Omaha daily bee., 1889-03-22
co AND HANG YOURSELVES.
The Latest Scientific Remedy For
Curvature of the Spine.
BUT NOT BY THE NECK TILL DEAD
A Young Russian Ply ysician's Curious
Theory Which Is Now Being
Thoroughly Tested In
French Hospital.


TCopWtght 1888 bp James Gordon Bennett1
PARIS. March 2l.-[New York Herald
Cable--Special to THE BEE. WHO is there
that has not met in the street tottering along
supporting himself on cane or ON the arm
Of an attendant, some unfortunate victim to
that strange disease to which physicians
have given the name of tabes dorsalis, or as
1t was called by Duchene, who was the first
to describe it, ''ataxie locomatrice progress
ve" About five years ago young Russian
physician, DIR. Motscnielkowski, of Odessa,
hit on an altogether new treatment, which is
now attracting the attention Of the medical
profession on both sides of the Atlantic. His
treatment aims at curing the curature Of the
spinal column, which is believed to be the
true cause of the disease, by means o. sus-
pension with the aid Of an apparatus in-
vented by DIR. Sayre, of New York, for the
treatment of spinal diseases. The object Of
the suspension is to produce regular and
continual traction on the patients spine.
The Paris Figaro, in an exhaustive article
on the subject of ataxie locomotrice on the
10th inst, illustrated by cuts, shows how
the head is supported by the chin in the ap-
paratus in manner which precludes all
danger of strangulation. The essential
parts of the apparatus consist of horizon
tai bar of about the same length and breadth
as the patients shoulders, suspended py
means of a hook and pully from the ceiling,
or any other elevated point. The bar has at
each end hook, from which hangs padded
strap, forming loop. The patients arms
are passed through these straps, which serve
to carry q large part of the dead weight Of
his body. This Is necessary for the rea-
son that were their whole weight al
lowed to bear upon the head and
neck, unbearable torture would result.
At the same time it is important that this
support under the armpits should not be too
great for them. The traction would not be
sufficient to produce the elougation of the
vertebral column, which is the end aimed at
by the treatment When the apparatus is in
place and adjusted to the patient, the rope
passing through the pulley is drawn down
slowly and steadily until the patient is lifted
from his feet. At the first, suspension is
limited to half a minute at a time, but this
time is gradually increased until it reaches a
maximum of from three to four minutes, a
result usually obtained on the seventh or
eighth day. While thus far the results are
not sufficiently conclusive to allow it to
be asserted that the treatment is
an absolute cure for the disease it is certain
that IN the great majority of cases very
marked and considerable amelioration of the
worst symptoms Of the disease has been OBJ
tanned. Since October last, ninety-one
cases have been treated by suspension at the
Saltpetriere hospital, under the supervision
Of DIR. Chaucot. All Of these with the excep-
tion Of those who have not been under treat
ment long enough for the results to be ap-
parent, are very much better. Professor Chan
cot says: Hitherto we did not know what
to advise for the unfortunates afflicted with
this disease, but until we have proof to the
contrary, l shall unbesitatingly tell them to
go and hang themselves"