Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-21
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DIsPATcH.i

NEW YORK, August 2O.-Dr. Allen Nc
Lane Hamilton, who has just returned
from abroad, was at his home, 20 East
Twenty-ninth street to-day. He talked
very freely with a reporter abont the Brown
Sequard elixir of life.
'It is one of the sensations of the day in
Paris" he said; sin fact, it is the chief SEN
sation. At the time 1 left there only two
men had taken the injection-the Doctor
and one other. If it had not been the work
of man of standing should not have con-
sidered the matter at all; should have put
it down as arrant humbug. But I investi-
gated the matter sufficiently, and am sure
the attempt to renew a mans youth in that
way is absurd. 1 have not made any ex-
periments, and do not intend to make any.
The theory is opposed to all the laws of
physiology and chemistry. Further than
that, believe it is a very dangerous pro-
ceeding, and that it is time for reputable
physicians to express their disapproval Of
the experiments.
WHEREIN IT IS DANGEROUS.
'Tn what way is it dsngerous?" the re-
porter asked.
''There is great danger of introducing a
virulent poison into the system. 1t is we'll
known that the putrefaction OF albumen
produces some of the most deadly poisons.
1t is quite possible that this substance, in
jected into the veins, should act there as the
arrow poison does which is used by the
South American Indians. When the elixir
is stirilized by heat or the admixture of
substances to prevent decay, it is quite Ger
tain that the elixir must be so changed as to
lose any beneficial element it may have
had when fresh. But / do not believe
it has any beneficial element when
fresh. When skillfully prepared and in
iected before decay sets in it would have no
more effect than water would. But there is
always danger 1t is hard to tell when the
moment has passed at which the harmless
substance becomes dangerous. The juices
of newly dead body, as undertakert and
medical students know, are much more
dangerous when absorbed through a wound
than those of a body that has been preserved
some time. DR.. Brown-Sequard's injections
were all very painful / believe that many
cases of erysipelas have followed these
injections"
ITS ACTION ON THE SYSTEM.
ION the theory that it might have the
effect claimed for it, how could the substance
act on the system?"
sit could not act Those who have tried
it offer no explanation of the result OBJ
tained. They say practically that vital
fluid has been given the patient. 1t is re-
turn to the medical systems of the middle
ages. 1t affects some through mental ex-
hilaration. Its hold on the public is due
to a love of the mysterious. 1t is not a new
idea. Mention of its use was made three
centuries ago. Although DR.. Brown-Se-
guard is we'll advanced in years, l believe
that antedates his time
"Have you been requested to prepare the
fluid for any of your patients?"
"a gentleman came to me with such a
request the other day. I refused his re-
quest, but if under any extraordinary
condition of affairs, l should be persuaded
by a patient to try it, should inject the
fluid with the same confidence that should
inject water. People do live longer now
than they did formerly, but heightened life
is due solely to the advance of sanitary
science-to the care which people take Of
themselves"
SOMETHING BETTER.
AS an offset to the Brown-Sequard elixir
there is device for the treatment of ner-
vous diseases which DIR. Hamilton brought
from Paris with him, and which, he says, is
we'll worth consideration. 1t is the inven-
tion OF DR.. Luis, of Paris 1t is a simple
audlT. 1ueTe Is llllle CHERRY DOA ABOUT
five inches square, above which project two
shafts, one within the other, sleeve and arm
fashion. On each shaft is balanced black
bar, nine inches long, an inch wide, and a
quarter-inch thick, edge up. By clockwork
in the box these ebony arms or bars are
made to revolve in opposite directions. Six
little round mirrors are placed on each side
of each bar.
The patient is placed in chair in dark
room, facing the machine. An electric
light, or any bright light, is concentrated
on the back arms of the machine by a con-
vex mirror placed behind the patient, and
the arms are set awhirling. The patent
watches them whirl. The motion and
flashing lights operate on the nerves through
the eyes.
DR.. Hamilton said he had seen patients
put to sleep by this means, and some ex-
traordinary cures accomplished. The ex-
PLANTATION of the effect of the whirliDg arms
and flashing lights is that they change the
habit Of the brain. The effect is analogous
to that produced by soft music on a nervous
or irritated man, but the rhythm of regu-
lsrly flashing lights has a more powerful
effect upon the brain than the rhythm of