The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1898-06-23
New Cure for Consumption.
Philadelphia Record.

Philadelphia Record.
In paper read the other day before
the American Medical Association, now
in session at Denver, Col, DIR. j. b.
Murphy, of Chicago, presented some
new and interesting theories and date
in regard to the treatment of tubercu-
losis of the lungs, or consumption.
The views and propositions of this in
dependent and daring investigator are
assured in advance of an attentive
hearing and earnest discussion. The
medical experts assembled at Denver
over 1900 in all-are familiar with DIR.
Murphy's researches in the broad field
OF practical therapeutics. He Is the
originator and inventor OF the MUIR
ply button" for joining severed lntes-
tines, which has rendered possible
many operations in intestinal surgery
which formerly were almost inevitably
fatal. The claim of such an expert au-
thority that cure has been discovered
for disease which annually carries off
its victims by thousands in all parts OF
the country is not to be put aside as an
ebullition of science gone daft. 1t
Will receive the careful and thoughtful
consideration of the learned and inf1uen-
tial delegates to the convention OF the
American Medical Association, and
through them its public benefits and
advantages, if existent, may be all the
more speedily realized throughout the
country.
Briefly, and Invested of technical
pharses, DR.. Murphy's new treatment OF
consumption consists in giving abso-
lutte rest to the diseased portion of the
lungs by introducing pure nitrogen gas
into the pleural cavity at the point af-
fected. There is no effort to retain the
integrity of the tissues, for, says DR..
Murphy. cit has been found by expert
ment that the reason person is en-
abled to live and breathe with large
part of the lung tissue gone Is that the
capability of the lung is fully ten times
as great as the actual working surface
In other words, the lung tissue is large
| ly in excess of what is actually reQuir-
ed to supply the blood with oxygen
and ii portion be removed or disused
the remainder will expand and perform
all the necessary work of aeration.
Perfect rest of the affected parts, at
tanned by means of a hypodermic IN
lection of nitrogen, is, accordingly, DIR.
Murphy's specific for the cure of tuber-
culosis OF the lungs. The patient is in
no way unfavorably affected, and may
continue about his business without
Inconvenience. When, in experiment
al cases, the nitrogen has been with
rawn at the end OF few weeks and
the air again admitted, skiagraphs, OF
X-ray photographs, have shown that
the diseased tissues had entirely heal
ed, and that the lung, formerly shrivel-
ed and compressed, had expanded tc
Its original dimensions.
Experiments with this radical limo.
vation IN medical practice are nov
being conducted on quite an extensive
scale at the county hospital at Chicago
It promises something tangible to hu
mainly, because it seeks to aid nature
actively, and not merely to indicate
accidentally the channels and agencies
through which tuberculosis Is propa-
gated. Instead of a learned disserta
ton on bacilli and the various forms
of tubercular Injection, DR.. Murphy
presents what he affirms to be safe
| guard against one OF the most dreaded
scourges OF civilized humanity. Il
his theories and experience shall b.
indicated and confirmed in the prac
tice Of other medical experts of higl
authority substantial victory vii
have been won in the unending war
fare OF the human race against letha
conditions which menace its continued