The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-01-28
OXYGEN AS A HEALING POWER.
Several Valuable Experiments Performed
t.'' - In Recent Years. 3tt

Several Valuable ExporILacnts Performed
t"' In Recent Years. &.a
During the Zulu war DR.. George
Stoker, who served during the cam
paign as an army surgeon, had an OPP
portunity Of observing the method i'll
which the natives treated their wound
ed comrades. He noticed that they
carried them to the highest point at
tainable, and there exposed the wounds
to the purest air and the action of pure
water. This simple remedy was swift
and sure, the worst cases yielding rap
idly under its influence, doubtless the
healthy state of the blood and the alb
etemious lives led by the natives having
a good deal to do with the matter. DR..
Stoker was led to believe that the
oxygen cure might be applied to ul-
GERS, burns and wounds of a similar
nature, and on his return to this coun-
try he made several experiments on
such cases, and the more he saw of it
the firmr was, his belief in his discov-
cry. 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 car
ried on satisfactorily. Before the dis
covery Of antiseptic surgery the risk
which was run wherever raw surface
was exposed to the air was enormous,
but with the introduction of antisep-
tics into the treatment the danger was
reduced to a minimum. Iodoform has
always been the special medium for use
in the case of ulcers, and it is not a
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 a relapse occurred, the bacteria
disappeared, so that one is led to the
conclusion that a certain number Of
these living organisms are necessary in
the formation of new and healthy flesh.
In the spring of this year it was de-
cided to enter upon a wider field of
operations. and test this experiment
further, for it must be borne in mind
that as yet it is only an experiment.
and accordingly a committee of ladies
and gentlemen. under the presidency
of Baroness Burdett-C outts, undertook
to establish a hospital at No. IS St.
Georges square, S. w. The hospital
is small, but if funds were forthcoming
a larger house could be secured. The
oxygen used is said to be first generated
in an iron funnel, and thence it is
pumped into india rubber bags, accord.
ing to the strength required; the part
affected is then inclosed in a wooden
box, with a glass lid, and cased roun'l
with oilskin; a tube communicates
with the box and the bag, and in this
way the oxygen is introduced into the
box. Other apparatus are contrived
for the back, head and other parts of the
body. The first effect is the cessation,
of pain, and the healing properties arc
quickly discerned. One case of an ul-
Ger Of 40 years standing had yielded
to the treatment in three weeks, an
other of 10 years in an equally short
time, and many others had a similar
tale to tell. Not one of the least of the
sirtues Of the oxygen is its deodorizin*,
power. It has also been tried on cases
of badness with the result that the
hair grew rapidly, and in short time
was in a normal conditions. To what
length the curative properties of oxygen
may be carried remains to be proved
but it has at least one advantage, that OF
extreme economy, for, beyond the cost
Of the oxygen, which, it is said, comes
to about 211d for ~ hours, there is nc
expense for dressings or medicines
British Sanitary Record.