Transactions (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos or missing text. Not indexed. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1907. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... PHYSIOLOGIC AND CLINICAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE ALIMENTARY CANAL BY MEANS OF THE ROENTGEN RAYS. G. E. PFAHLER, M.D. PHILADELPHIA. PART I. THE GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT. The superiority of this method of examination over others is recognized, I think, by all who have investigated it sufficiently. To date, there have been about 55 contributions on the subject, and the method has reached a stage of development, when no case involving a chronic ailment of the alimentary canal is completely investigated until there has been a Roentgenologic examination by a competent man. Cannon1 by this method has added to our knowledge of the physiology of the gastrointestinal tract. Rieder of Munich, however, was the first to place the clinical study on a firm footing. After the administration of large quantities of bismuth food he was enabled to obtain beautiful negatives showing the size, position and form of the stomach, and to a certain extent the rate at which the stomach would empty itself. Holzknecht3 advanced particularly the Roentgcnoscopic method, and by means of the fluorescent screen he was enabled to study not only the points determined by Rieder, but also to recognize the peristaltic movements of the stomach walls, the effect of the respiration and the effect of massage on the contents of the stomach. 1. The Journal A. M. A., March 21, 1903: Anns. Surg., April, 1906; Am. Jour, of 1'hysiol., vi, 123-149. 2. Munch. Sled. Wochschr., Aug. 30. 1904. 3. Berlin, kiIn. Wochschr.. Jan. 29, 1906: Mltteilungen aus dem. Lab. f. radiol. Diagnost. u. Therap., Vienna. In America, the Roentgen method of examination of the gastrointestinal tract has been especially employed in the study of gastroenteroptosis by Hulst4 and Pancoast.5 My studies began in March, 1905, after reading the ...