RefNo | AP/38/6 |
Level | File |
Title | Paper, 'A description of a new sphygmoscope, an instrument for indicating the movements of the heart and blood-vessels; with an account of observations obtained by the aid of that instrument' by S [Somerville] Scott Alison |
Creator | Alison; Somerville Scott (1813-1877); Scottish physician |
Date | 12 January 1856 |
Description | Alison describes the sphygmoscope, 'a small chamber containing spirits of wine or other liquid, provided with a thin india-rubber wall, where it is to be applied to the chest. At the opposite extremity the chamber communicates with a glass tube, which rises to some height above the level of the chamber. Liquid is supplied to the instrument until it stands in the tube a little above the level of the chamber. The pressure of the column of liquid in the tube acts upon the elastic or‘yielding wall of india-rubber and causes it to protrude. This protruding part or chest-piece is very readily affected by external impulse; it yields to the slightest touch, and being pushed inwards, causes a displacement of the liquid in the non-elastic chamber, and forces a portion of liquid up the tube'.
Includes three figures in the text of the sphygmoscope. Annotations in pencil and ink throughout.
Subject: Scientific apparatus and instruments
Received 12 January 1856. Communicated by G O [George Owen] Rees.
This paper was published in full in volume 8 of volume 8 of the Proceedings of the Royal Society as 'A description of a new sphygmoscope, an instrument for indicating the movements of the heart and blood-vessels; with an account of observations obtained by the aid of that instrument'. |
Extent | 21p |
Format | Drawing |
Manuscript |
PhysicalDescription | Ink and graphite pencil on paper |
Digital images | View item on Science in the Making |
AccessStatus | Open |
RelatedMaterial | DOI: 10.1098/rspl.1856.0008 |
Fellows associated with this archive
Code | PersonName | Dates |
NA3832 | Rees; George Owen (1813 - 1889) | 1813 - 1889 |