The Sphygmomanometer  

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The blood pressure measuring device known as the sphygmomanometer exists today in much the same form as it did when it was invented in the early 1900s. The January 18, 1913, issue of Scientific American contained the following brief description of the sphygmomanometer, including some comments about the insurance industry’s use of the device.

The Sphygmomanometer

The Sphygmomanometer is an instrument of recent invention for measuring the blood pressure. The name is derived from sphygmos, the pulse; manos, thin, rare; and meter, a measure. The manometer had been in use for some time as an instrument for measuring the tension of gases and vapors, and was readily adapted to testing blood pressure by adding a rubber bulb and a cuff with rubber bag attached on the inside. This is placed over the brachial artery, above the elbow, and when the pressure through the rubber bulb has shut off the artery so the pulse cannot be felt at the wrist, the reading in the graded scale at the height of the column of mercury indicates the blood pressure. The normal blood pressure is 125 millimeters. In hardening of the arteries, and accompanying heart and kidney complications, the blood pressure is an important symptom to be studied. Several of the large life insurance companies require the blood pressure to be taken in applications for large amounts. One company requires it in all applicants without regard to age or amount. This company claims to have saved $50,000 in losses the first year in which they required the use of the sphygmomanometer. They followed the history of cases rejected on account of high blood pressure only, and found several who died within the year of apoplexy.

Source: Reprinted with permission. Copyright © January 18, 1913 by Scientific American, Inc. All rights reserved.

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