THE ELECTRIC KNIFE

Hokitika Guardian, 18 September 1929, Page 3

THE ELECTRIC KNIFE

USED FOR TWO YEARS IN

CHRISTCHURCH

VALUABLE SURGICAL INVENTION. "

'CHRISTCHURCH, Sept! 14

“We- have been using it ly for tWo years,’ said Dr P. C. (Pelt-' wick, radiologist to the North" Canterbury Hospital Bbard, -when questioned about the electric knife, a dehcriptidiS' of which was cabled from Fremanllb yesterday. Tile apparatus was invent-’ fcd by Dr' George A. of tllb; Vanderbilt Clinic, United States di' America, whose personal, recommendff- ‘ tion determined Dr Fenwick to adopt" it. This was made possible through. the generosity of Mrs N. Hobda|f df Bealey Avenue’. The Christchurch Zealand and one of the first in Ne#' Zealand and one of the first: in the world to use the electric knife; Its peculiarly valuable features am., that when an incision is made not a drop 1 of blood is lost, there is very little, shock and facial features can be alter--’ ed 1 . without leaving trace of the knife.' The local apparatus is housed in tlie radium department of the hospital, but 1 Dr Fenwick' has installed electric plugs' in the walls of both operating, theatres’ as well as in two riursiiig Rbities sid! that its use is very extended. “TRe board also allows me to take,, it’ to] private hospitals if a surgeon wishes,’ 11 said Dr Fenwick, “which is very generous of the board as the apparatus is. thus at the service of* anyone in Christchurch.” .

PARTICULARLY FOR CAtfOEjk :

The knife' is known as the endotheflh knife and ,was designed ..’particularly, for the surgical treatment of cancel It acts through an adaptation of high-' frequency currents such as are used iii' continuous wave radio transmission. ; The knife emits a cold .spark, differing from other forms of electrical] caut’ej-P-' sation in that it does not burn of clmf ; the tissues. The cutting edge; is ,'an ordinary needle inserted in'a hard, rubber handle, through which the -highfrequency! currents ar©\ conducted. ? Toe generating apparatus is housed , in,i a large cabinet much, like the faniilipr property of a radio enthusiast and shewing an array of plugs and dials on fhe outside. Within are two powerful vacuum tubes which produce undated continuous oscillations on exactly thfe same principle as the thermionic valves used in radio: A conducting pad is placed against the body to-il>e operated on forming one termiiiaPof the high-frequency current,; and the needle for his ' the other. 7 The. rehiiU ance of tlie tissues of the body to the the applied electricity produces 'tile heat responsible for the surgical jli-o-cess. A neat bloodless cut results,,for the endotherm knife seals all the blood vessels iii passing. Shock also is .lessened. Ex.reme delicacy of control, is obtainable, it being possible to throttle the pow-ei- down for operating on c-ornba of the eye or on the vocal chords.-'. ...* . ;

USES OF DEVICE;: The machine has three distinct'Uses and it generates two kinds or current. The first js high in voltage, Sat low .in amperage, the amperage beirig ;tlie penetrating force. This .current is used in removing small superficial growths, local anaesthesia being applied. - The second process is used fqr the 'removal of cancerous growths. • The • patient •is put under complete anaesthesia apd coagulation in the tissue is ’ brought about by rue use of a relatively High amperage. The first step is tS describe in the healthy tissue a protective ring of destruction round the malignant area. This shuts off the blood vessels and lymphatics to and from the affected part, preventing cancer. cells firofii spreading to adjacent tissues, which was always a great danger with ordinary surgeon. It also- cuts off ihe sensory. nerves, producing an alleviation of pain. .The surgeon then proceeds to destroy the malignant spot by plunging the needle through it until it is killed. The current is again changed to tke cutting one, and the. tissue removed ;as dead instead of as living. The operation requires ;only a fraction of the time consumed in other forms of surgery. The third use of the . elective needle is when it is above the surface of raw flesh and the emitted current forms a crust, stopping bleeding and infection. Dr Wyeth has dedicated his instru-

ment to medical science, making, no effort to patent or control the endortherm treatment.