The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1897-01-12
OXYGEN AS A HEALER.
A Record of Several Valuable English Ex
perlments.

A Record of Several Valuable English Ex-
perlments.
During the Zulu war DR.. George
Stoker, who served during the campaign
rs an army surgeon, had an opportunity
Of observing the method in which the
natives treated their wounded comrades.
He noticed that they carried them to the
highest point attainable, and there ex-
posed the wounds to the purest air and
she action Of pure water. This simple
remedy was swift and sure. tho worst
cases yielding rapidly under its irhu-
ence, doubtless tho healthy state Of the
blood and tho ahstomious lives led by
the natives having good deal to do
with the matter. DR.. Stokcr was led to
believe that the Oxygen cure might be
applied to ulcers, burns aud wounds of
similar nature, and cn his return to
this country no made several expert
mentr on such cases, and the more he
saw Of il the flrmcr was his belief in his
discovery. Bacteria consist of two kinds
- the harmful micro-organisrIs aud
those necessary to the system, in order
that the mechanism of the body may be
carried OIL satisfactorily. Before the dis
covery Of antiseptio surgery the risk
which was run wherever raw surface
was exposed to the air was enormous,
but with the introduction of antisoptics
into the treatment the danger was re-
duced to q minimum. Iodoform has al
ways been the special medium for use
in the case of ulcers, and it is not
pleasant one, but it tended to hold the
bacteria.at bay. Now, however, it has
been noticed that in cases where oxygen
has been applied and where the wound
is healing the progress was marked by
the presence of common organisms and
that if relapse occurred the bacteria
disappeared, so that one is led to the
conclusion that certain number of
these living organisms are necessary in
the formation of new aud healthy flesh.
II was de''ided to enter upon wider
field of operations and test this expert
ment furthcr-for it must be borne in
mind that us yet il is only al expert
mont-and accordingly Il committee of
ladies and gentlemen, under the presi-
doncy of Baroness Burdett-Coutts, un-
dertook to establish hospital ut 80 st.
Georges square, S. w. The hospital is
small, but if funds were forthcoming "a
larger house could he secured. Tho oXy-
gen used is said to be first generated in
an iron funnel, and thence it is pumped
into india rubber bags, according TO the
strength required. The part affected is
then inclosed in q wooden box with
glass lid and cased round with oilskin.
A tube communicates with the box and
tho bag, and in this way the oxygen is
introduced into tie lex. CthCr nppa
ratuses are contrivod for the back, hcaG
and other parts of tho boGy. Tho frs;
effect is the cessation of pain, and the
healing properties are quickly diScerncd,
One case Of an ulcer Of 40 years stand
ing had yielded to tho treatment IL
three weeks, another Of l3 years in al
equally short time, and many others
had similar tale to tell. Not che OF
tho least of the virtues of the oxygen j.
its deodorizing power, II has also beeE
tried on eases Of badness with the re
suit that the hair grow rapidly and III
short time was in rmal condition.
To what length the curative properties
of oxygen may bo carried remains 10 b.
lroved but it has at least one advan
tage, tEat of extreme economy, for, be-
yond the cost IT the oxygen, which, II
is said, comes 10 about 2la pence for 24
hours, there is 10 expense for dressing
or medicines. British Sanitary Record