Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-03-09
OXYGEN AS A HEALER.
4 Record Of several Variable E.siisA -

4 Record Of Several Valuable Bn9ilsa -
periments.
During the Zulu war Dr.. George
Stokee, Who served during the campaign
~ an army surgeon. had an opportunity
Of observing the method In which tho
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
the action Of pure water. This simple
remedy was swift and sure, the worst
cases yielding rapidly under ito infiu-
ence, doubtless the healthy state OF the
blood and the abstemious lives led BY
the natives having a good deal to do
with the matter. DR.. Stok was led to
believe that the oxygen cure might be
applied to ulcers. burns and wounds OF
Q similar nature, and ON his return to
this country he made several expert.
ments ON such cases, and the more he
saw Of It the frmer was his belief In his
discovery. Bacteria consist OF two kinds
- the harmful micro-organisms and
those necessary to the system. in order
that the mechanism OF the body may be
carried OH satisfactorily. Before the dis
covery Of antiseptic surgery the risk
which was run wherever raw surface
was exposed to the air was enormous,
hut with the introduction OF antiseptics
into the treatment the danger was re.
duced to a minimum. Iodoform has al
ways been the special medium for use
in the case of ulcers. and it Is not
pleasant one, but il tended to hold the
bacteria mt bay. Now. however, IL 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 il relapse occurred the bacteria
disappeared, 80 that one IL led to the
conclusion that certain number OF
these living organisms are necessary In
the formation OF new and healthy flesh.
II was decided TO enter upon a wider
field OF operations and test this expert.
ment further-f9 ID must be- borne In
mind that rs yet IL IL only an expert.
ment--and accordingly committee OF
ladies and gentlemen, under the presi'
dency of Baroness Burdett. Coutts, un.
dertook to establish hospital ut 35 st.
Georges square, s w. The hospital Is
small, but if funds We're forthcoming .
larger house could he secured. The oxy.
gen used is said to be first generated in
an iron funnel, and thence II IL pumped
into india rubber bags, according to the
strength required. The part affected is
then Enclosed in wooden box with q
glass lid and cased round with oilskin.
A tube communicates with the box and
the bag, and in this way the oxygen Is
introduced into the box. Other appa.
ratuses are contrived for the back, head
and other parts Of the BODY. The first
effect Is the cessation Of pain, and the
healing properties are quickly discerned.
One case Of an ulcer Of 40 years stand
ing had yielded to the treatment in
three weeks. another Of IS years ia an
equally short time, and many others
had a similar tale to tell. Not one OF
the least of the virtues Of the oxygen is
its deodorizing power. II has also been
tried on cases Of badness. with the re.
suit that the hair grew rapidly and in q
short time was in q normal condition.
To what length the curative properties
Of oxygen may be- carried remains to be
proved. but il has ut least one advan.
tage. that Of extreme economy. for, be-
yond the cost VI the oxygen. which, 1t
is said. comes to about 2l1s pence for ~
hours. there is no expense for dressings
or medicines. British Sanitary Record.