Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1897-03-31
OXYGEN IN SURGERY.
Ills Healing Power Being Tested in a
London Hospital.

London Hospital.
During the Zulu war DIR. George
Sucker, who served during the cam
paign as an army surgeon, had an
opportunity of observing the method
IN which the natives treated their
wpunded comrades. He noticed that
they carried them to the highest
point attainable and there exposed
the wounds to the purest air and the
action of pure water. This simple
remedy was swift and sure, the worst
eases yielding rapidly under its in
HHeace, doubtless the healthy state
al The blood and the abstemious
Iyes led by the natives having a
good deal to do with the matter.
kgz-- Stoker was led to believe that
1Iae oxygen cure might be applied to
HZears, burns and wounds of a similar
nature, and on his return to this coun-
1sy he made several experiments on
sEsz3}g cases, and the more he saw of it
xGsa frnler was his belief in his dis
cas- cry Bacteria consist of two
kszads, the harmful micro-organisms
2za4 those necessary to the system in
81 E3ar that the mechanism Of the body
nzay be carried on satisfactorily. Be
2sga the discovery of antiseptic sur
szy the risk which was run whenever
a raw surface was exposed to the
szFr was enormous, but with the intro
sSEeS5on Of antiseptics into the treat
z4szs the danger was reduced to
siasnlmum Iodoform has always
Jgsan the special medium for use in
tfs case OF ulcers, and it is not
pheasant one, but it tended to hold
1zDa bacteria at bay. Now, however,
Il aas been noticed that in cases where
sxygen has been applied and where
RE EoEnd is healing the progress was
zaaag i-ed by the presence Of common
a;aniszns, and that, if a relapse oc-
rEEFl13d, the bacteria disappeared; so
Ghat one is led to the conclusion that
Il certain number Of these living or
5sssEsislns are necessary in the forma-
hs1a of new and healthy flesh.
List year it was decided to enter
Eg7on d wider field Of operations and
1ezf this experiment further, for it
xsEzEt be borne in mind that as vet it
zTs only an experiment, and accord
I5ag1y committee of ladies and gen
Eafenlen, under the presidency of Bar
zausss Burdett-C outts, undertook to
Ns9ablish a hospital in London The
@xygen used is said to be the first
gGaerated in an iron funnel, and
3zHRee It is pumped into india-rubber
bsgs, according to the strength re-
aaireds the part affected is then in
closed IN wooden box, with a glass
I'd, and cascd round with oilskin;
a fube communicates with the box
End The bag, and in this way the
U1ggen is introduced into the box.
Other apparatus are contrived for
the back, head and other parts Of
fEae body The first effect is the ces-
saf7on of pain, and the healing prop
szaies are quickly discerned. One case
OF an ulcer of 40 years standing
las yielded to the treatment in three
geeks; another Of IS years in an
aqually short time, and many other
had a similar tale to tell. Not one
sf the least of the virtues Of the oxy-
@an. IS ITS deodorizing power It has
aasO been tried on cases Of badness,
Ezth the result that the hair grew
Bapidly, and in a short time was in
asaormal condition. To what length
aae curative properties of oxygen may
he carried remains to be proved, but