The Museum of Medicine and Health : Cruise Endoscope
The Museum of Medicine and Health
<p style='text-align: justify;'>Sir Francis Richard Cruise (1834-1912) of Dublin designed this endoscope in 1865. To improve lighting, Cruise used a mixture of petroleum and camphor, replacing the gasoline mix of an earlier design. This gave a more powerful light, but the heat level became problematic. The instrument is encased in mahogany, a good insulator, so it was safe to hold. An adjustable lens, opposite the flame, focused the light onto a reflecting mirror, angled at 45 degrees inside the tube to light the field of view. The mirror has a central hole, which allowed the user to see through it and view the area under investigation. A selection of instruments to access different parts of the body could be attached. Cruise was considered the most successful endoscopist of his time.</p>