Tombstone daily prospector. (Tombstone, Ariz.) 1887-1891, 1890-11-13
a ncNxo sor's At 70 SCIENCE
ne BeiPs DIR. Sayre to Discover Curs
for LocomotOr AtaNias

ne BeiPs DIR. Sayre to Discover Curs
for Locomo,Or AtsNias
As announced in The Herald's cable
dispatches, a cure for the dread disease
known as lOcomotor ataxia has been
recently put TO practice in Europe, Il
Ia alleged that DIR. MoiSchutllowsky
Of Odessa. is the discoverer OF the new
treatment. which aims at curing the
curvature Of the spinal column by sus
pending the patient
DR.. Lewis A. Sayre, Of this city, is
accredited with having invented the
apparatus in use hicir Mas ,i.-~crii'ed
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 a view to obtaining
their versions of the new cure of loco
motor ataxia, and failed 10 find one
who could disclose the secret They
all acknowledged they efficacy Of the
treatment pursued by Charcot, admit
ting that il 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 a straight
ensng 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 a TEN
pOrary relief is given, the same as is
secured in cases Of neuralgia by
stretching the nerves.
DR. Sayre was in bed when | called
on him, having been a sufferer frop.
rheumatism for many years, and mors
acuteiy so in the last three years. His
handsome, benevolent face lii up with
satisfaction when ! related the purpose
of my visit Il discovered accidental
~, several years ago. said DIR. Sayre.
"that the Strengthening Of the spine
produced a Salutary effect upon the
locomotor Ataxia, which means an in
ability 10 use the legs A boy was
ture of the spine. His parents were
They supposed | could cure him in
one trip. As the little fellow was in
great suffering | determined not to LEI
him return home without relief, my
intention being 10 give him plaster
jacket, with instructions TO return
when he had grown a few months
older.
"As 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 thatf
In few minutes the jacket was
cast and laid the boy on lounge ID
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 10 the conclusion that by hold
ing the boy up and thus Strengthening
the spine the hitherto impeded circu
Iarion of the blood had been started
and given his legs free action. And
that seems to be the case in all in
stances"
Here DR.. Sayre bent his thumb tc
illustrate the effect Of spinal curva
ture He said that by suspension the
spine is Strengthened and that the
nerves are relieved of the pressure due
10 the curve, as, for instance, when the
thumb is heut at the joint.-New Yora
Herald.