Fig. 515.—Interrupting Current Needle Holder.
Such a device is not advocated, since the patient is liable to jump as the current is made suddenly, because of the sharp stinging pain felt at the point when the needle has entered the tissue or hair follicle, often resulting in the breaking of the needle and possible injury to the patient.
Other operators employ a small magnifying glass which may be attached to the holder, as in [Fig. 516], and by a sliding arrangement be moved up or down the handle to adjust the lens to the proper focus. This arrangement is indeed novel and may be of service in removing fine superfluous hairs, but the author has never resorted to the method.
Fig. 516.—Needle Holder with Magnifying Glass.
The proper kind of needle to be used for electrolysis varies with the device of the operator. The ordinary cambric needle usually advocated is too stiff and thick. Jeweler’s broaches are better, but are very brittle and easily broken. The ideal needle should be very thin and made of platinum or irido-platinum. The author prefers the sharp to the bulbous-pointed. For the removal of other blemishes than hair from the face the sharp needle only can be used.
REMOVAL OF SUPERFLUOUS HAIR
The moistened sponge electrode connected to the (+) positive pole of the circuit is placed into the hand of the patient, who lies in a chair with her head on a level with the physician’s chin when operating. The light should be southern, or such that the shafts of the hairs show plainly.
The operator turns on the current, holding the needle holder in the right hand which is connected by a flexible cord to the (-) negative pole. The rheostat handle is brought back so that just the least current is flowing. The needle is now thrust down into the follicle containing the hair. This must be done very gently so as to feel when the papilla has been reached by the needle. The depth to which the needle goes varies very much according to the size and place of the hair. It may be less than one eighth and more than one fourth inch.