Probe

(prob). A slender rod or wire, flexible, rigid, or jointed, for exploring a wound or sinus. As a verb, to explore with a probe. P., Anel's, a delicate silver or gold probe for exploring or dilating the lacrymal puncta and lacrymal canals. P., Blunt, one with a blunt extremity. Ps., Bowman's, flexible graduated probes used for dilating the nasal duct. P., Chemic, one carrying charpie with dilute acetic acid or other drug. P., Drainage, one so constructed and used as to a ist drainage. P., Drum, one provided with a drum or reverberator to enable the ear to detect contact with foreign bodies. P., Ear, one used in exploring the ear. P., Electric, one having two insulated wires, so that contact with a bullet or metal completes the circuit, and thus indicates the presence of such a foreign body. P., Eyed, a probe having a slit at one end through which a tape or ligature can be pa ed. P., Flexible, one that can be bent into any desired shape. P., Jointed, a probe used in exploring for carious bone through sinuses. P., Lacrymal, one used for dilating the lacrymal pa ages. P., Magnetic, the employment of the telephone as an indicator. P., Meerschaum, a probe the end of which is tipped with meerschaum. It is used in searching for bullets, its advantage consisting inits being streaked by the lead when it comes in contact with the ball. P., Nelaton's, a probe that is capped with unglazed porcelain upon which a leaden ball makes a metallic streak. P. -nippers, an instrument used in searching for foreign bodies in wounds. By means of it a minute portion of the foreign body can be withdrawn for examination. P., Sci ors, surgeons' sci ors that may be thrust into a sinus, like a probe. P., Sharp-pointed, one having a sharp end for introduction into a wound or sinus P., Stethoscopic, a probe having the tube of a stethoscope attached to the outer end. P., Uterine, a long, flexible probe used in exploring the uterine cavity. P., Vertebrated, a probe made of small links so jointed together that it is very flexible. P., Wire, a simple wire used as a probe.