St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-01-14
MINNEAPOLIS.
CONDENSED AIR BATHS.
A New Remedial Agent for Diseases At'
fecting Nerve Centers.
SOME MARVELLOUS CURES.
The Power Of Respiration and Circula,
ton Increased by Pressure---Phe
Bath Described.

At the meeting of the ST. Paul and
Minneapolis Academy of Homeopathic
Medicine, held at the residence of Dr..
w. ID. Lawrence, sol Third avenue
south, last Wednesday evening, DIR. j.
l.. Stone, of Minneapolis, read some
what novel and interesting paper on the
subject of Condensed Air Baths as
Remedial Agent"
After calling the attention of his
brother physicians to the series of eX-
periments with condensed air baths
that have for some years been con-
Quoted by the most celebrated medical
authorities in Europe, DIR. Stone pro-
ceeded to analyze the moduS operandi
of administering the baths and the ways
in which they are beneficial to the pa
tient. In the latter connection he melt
toned the effect of the ingresS and
egress OF the pressure, the increased
appropriation of oxygen and the in
creased chemical action under pressure.
THE PRESSURE OF CONDENSED AIR
increased the power and depth of
respiration and improves the circula-
ton of the blood. 1t also brings more
oxygen i'll contact with the absorbent
surfaces of the lungs, and by its me-
chanical action in pressing the tissues
closer together aids very materially i'll
digestion and the final assimilation of
the nutritive qualities of food.
Granting these advantages. it may
readily be seen that the effect
on the brain and nerve .centerS must be
powerful and very beneficial, and tnat
the treatment cannot be surpassed for
diseases of these organs.
Dr.. Stone quoted twenty-five cases of
bronchial and lung troubles success
fully treated by DR.. Milliet in this man
ner and 3SS similar cases, thirty-five
treated by Berlin, the remainder of
which came under the notice of DIR.
Sandahl, of Stockholm. He stated that
the curative effect of condensed air in
NASAL CATARRH AND BRONCHITIS
is little less than marvellous in its
promptness and completeness. 1t is
also valuable In ScrofulOuS manifesto
tons, especially in children. and one of
its most striking uses is in the cure of
deafness where it results from catarrh
OF nervous shock.
The closing paragraph of the paper
contained minute description OF the
formation of the bath chamber, a part
of which is appended.
BATH AND APPLIANCES.
The bath cylinder. or pneumatic
chamber, should be made of quarter
inch iron, and one of medium size, as it
rests on one end, is about ten feet i'm di-
ameter and eight feet high. The wall
being circular, needs no support; the
top and bottom, being fiat. must be sup
ported by strong beams. The window
paneS, which are set in heavy cast
iron sash, if only one inch in thickness,
should not be more than eight inches
square. The door should be cast iron,
closing from the inside against
rubber packing in the iron doOr-caS-
ing. In short, the entire bath should
be so constructed as to safely withstand
the pressure of more than two atmOs-
pheres, or from fifteen to twenty extra
pounds to the square inch. A bath of this
size requires at least seven horsepower
capable of supplying ten cubic feet per
minute of double density of air for each
person in the bath. Connected with
this by three-inch pipe should be a
purifier to take out any acct
dental impurities in the air. the
pipe after leaving the purifier
passes through a cooler, and finally ell
tiers the top of the bath. In the bottom
of the bath is a self-regulating safety or
escape valve. A treatment usually lasts
an hour and haif,requiring fifteen min
uteS to raise the pressure, and the same
length of time at its close to let it Off;
thus giving one hour in the full press
ure of two atmospheres. The air is al
lowed to escape little even at the first,
and when the desired density is
attained it escapes as fast
as it comes in. During the
last fifteen minutes it of course
escapes much faster than it is supplied.
Thus, it may be seen, the circulation
and ventilation must be perfect. 1t
should be we'll lighted and supplied
with easy chairs, thus rendering the oc-
cupants as comfortable AS in their own
sitting room. A bath of the size de-
Scribed will accommodate from eight to
twelve persons, and since the tempera-
ture is kept at from 60 to rs deg, the
ordinary clothing is worn, and the
time may be. occupied in reading,
conversing, playing games, sleeping,
etc. The sensation while Ill
the pneumatic chamber is described by
some as agreeably restful and soothing,
and by others as slightly exhilarating,
according to the condition of the nerv-
Gus system and the circulation. Il have
taken nearly 1000 air-baths, and the
usual effect was to produce very re-
freshing sleep, unless my mind was vol
unfairly occupied. Whenever amp diff
fcult mental labor was required, /
found that under this additional atmOs-
phere ! could accomplish at least
double the work. and without any re-
action following"