Evening star., 1900-07-07
CONSUMPTION TREATMENT
TAKING PART j.
FIGHTING THIS DISEASE.
of the Mode of Applying
the Current-The Use of For
maldehyde Gas.


From the Western Electrician.
Much has been published in the daily
press about the experimental treatment of
ccnsumptves at ST. Luke's Hospital, New
York, by the system devised by Francisque
Crotte, Frencnman. who Is not q physi-
clan. but who has, 1t is said. devoted much
time to the study of medicine and chemis-
try. In effect, NJ. Crottc's plan is to intro
duce antiseptic medicines into the diseased
lung tissue (although, presumably. the treat
ment could be applied to any part of the
body and used for other discases) by the
use of static electricity, sponge electrodes
being saturated with the medicine in solu-
ton. Inhalation of the medicine Ia also a
part of the treatment.
For several months the F'rancisque Crotte
electrical method of treating consumption
has been the subject of official test at ST.
Lukc's Hospital Nine physicians have been
appointed as a committee to watch and test
tho results OF the experiment. The Crot.e
method of treating consumption secures
trance TO cavity in the body hitherto
closed to medicameEts. A powerful germ
killing drug Is placed upon the patients
chest, and by the power of electricity, is
driven through tho skin. flesh and bone
OF the chest walls and into the dis
eased structure of the lungs.
The Crotte treatment differs entirely from
those which have preceded 1t. 1t has been
demonstrated that the germs Of consump-
ton cannot live in the presence of q gas
known formaldchydc, TIE active princi-
pic of which is formic acid. Unfortunately
t0rmaldehyde gas cannot be breathcd Any
attempt at respiration of the gas causes
a severe mt or coughing and this would be
dangerous in the case Of consumptive.
Prof. Crotte. in his Investigations into
tuberculosis, became familiar with formal
cchyde gas. but unlike other Investigators
he was not deferred by the difficulty Of
using 1t. Certain discoveries which had
been made in the realm of electricity oc-
CURED to him. He knew that large
pCh 80,
driving waterproof material into wood by
means of elect deity. 1t occurred to him
that what electricity could accomplish in
The case of vegetable fiber 1t could possibly
do for the muscular fiber of the human
body. and he tried the experiment. The re-
suit was a success ard the establishment
OF the CrOtte method
Prof. Crotte says his treatment will cure
every case of consumption in the first
| stages OF the disease, 75 per cent in the
/ second stage and 30 per cent In the third,
| or so-called hopeless stage. Prof Crotte
| has been conducting C clinic in Paris for
. the past five years, ard 1t is a matter Of
record that he has cured consumptives in
| about the percentages mentioned.
| AS a measure of precaution Prof. Crotte
| used static or natural electricity rather
| than dynamic, because of the danger to the
| patient from the use Of the latter current
| There is nothing secret about the operation
| Prof Crotte devised electrical machines for
| administering the currents properly, ,sponges
| saturated with formaldchyde being applied
! to the patients back chest and attached
| 10 the poles OF the apparatus. In applying
! the treatment the patient Is stripped to the
| waist. and after being placed on a couch
| or operating tables, is carried near to the
| machine Then a sponge filled with for
| m&ldehyde is attached to one pole of the
electric machine and placed on the suffer
| ers body. In some cases another sponge
| similarly charged with the gas, is held close
| TO the mouth of the patient and connected
with the battery and the gas is inhaled in
| deep respirations. while in some cases the
| second sponge is placed against the pa
| tents chest.
| Then the electric machine Is started and
| the static electricity flows in steady cur
| rent through the sponges and into the
| body OF the patient. carrying the formal
dehyde with it and destroying all germs
| with which the gas comes in contact. One
of the experiments in connection with the
| treatment consists in an examine ton of the
matter expectoratcd by the patient Just be-
fore the current Is applied. Tho germs
are found by the thousand. alive and NOV
ing. Immediately after the operation an
other examination Is made. Usually all the
germs discovered Gro aeads