THOMPSON'S PATENT HYDRO-PNEUMATIC INHALER.
The great tendency of the people of this island to pulmonary com- plaints, and of late years to severe and dangerous throat diseases, has in- duced medical men to try every kind of counteractive, and among others mechanical aids and appliances. Of this class are Dr. Hastings's " mop," and Dr. Quain's syringe, and the instrument of Mr. Thompson, the name of which is at the bead of this paper. These instruments are for [the local treatment of affections of the larynx and mucous pas- sages of the throat, by injecting a • solution of nitrate of silver, or other medicated, liquid, into and upon the diseased parts. Mr. Thompson's instrument has an action decidedly different from that of the other two instruments. The apparatus consists of a bellows about a foot long and eight or nine inches wide, which is kept extended about a foot by a spring in the inside. Near the outer extremity and in the centre of the top of the bellows is a hole to admit tho air; also, in the centre of the front part of the bellows, is a small hole into which is adjusted an india- rubber tube, some four or more feet in length, having its other extremity attached to the neck of a small egg-shaped glass flask.
This flask has two necks, the one already mentioned which branches off from the side in the form of an S reversed,-the other perpendicular 'to the flask, itself. To the upright neck of the flask is attached, by means Of a screw or union joint, a nozzle made of hardened indiarubber about a foot in length, and the size of a large penholder; its extremity being curved at right angles with its shaft- Passing down the centre of the flask is a glass cylinder, having its bottom end perforated with a number of email holes; it is kept in its position by a silver spring. In the,end of the nozzle is placed a disc of wire gauze so fine in its divisions as to be scarcely perceptible. The manner of using the instrument is this. A drachm or drachm-and-vhalf of the fluid is .poured into the flask, the nozzle is screwed on, and-the turned part with the wire gauze is put into -theiatient's mouth, and if it' be necessary down his throat. The operator puts his foot oil the bellows covering the whole, and squeezes it down ; the
air is forced into the flask.; -,the,liquicl is forced, in a continuous stream, through the nozzle; and it passes thrOugh the wire gauze as a mere film of vapour, and is dispersed upon the diseased surfaces, in a minutely divided and misty spray. According to Mr. Thompson, it passes through the opening of the glottis, luring inspiration, without causing the slightest inconvenience to the patient. The instrument can be used to' apply the nitrate of silver to any portion of the body as well as the throat. We must be understood to offer no opinion-of our own on' he use of this instrument; we only describe it as an ingenious mechanical design which must speak for itself.
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