Medical watches

 By Bruce Shawkey

Ran across this interesting article on medical watches in a 1960 issue of Europa Star magazine: Doctors' watches have been around since the 1920s when Gruen introduced their famous doctors' duo-dial watches:

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Latest in a wide range of timers for the medical profession is a pulsemeter wrist watch recently announced by one of Switzerland's Jeweled-lever watch  manufacturers. It is called the dm "Stygmos" after the sphygnamometer, the familiar rubberized arm bend attachment which is used to determine blood pressure. Gradations around the outer edge of the dial between the the bezel and the watch  numerals. For easier and more accurate reading these are viewed through a ring magnifier.

Operation of the pulsometer is  controlled by a three-button function which starts, stops, and returns the timer hand back to zero. The user starts the timer, then stops it after counting 20 pulsations. The pulse rate may then be read instantaneously without mental calculation and with no risk of error. In order that the normal majority of  pulsations may be read on the clearest part of the dial,  around 12 o'clock, zero position of the timer hand is set at 9 o'clock.

Many timepieces, some considerably more intricate than the new pulsometer, have been developed by Swiss manufacturers for use in various special tasks in medicine. One is a chronograph type welch which bolts onto hospital equipment used by anesthesiologists end keeps the specialist constantly informed on the patient's breathing and heartbeat. By watching the dial of this timer the doctor is guided in adjusting the rate at which the anesthetic is administered.

Other Swiss timers assist the doctor in checking the heart during stethoscope examinations, timing intrvenous injections, regulating X-Ray or short-wave diathermy exposure, or even psychiatrists in certain analysis tests.

Dentists also found extensive use for special medical timers. Others, with upside-down dials for easy reading, have been adapted for nurses' lapel watches.