476 
M. H. REYNOLDS. 
surgery was made before the British Medical Association in 
1898. I11 a French medical college, a course in the study of 
surgery has been established, to be illustrated by means of this 
instrument. Students can not only witness the operation in 
this way, but the operation can be as perfectly reproduced thou¬ 
sands of miles away, and it is possible that American surgeons 
can save considerable of their time by studying the operating 
methods in this way at home. 
A German surgeon has developed a device which enables 
the interior of the stomach to be photographed for the purpose 
of diagnosis. The camera is exceedingly minute and intended 
to be swallowed by the patient. As soon as it reaches the stom¬ 
ach the walls are illuminated by means of a small electric lamp. 
The narrow film, 20 inches long, is connected with a cord, the 
cord to be pulled by the operator. Conducting wires are of 
course swallowed with the camera and cord. 
The June number of the Journal of Comparative Medicine 
and Veterinary Archives publishes a practical article by Dr. 
Lowe, of New Jersey, detailing actual experiences with median 
neurectomies.* It is scarcely necessary to call attention to the 
great importance of this kind of information. Dr. Lowe first 
gives in detail methods of confining the patient and performing 
the operation. There is given nothing new in either, but the 
details are quite carefully described, so that one not familiar 
with the operation could quite easily follow the various steps as 
described. I would suggest in criticism that if the incision is 
made a trifle lower, the nerve is more easily found ; in fact, at a 
somewhat lower point the nerve can in most subjects be clearly 
defined by sense of touch and the incision made directly upon 
it. I also prefer to hold the lips of the wound open by a sim¬ 
ple retractor made from common rubber bands with a small pin 
hook at each end. This is self-retaining, no difference how 
much the horse struggles, and there is no blunt tenaculum or 
assistant’s hand in the operator’s way. Dr. Lowe urges a sur 
* This article was published in the July Review.—Editor. 
