A normal pulse in the veins / by Octavius A. White.

  • White, Octavius A. (Octavius Augustus), 1826-1903.
Date:
[1878]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A normal pulse in the veins / by Octavius A. White. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    me through many patient and assiduous efforts to detect and reveal its character and force, however infinitesimal it may prove to be in quantity and quality. Though absolutely and forever indiscernible, even by means of the most exquisite tactile skill, there yet appears to be an ex- tremely delicate feature about the movements of the blood within veins capable of being brought quite plainly into view by such a manometer only as the hsemarumascope. This origi- nal instrument, together with its mode of application, having already been so elaborately described,* the subjoined illustra- tion, on a reduced scale, is here offered to convey an idea of its delicacy and simplicity. “A series of experiments recently undertaken by me with the ordinary modern appliances, in order to determine, if possible, certain physiological points appertaining to the circulation of the blood, could not fail to impress a desire to have at command some more ready and sensitive instrument by which the various minute and delicate qualities and quantities about this latent current could be detected and an- alyzed. Peculiarities had been always supposed to exist in this element of nice grade and character, important to be noticed and estimated, yet destined apparently forever to elude tactual skill and even defy discovery by means of any instrument of precision hitherto devised. The instrument here prefigured was found after many patient trials to aid in refined investigations. Exquisitely sensitive to any impression, however del- icate, received from either artery or vein, it may be intended to explore, matters of vast interest and importance relating to the physiology of the circulation appear revealed by it for leisurely study. The hsemarumascope consists of a glass tube of fine calibre, free at both extremities, and bent symmetrically upon itself. This configuration has been selected with a view to abridge * The American. Journal of the Medical Sciences, July, 1S77.