The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-06
Monroe Salisbury Inaugurated
the Scheme With AZote
and Alix.
OPENED ANEW ERA IN RUNNING
Turfmen Predict Wonderful Results
From the Use of the Harm
less Stimulant.

NE w 1Ohh, IN. l., OSpt. O.-SoAiAOA
mans have been very much in evidence at
the Fleetwood Park trotting meet, which
has just closed, and California horses have
been out and away ahead as far as flrst
honors are concerned.
Monroe Salisbury, Thomas w. Raymond
and William Corbett have been in attend
ance with their strings, and have carried
off more than q proportionate share OF
whatever was in sight, to saysnothlng OF
slashing into the figures of record or two.
Azote's performance in making new
mark in the gelding class is OF course COM
mon knowledge, but there is feature In
connection with his achievements that not
much is known abort. 1t is the commonly
accepted opinion among turfmen that
horses respiratory organs are the first to
give out in race. 1t was pointed out to
Mr.. Salisbury that ozonized oxygen,
properly administered, would not only re-
heve any distress in breathing, but would
give an animal greater nerve strength and
muscular force besides.
The efficiency of this gas as vitalizing
force has of course been known to the med
ical profession for a numb Der of years, and
physicians of standing have regularly en-
ployed it in their practice. 1t has re-
manned, however, for DR.. Alfred Walton of
this city to conceive that it would be of
equal value in fitting horse for supreme
effort. Mr.. Salisbury at once caught up
the idea, and so for the first time in the
history of racing the gas was administered
to Alix preparatory to her attempt at the
Fleetwood meeting to lower the trotting
record. The Fleetwood track is notori-
ously slow, and besides. owing to
the weather prevailing at the time of
the attempt, had a soft cushion of mud
fully an inch thick all the way round. AS
Alix is big-gaited mare she requires a
firm, smooth track. Under the circum-
stances she was not expected to do better
than 2:10, but she went the mile in 2:0S1s
which performance both Mr.. Salisbury
and her driver, Andy Mcdowell, attribute
to the use of the ozonized oxygen gas.
But it was in Azote's record breaking
performance, day or two later. that the
value of the treatment is supposed to have
been most conclusively proved. The big
gelding's time on this occasion was 2:051l
the fastest mile ever trotted on the Fleet
wood track, and the fastest ever trotted by
a gelding anywhere. When the fact is
taken into consideration that the Fleet
wood track is from two to three seconds
slower than others that could be named it
will be understood why many horsemen
are inclined to hold that performance,
everything considered, perhaps marks the
fastest mile ever trotted. On this occasion
Azote was treated with the gas both before
he went on the track and between each of
the three heats. In all he inhaled about
$50 gallons of the gas, and, without excep-
ton, horsemen are confident that it aided
him materially.
The only point on which those who are
familiar with the facts differ is as to the
legitimacy of resorting to such expedients.
But if the treatment proves all that it now
seems it is hardly likely that scruples con-
corning the legitimacy of the means will
be allowed to interfere with securing the
best results.
The gas-composed of equal parts of
ozone and oxygen--is given by inhalation,
by the aid of an as yet rather cumbersome
device. 1t is said to be absolutely harm
less, while it has the effect of increasing
the hearts action, relieving any distress in
breathing that may follow violent effort,
and in general in doing'the work of pow
erful stimulant, without being followed, as
is the case with other stimulants, by any
reaction
In these experiments the gas has been
administered from the cylinders to the
horses nostrils, and allowed to flow
through water in the same manner in
which oxygen is given to the human sub
ject.
The result of these first trials has con-
WINGED many that the treatment will event.
ually be adopted by all trainers, not only
during races, but while the horse is being
speeded. In view of this possibility an ap-
paratus has already been suggested, con-
sisting of bride having two rubber tubes,
one running to either nostril and being
connected by rubber tubing to copper
cylinder of the gas secured at the rear of
the sulky. A small valve which the driver
carries in his left hand will enable him to
regulate the flow of gas to perfection, it is
thought, thus enabling him to administer
it to the horse while in motion in the pro-
portion that may seem desirable.
This last may seem a bit fanciful, but
horsemen are not noticeably given to
dreaming, and a number of the leading
turfmen are quite taken with the idea. At
any rate it seems likely that all of them
will follow Mr.. Salisbury's lead and use the
gas, however administered.