Spirometer, Jagielski, 1879

Spirometer_Jagielski_1879

From The London Medical Record, July 15, 1879, page 293.  “Dr. Jagielski’s Spirometer. This instrument is made by Messrs. Mayer and Meltzer, surgical instrument makers, 71 Great Portland St. W., and combines all the advantages of correctness, convenient size, simple management and neat appearance.  It is cased in Morocco leather with a leather handle at the top, so that the instrument can easily be carried about.  The height is 9 inches; width 5 inches; depth 6-3/4; its weight 5 pounds, 14 ounces.  The instrument has three horizontal compartments, one above the other.  The lowest compartment is open to view having two glass windows, and is divided by a vertical partition, on either side of which there is a round diaphragm, containing a space of 10 cubic inches each when expanded or filled; these two chambers can be seen working alternately during expiration and inspiration, the one contracting when the other expands.  The middle horizontal compartment containing the valve apparatus communicating the movements from the lower compartment to the indicating apparatus above.  This latter, or recording apparatus, has a visible dial, for which a cut is left open in the movable cover; around the dial there is an open space large enough to hold the elastic breathing tube.”

“This spirometer gives the vital capacity for inspiration as well as expiration, the amount of which may be read on the dial on which there are two hands to be seen in rotation when used.  The large one indicates every single cubic inch in inspiration when moving from the left to the right, and, in expiration from right to left; once around it records 100 single cubic inches.  The small handle on the small dial from 100 to 150, 200, 300 cubic inches on one rotation, and moves in an opposite direction to that of the large handle.  In blowing into the tube it must be done with but a moderate strength, so that the large hand may move on slowly and steadily; that the observer may be able to follow its movements on the register.”

“These instruments, used for several years, show no difference in their accurate registration from the first day of use, and do not require any particular care when put away.  Price six guineas each.”

Spirometer, Rattray, 1882

Spirometer_Rattray_1882

From Lancet, Dec 28 1872, page 915.  A combined spirometer, aspiratory and aeroscope”, Alexander Rattray, MD.  “For stability and economy of space the cylinders are square; the inner of the thinnest – i.e. lightest – sheet zinc, 6 x 6 in. wide, 13 in. high and accurately counterpoised by weights of lead covered by brass or copper, hanging by 24 in. long silk or catgut cords over two pulley tipped 1/4 in. brass rods, 14 in. long, placed at opposite corners. The breathing tube, 1 in. in diameter and 28 in. long with an ebony or ivory mouth piece, should be attached to the center of the inner cylinder, either by a simple or screw attachment.”

The diverse, quirky and mostly forgotten history of Pulmonary Function testing