesting apartment visited was the aerated bath chamber, which contains two circular earthenware baths. At the bottom of each bath is a perforated pipe, which emits compressed air. They are filled with hot water, and when the air is turned on, the appearance is of a bath of sodawater. The baths arp used for bathing injured arms and legs, and have * very soothing effect. There are also massage and violetray apartments, which contain other appliances to relieve the suffering of patients, particularly those afflicted with rheumatism.

When asked if he was satisfied with the appliances at his disposal, Dr Hastings replied emphatically in the affirmative. “I was entrusted with the designing of the building and apparatus,” he added, “and I think very little has been overlooked. ”