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UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENCE, KANSAS
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1947
Clever Surgical Instrument Invented By KU Professor
One of the most outstanding recent scientific developments in medicine is a skin grafting instrument designed by George J. Hood, professor of engineering drawing.
Several years before the war a professor of clinical surgery in the School of Medicine asked for an instrument to be designed that would cut uniform skin grafts.
At that time most of the work of removing skin for grafting purposes was done freehand and a precision instrument that would cut uniform skin grafts was badly needed. Experimented On Sheepskins
Professor Hood, who was called in to work on the problem, designed and made several instruments. He tried out his inventions on old sheepskin diplomas and soon was able to cut layers off the sheepskin and even to shave off the lettering on the diplomas.
The first operation with the Dermatome, as it was called, was performed successfully at Bell Memorial hospital in Kansas City in 1938. Later in the year Professor Hood demonstrated his machine at the Mayo clinic in Rochester, Minn., and the Henry Ford hospital in Detroit. Cylindrical Drum With Knife
The Dermatome is a cylindrical drum with a sharp blade attached in such a way that the distance between the cylinder and the blade can be closely adjusted. The cylinder and the patient's skin are coated with rubber cement. The cylinder is rolled on the patient's skin and the cement lifts the skin. As the skin is held to the cylinder, the knife blade, which is set to the correct thickness, cuts off a transparent layer of skin of uniform thickness and any desired area.
Will Heal In 10 Days
The area where the layer of skin was removed will heal in ten days and more skin can be taken from the same area after a month has passed. The record amount cut from one operation is 172 square inches taken from a patient at one time.
This instrument has been put into use all over the world. The army and navy used it widely for treatment of men burned in fires and explosions aboard ships and airplanes and in active land combat. Today, in addition to its wartime use, it is used to replace skin blemishes and including birthmarks.
"Progress in measurement has followed the progress of civilization" Howard Rust, instructor in shop practice, told the University chapter of the American Society of Tool Engineers at its monthly meeting in Fowler shops Tuesdays.
Mr. Rust demonstrated some of the newest machines for measuring surface refinement. The lecture was an introduction to a course in precision measurement which will be offered in the School of Engineering next semester.
Rex Hay, chairman, announced that the A. S. T. E. will sponsor an exhibit during the Engineering Exposition to be held April 16 and 17.
Rust Speaks At ASTE Meeting
The next meeting will be Nov. 25.
Norman Plummer, in charge of the ceramics division of the state geological survey, has been studying the clay and limestone deposits in Clay county for the Clay Center chamber of commerce.
Plummer Makes Study Of Clay County Deposits
The chamber of commerce plans to establish a stock feed plant which will need limestone as an ingredient.
Mr. Plummer is also helping them publish an industrial survey pamphlet on the raw materials of the locality.
RABBI MYRON MEYER told Y.M.C.A. members Tuesday that prejudice is sometimes the result of childhood impressions. He spoke at a Y.M.C.A. meeting in the recreation room of the Union.
The University chapter of Sunflower Statemen's club will hold its first regular meeting Tuesday in the East room of the Union. All participants in the American Legion's Boys State are asked to attend.
Officers will be elected and policy determined for the coming year.
"The state organization has been very active in recent years in promoting desirable legislation at Topeka. The local chapter will support this program and investigate and support projects beneficial to the university." Ernest Friesen, temporary chairman, announced.
"Childhood impressions change into fixations, so psyccanalysts tell us, and in many cases turn into prejudice, Rabbi Meyer said.
Statesmen's Club To Organize, Elect
News Curbed Hovey Says
"The army-dominated state department under George Marshall is curbing the flow of news from Washington," Graham Hovey, former Associated Press Washington correspondent told 500 delegates at the Associated Collegiate Press convention in Minneapolis.
Betty Bacon and Marian Minor, representing the University Daily Kansan, returned from the convention Saturday night.
A reproduction of the Daily Kansan front page is on the front cover of a German study of American college papers made by Ernst Roselius. This was shown to delegates by Ralph D. Casey, director of the University of Minnesota school of journalism.
Mr. Hovey, also a former International News Service foreign correspondent, is now a lecturer at the University of Minnesota.
Flicker flashbacks will be on the screen in Lindley auditorium at 3:15 today when the Business School association presents free movies for their members.
The Daily Kansan was on display as one of the 11 all-American college dailies.
BSA Will Present Free Movies Today
The main feature, "The History of Movies", has been produced by taking extracts of movie hits, from the early melodramas to the recent pictures, and bringing the motion picture industry up to date.
The other two films to be presented are educational pictures entitled "The Working of the New York Stock Exchange", and "The Story of Aluminum".
William Kurt, chairman of the professional committee, said the movies will be a regular part of the B. S. A. program. For the first film, members will be admitted free with a small admission fee to non-members.
Phone KU-25 with your news.
KU Hospital Seeks Federal Aid
Dr. Ralph I. Canuteson, director of University health service, and Raymond Nichols, executive secretary, appeared before the Kansas advisory council in Topeka Monday to tell of hospital needs.
Delegates from more than 50 Kansas cities also appeared before the council to give reactions to the priority schedule announced Oct. 13. The priority system will be used to allot the federal funds provided for hospital construction and additions in the state.
Canuteson and Nichols represented the University to get a higher priority for an addition to the student hospital. Douglas county was placed 18th among 35.
Exhibit Sent To Concordia
An exhibition of 30 water colors, drawings, and oil paintings, has been sent to Concordia, Kans. by the art department. They were requested by Miss June Erhert, a 1947 graduate of the School of Fine Arts, who is now teaching in Concordia High school.
University Daily Kansan
Mail subscription: $3 a semester, $4.50 a year. (In Lawrence add $1.00 a semester postage). Published in Lawrence, Kan., every afternoon during the University year except Saturdays and anniversaries. Includes classification examination periods. Entered as second class matter Sept. 17, 1910, at the Post Office at Lawrence, Kan., under act of March 3, 1879.
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