424
KOTES,
CASES,
Fig. I (Askovitz). Tlie new .surgical galvanic unit.
Many of the smaller power units^ do not provide a sufficient output. W i t h this in mind, a new unit was constructed at this laboratory, using an adequate dry-cell bat tery capable of supplying up to nine milli amperes of galvanic current (fig. 1 ) . This self-contained power source is independent of any special external voltage, and it does not need to be grounded. Furthermore, it completely eliminates the possible 110-volt shock hazard inherent in plug-in line-oper ated units. A selector switch permits use of either a low range ( f o r electrolysis of cilia or re
INSTRUMENTS
moval of minor g r o w t h s ) , or a higher range for more extensive procedures, and there is a rheostat control for fine adjustment. T h e neutral electrode originally developed for use with electrolysis and iontophoresis^'^ has proved to be quite satisfactory with this new galvanic unit also. T h e specially coated aluminum bar is grasped by the patient's bare hands. "Electrode jelly" has been found to be unnecessary. T h e active electrode, ob tainable with an insulated clip or with the usual pencil-shaped end to receive suitable needle tips, is attached to the negative out let. A meter on the front panel indicates accurately the current in use, to a fraction of a milliampere. The type of battery employed should ordinarily last about two years or even longer. A test button allows checking the state of the battery at any time, without the need for tools or test equipment. T h e test circuit diverts all the current from the panel outlets, so that the test button may also be used as an instantaneous cut-out switch, in case the initial current is excessive or the local anesthesia inadequate. T h e entire a s sembly is contained in a Bakelite enclosure, 6}i by 5}i by 2 ^ inches in size. York and Tabor Roads (41).
RKFKREN'CES
1. Sultzberger, M. B., and Heinlein, J. Α . : Section on "Direct current," in Medical Physics, Chicago, Year Book Publishers, 1950, v. 2, pp. 990-991. 2. Askovitz, S. I.: An improved electrolysis-iontophoresis unit. Am. J. Ophth., 38:719-720 (Nov.) 19S4. 3. Berens, C , Sheppard, L. B., and Duel, A. B., Jr.: The surgery of glaucoma: Cycloelectrolysis versus cyclodiathermy. Acta X V I Concilium Ophthalmologicuni (Britannia), 1950, pp. 956-970. 4. : Cycloelectrolysis for glaucoma: Am. J. Ophth., 34:53-70 (Jan.) 1951. 5. Askovitz, S. I . : Several new and improved electronic devices. J. Albert Einstein M. Center, 2:173-178 (Aug.) 1954.
INSTRUMENT T O
TEST
DESIGNED
DIPLOPIA
W A L T E R
H.
F I N K ,
FIELDS* M.D.
Minneapolis, Minnesota
The instrument (fig. 1) is designed to simplify the study of diplopia fields, and is * Made by the Benson Optical Company, Minne apolis, Minnesota.
particularly valuable in the analysis of tor sional defects. It consists of a small flashlight on which is mounted an elongated head at right angles to the flashlight. T h e head h a s a slit which produces a narrow line of light when the light is on. T h e test is carried out in a dimly lighted room with the patient holding a red glass in
NOTES, CASES, I N S T R U M E N T S
425
known phenomenon, a complete qualitative resistance o f a strain to all the commonly used antibiotics must indeed be rare. There fore, it seemed worthwhile to report on a strain o f Micrococcus pyogenes var. aureus (coagulase positive) which was isolated from the lower cul-de-sac o f a nine-day-old N e g r o infant suffering from an acute blepharocon junctivitis ( O . U . ) . T h e organisms which were g r o w n on blood brain-heart infusion agar were tested against the following antibiotics using bactosensitivity discs.'f ANTIBIOTICS
Fig. 1 (Fink). Instrument to test diplopia fields.
front o f one eye. The instrument is moved into the cardinal fields o f vision and the pa tient indicates the relationship o f the t w o lines if diplopia is present. Because the test does not necessitate the use o f a screen, it can be performed in the examining chair. This important test can thus be made part o f the routine investiga tion and is especially valuable in the analysis of the vertical defects. Because o f its sim plicity, it can be used profitably even in the young patient. 1921 Medical Arts Building
INSENSITIVITY
TO
(2).
COMMONLY
USED ANTIBIOTICS* OF A STRAIN OF MICROCOCCUS PYOGENES T E D SUIE,
PH.D.
Columbus, Ohio
Although the development o f bacterial re sistance
to various antibiotics
is a well-
Aureomycin Bacitracin Choromycetin Dihydrostreptomycin Penicillin Polymyxin Β Terramycin Neomycin Tetracycline Erythromycin
CONCENTRATIONS
60, 20, 60, 100, 10, 30, 60, 60, 60, 10.
30, 10, 30, 10, 1, 10, 30, 30, 30, 1,
10 2 10 1 0.5 5 10 10 10
μg. units μg. μg. units μg. μg. μg. μg. μg.
In no instance did this organism exhibit sensitivity to any o f the antibiotics in the concentrations used in this study. T h e Furacin* ( 1 0 m g . ) disc produced a 24-mm. zone o f inhibition which may be considered significant. This report w o u l d indicate that organisms resistant to all the usual antibiotics may o c cur in external ocular infections. This could obviously pose important problems from the clinical as well as the epidemiologic point o f view. Department of Ophthalmology. * From the Department of Ophthalmology, The Ohio State University College of Medicine. t Difco Laboratories, Detroit 1, Michigan. * Eaton Laboratories, Inc., Norwich, New York. I wish to thank Dr. Alfred L. Joseph for sub mitting the material for bacteriologic examination.