Abstract: Convulsive seizures or epileptic fits can be caused by problems in the heart pancreas kidney or febrile conditions but by far the most common causes are problems in the brain although many have unknown causes Some epileptics can be assisted through surgery while others can be helped my medications such as phenobarbital dilantin or tridione Epilepsy can be reproduced in monkeys to help study the disease and develop further methods of treatment
Date Published: 1953-10-07
Abstract: Before the mid19th century patients dreaded the anticipation of surgery and the intense pain that was surely to come In 1846 ether was used for painless tooth extraction and a surgical procedure Many other gases used have been chloroform nitrous oxide ethylene cyclopropane ethyl chloride vinethene trichloroethylene and xenon These gases affect only the nerve center in the brain and not the rest of the body are are temporary or transient in nature Intravenous barbiturates can also be used and have the benefit of reducing nausea upon awakening Local anesthetics can be used in some surgeries A film of an actual surgery performed at the Johns Hopkins Medical Center with modern anesthetic procedures is shown
Date Published: 1953-09-30
Abstract: This film by the British Information Service explains how British scientists of the Hydrographic Dept of the Admiralty chart the seas Since sands and shoals shift charts must be updated for accuracy The echo sounder on shipboard takes depths continuously by sending out sound waves which are reflected from the sea bottom back to the ship This is used in conjunction with the sextants measured angles of landmarks on shore to fix the exact position of the sounding The triangulation procedure is explained and demonstrated on land including the use of an astrolabe chronometer and chronograph true bearing of the triangulation framework For triangulation at sea floating beacons establish baselines soundings are made and chart datum of tides heights for a lunar month is collected Cartographers then draw charts from the collected information
Date Published: 1953-08-12
Abstract: A film produced by the U S Navy lists some recent defense research with benefits to civilians raising research animals in sterile conditions discovering unknown properties of metals by super heating and super cooling researching mans reactions to motion studying nuclear collisions and cosmic rays as alternative sources of power creating heat with aluminum solar reflectors studying solar chromosphere and solar activity and developing computers the cyclotron fluid dynamics surgical techniques etc A film by the U S Air Force then shows the byproducts of their research rayon and nylon tires fiber A weather resistant fabric stereoscopic strip camera for mapping large areas quickly electric blankets and space heaters and ground control approach GCA used at airports The final message is that defense research and engineering funds pay dividends by providing improvements in daily living
Date Published: 1953-07-22
Abstract: This program originates from station WDTV in Pittsburgh PA and begins with a visual history of glass beginning with obsidian natural glass Lynn Poole shows the ingredients of glass silica soda and lime Dr Davies of the Mellon Institute discusses the states of matter focusing on solids He then explains the random structure of glass and why lenses are made from this substance Using a petrographic microscope Dr Davies shows three samples of glass fibers under both ordinary and polarized light He notes that because the density of glass varies with temperature and within the same piece of glass it breaks under pressure He hammers squares of regular and tempered glass to show the difference in their shattering Dr Davies also demonstrates the chemical resistivity of glass and explains that because glass is a versatile solvent it can be used to make such products as goggles for glassblowers Also silver salt can be dissolved in glass to develop an inexpensive and wearable radiation meter
Date Published: 1954-05-06
Abstract: A film produced by the U S Air Forces Air Research and Development Command in conjunction with the Atomic Energy Commission depicts the testing ground in Nevada where 20 bombs 14 aerial were exploded in the last two years Major General John S Mills commands the Air Force at the site During atmospheric nuclear tests aircraft track the atomic cloud survey blasted acres with radiation counters and gather samples from within the atomic cloud Tests are conducted on the effects of the atomic blast on aircraft and on flash blindness in man The film follows the preparation and launching of an Abomb emphasizing the precision of the bomb drop A second film by the Civil Aeronautics Commission shows research being conducted on the effects on man of bailouts from jet aircraft and of explosive decompression Wind tunnel tests reveal the stresses on a subject under differing angles and velocities in varying positions and clothed and unclothed
Date Published: 1954-04-07
Abstract: Brown University professors Montagna and Chase explain how the skin is a human organ forming a dead covering over the body and compare it to the outer covers of a live pheasant and a mouse Skins measurement is about 25 square yards and its weight 1520 pounds Dr Montagna demonstrates the thickness of skin in human palms and soles by pricking a callus with a needle The professors show a microscopic view of human skin and discuss each of skins layers in a labelled crosssection diagram epidermis dermis and adipose or fat layer They also give the facts about hair growth and dispel the myths about it Hairless mice of varying ages reveal how elasticity of skin changes Lastly the professors address the sweat and sebaceous or oil glands of the skin and show a diagram of how acne develops
Date Published: 1954-06-10
Abstract: In a dramatization a mother and daughter in their kitchen react to an assortment of food and healthrelated superstitions they believe while the announcer explains the basis and origin of many of them such as eggshell color as indicator of nutrient ailments from aluminum hiccups remedies sneeze superstitions and other food misconceptions Lynn Poole adds to the list the beneficial properties of coffee and tea smoking to ward off disease nightborne illnesses the evil eye Superstitions surrounding medical treatment such as treating wounds with sympathy powder is also addressed
Date Published: 1954-04-14
Abstract: Dr Cuthbert C Hurd of IBM describes how the 701 computer can solve a complex physics problem as well as translate Russian to English in a fraction of the time a person could perform these tasks On film from General Electric Labs in New York Ted Baum explains the development design features operation and uses of the mechanical arm
Date Published: 1954-01-20
Abstract: Dr Edgerton outlines the origin of plastic surgery beginning with the Hindus who were famous for reconstruction of missing noses in what has been termed the Indian method In the 15th century the Branca family developed techniques for other facial reconstruction called the Italian method shown in diagrams Gaspare Tagliacozzi the true father of plastic surgery wrote a textbook on the subject in the 16th century Carl von Graefe was the first to use the term plastic in his 1818 work Rinoplastik Johns Hopkins Universitys Dr John Staige Davis published the first American textbook on plastic surgery and established the first formal training program in the specialty In discussing modern plastic surgery Dr Edgerton notes that it is not necessarily centered on the face or visible external features Common uses of plastic surgery are to correct congenital deformities such as cleft palette burns disease such as cancer and disfigurement from war or high speed accidents
Date Published: 1953-09-16
Abstract: In this program the history diagnosis treatment and prevention of tuberculosis or the white plague are discussed Teamwork between the radiologist xray technicians and other doctors is stressed Dr David M Gould shows examples of both healthy and diseased lungs on an xray and explains that TB can be treated by collapsing the diseased lung removing some ribs or prescribing streptomycin A recovered TB patient is introduced and viewers are encouraged to request pamphlets provided by the National Tuberculosis Association
Date Published: 1954-05-20
Abstract: In anticipation of the forthcoming total eclipse of the sun on June 30 1954 Lynn Poole explains a schematic model of the planets orbits around the sun and primitive peoples reactions to a solar eclipse He also briefly describes the layers of the earths atmosphere troposphere stratosphere ionosphere and exosphere Film clips from the National Geographic Society document its expedition to Brazil in conjunction with the Army Air Force to witness the May 20 1947 total solar eclipse Led by Dr Lyman J Briggs the expedition included other notable scientists from institutions around the world such as Rev Francis Hayden Director of the Georgetown University Observatory Photography of the eclipse taken by National Geographics Richard H Stewart shows ambient lighting changes and the suns corona at the height of the eclipse A drawing and a model show how the moon obscures the light of the sun and an animated graph shows the radiant heat curve before during and after an eclipse
Date Published: 1954-04-21
Abstract: Lynn Poole explains the etymology of entomology the study or science of insects and displays pamphlets produced by the U S Dept of Agriculture Mr Hall from the Agriculture Research Service discusses the diversity of color size activity and scope of insect species which make up about threequarters of the worlds nonhuman species He notes that beneficial insects offset the enemy insects however the latter can wreak havoc Mr Poole mentions Sir William Oslers malaria research linking the disease to mosquitoes and current prevention efforts for this and other mosquitorelated problems Mr Hall explains how houseflies breed and how our health depends on controlling them but he singles out grasshoppers as being particularly destructive A film documents grasshoppers reproduction and their natural enemies Other destructive insects are clothes moths silverfish termites and treekilling insects Means to control insect damage include insecticides such as DDT presumed safe and effective at that time
Date Published: 1954-03-17
Abstract: Lynn Poole displays and discusses various symbols including the skull and crossbones horseshoe swastika barber pole cigar store Indian mortar and pestle and chevron Words can be symbols also Latin although not spoken today as a living language is still used in scientific communication Latin began as the language of Rome and its vicinity but through many conquests the Romans spread the use of Latin to the rest of Italy and what is now France Spain and North Africa The Romans also conquered Greece but since Green was also a highly developed literary language the Greeks retained their own language Latin also became the language of the Roman Catholic Church and medieval universities Many scientific discoveries made during the Renaissance and the early modern period were given names in Latin Even today Latin names such as Zea mays corn are used in scientific communication Carl von Linné or Carolus Linneaus in Latin classified life forms in an orderly way using Latin terms In his classification of kingdom phylum class order family genus and species a dog would be animal chordata mammalia carnivora canidae canis familiarus The Babylonians were fond of the number 60 which is retained today in 60 seconds in a minute and 60 minutes in an hour and even 360 degrees in a circle which is 6 times 60 Weights and measures have been standardized so that they mean the same thing all over the world
Date Published: 1953-12-30
Abstract: Dr Boyer tells the viewers that concrete is composed of cement water sand and aggregate or coarse gravel in proper proportions He notes that Portland is not a trade name for cement but rather a standard cement powder formula named by an English bricklayer in 1824 for the isle of Portland The Romans used concrete made from Mt Vesuviuss volcanic rock and sand to construct many of their famous buildings Mixing concrete is compared to following a recipe since measurement is critical Furthermore the chemistry of concrete is such that it requires moisture for 710 days to properly harden Dr Boyer enumerates the versatility of concrete and shows how precasting concrete of precise forms speeds up construction He then discusses concrete use in bridge building Because concrete is strong in compression but relatively weak in tensile strength reinforced concrete with embedded steel was developed in 1850 and prestressed concrete held in a permanent squeeze with steel wires and bars is now used in bridges and many other applications
Date Published: 1954-02-17
