The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1889-05-03
A KICKING BOYS AID TO SCIENCE.
He Helps DIR. Sayre to Discover Cure
for Locomotor Ataxia.


He Helps DIR. sayre to Discover Cure
for Locomotor Ataxia.
AS announced in The Heralds cable
dispatches, a cure for the dread disease
known as locomotor ataxia has been
recently put to practice in Europe. 1t
is alleged that DR.. Motschutkowsky,
of Odessa, is the discoverer of the new
treatment, which aims at curing the
curvature of the spinal column by sus-
pending the patient.
DIR. Lewis A. Sayre, of this city, is
accredited with having invented the
apparatus in use which was described
in The Herald, whereby the patient is
lifted from his feet with the object of
elongating the vertebral column.
called on several eminent surgeons
yesterday, with view to obtaining
their versions of the new cure of loco
motor ataxia, and failed to find one
who could disclose the secret. They
all acknowledged they efficacy of the
treatment pursued by Charcot, admit
ting that it is due to the process of
suspension by DR.. Sayre's instrument.
Various theories were offered in expla-
nation of the results attained, the most
plausible one being that straight
ening of the spine removes the clamp
like pressure upon the nerves and thus
permits them to open communication
with the legs and produce their action.
One surgeon maintained that a
curve is not effected, but that tenn
porary relief is given, the same as is
secured i'll cases of neuralgia by
stretching the nerves.
Dr. Sayre was in bed when l called
on him, having been sufferer from
rheumatism for many years, and more
acutely so in the last three years. His
handsome, benevolent face lit up with
satisfaction when related the purpose
of my visit. II discovered accidental
ly, several years ago" said DR.. Sayre,
that the Strengthening of the spine
produced salutary effect upon the
locomotor ataXia, which means an in
ability to. use the legs. A boy was
brought to me suffering from a curva-
ture of the spine. His parents were
poor and lived at Chatham Corners.
They supposed 1 could cure him in
one trip. AS the little fellow was in
great suffering I determined not to let
him return home without relief, my
intention being to give him plaster
jacket, with instructions to return
when he had grown a few months
older.
"As 1 lifted the little fellow, holding
him with my hands beneath his arms,
noticed that he began to kick.
" That's funny, remarked. How
the devil could he do that2'
In few minutes the jacket was
cast and / laid the boy on lounge in
my Office SO that the plaster could SET
hard. / went out for few minutes
and on returning found that the lad
had left the couch and gone to the
window, to my further surprise. On
giving this peculiar case deep study
came to the conclusion that by hold.
ing the boy up and thus strengthening
the spine the hitherto impeded circu.
lation of the blood had been started
and given his legs free action. And
that seems to be the case in all in.
stances"
Here DIR. Sayre bent his thumb to
illustrate the effect of q spinal curva
ture. He said that by suspension the
spine is Strengthened and that the
nerves are relieved of the pressure due
to the curve, as, for instance. when the
thumb is bent at the joint.-New York
Herald