St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1898-08-13
DIR. JOHN q. MURPHY.

pr. JOHN 3. MURPHY.
derful results have been obtained, but
in most instances bad complications
have followed. Physicians are now us
ing it with great caution.
The microscopic germ OF consump-
ton has kn average length of about one
fourth the diameter of red blood cor
pusc!e 1T resembles q short, fine rod.
The diane ter ends rounded. It's usually
solitary. but is sometimes found in
pairs in such q manner rs to form an
acute angle. 1t does not possess the
capacity. of self-movement. So far as
is known the tubercular bacillus is
purely parasitic organism; has never
been found except in bodies and
excretions of animals affected with
tuberculosis and in dusts of which
these were component parts.
may be cultivated on potato, glycer-
in-ayer or blood serum, but -four
isLcs Eest on the latter, upon which |
Prof. Koch, the famous German scien-
tist, first achieved its artificial cultiva-
ton. When planted upon this medium
the bacilli are first apparent to the
naked eye in about two weeks and oc- |
..ur in the form of small dry whitish |
takes.
Each germ may be divided into two, |
daughter being produced from mother
until millions result from the original
bacillus. When. through disintegra-
ton of tissue, the germs reach the
blood they are swept on until lodg-
ment rs found. Al this point local
consumption is established. liquid
toxin exuding from the bacillus re-
duces the flcsh-buildiug properties OF
me h.ood. The theory tha: the dis
ease is hereditary has been overthrown.
slthough il is known that recsptivity
TO the germs from lack of resistance
may be transmitted from parent to
child. When the germs, from purely
external sources, find the soil perfectly
aaapted 10 their growth they -four
ish vigorously. constantly advancing
and erflargiug the infected area.
Despite the many failures OF differ
ent methods of treatment the medical
profession has long believed that = cure
| for pulmonary consumption Was pos
sib!e. Over a century ago it had been
discovered that il the lungs were col
,aused nature could effect res: cure.
But the only way of accomplishing this
was by the dangerous process OF cut
ting out the ribs, so that the knowledge
has been virtually useless. Recently,
however, DR.. John II. Murphy. Of Chi
cago, read paper before the American
| Medical association Mt Denver, Co.,, en-
titled Surgery of the Lung" 1t was OF
absorbing interest to the physicians
| who heard it. DR.. Murphy announced
that he had found q simple methcd for
curing consumption that had proven
entirely successful IN five cases within
a few months. He stated: II car with
safety say that unless the lung IS en-
tirely gone permanent cure can be
effected In his earlier experiments
DR.. Murphy demonstrated that per-
son could be entirely healthy with one
lung. il that were free from disease.
The lungs vital capacity is 3.ssS cubic
centimeters. When violently cxer-
cising we use 3e0 cubic centiEeters
per minute. Ordinary respiratory ex-
change In rest is 166 cubic centimeters.
Hence we have surplus OF ten times
the necessary quantity for existence.
But the dangers arising from the re-
moval of the whole or even part of the
lung are great. Hence DR.. Murphy con-
ceived the idea of resting the diseased
member by temporarily collapsing it
with nitrogen gas injected into the
chest. The greatest pain experienced
is from having a hypodermic needle
thrust into the side. A stopcock with
which the needle is supplied regulates
the amount of gas introduced. In some
cases a sensation of short-bre Athed-
ness follows for q few minutes. but
quickly disappears, and in all cases the
operation is succeeded by senfatiou
OF great relief. perhaps for the first
time in years.
An absence Of tickling sensation is
. most noticeable and the cough imme'
diateIy disappears. The patient can
continue his business without incon-
yenience. After few weeks the nitro
. ren is withdrawn and the lung expands
IL the cough returns, more nitrogen II
pumped in and the lung given another
rest which. DIR. Murphy asserts with
some degree Of positiveness, will surel,
cure Il. He further states that there arr
, now 2:0 patients in the Cook County
hospital at Chicago wildly anxious fol
1 his treatment, which will be giver
them very soon.
Physicians all over tfk world vii
anxiously await results.
Cavities are located and the size ant
the extent 10 which the disease has nd
ysnced are determined by means OF
rays. In his paper DR.. Murphy said tha
tuberculosis Of the lungs is cured by de
lpcsit of connective tissue around tn
focus at infection "From the study o
i the dead il Il known that more case
4 Of pulmonary tuberculosis recover, re
main swell, and the patient dies frou
!. | some other disease. than the numbe
lwho dis Of tuberculosis. u any orgal