The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-05-21
CONSUMPTION.
THE CROTTE SYSTEM or CURE
NOW
On Trial ina st. Luke's Hospital, New
York.

On Trial ina st. Luke's Hospital, New
York.
Much has been published in the daily
press about the experimental treatment
of cqnsumptives at St. Luke's hospital,
New York, by the system devised by
Francisque Crotte, F'renchman who is
not a physician, but who has, it is said,
devoted much time to the study of med
icine and chemistry. In effect, Mr..
Crotte's plan is to introduce antiseptic
medicines into the diseased lung tissue
(although, presumably, the treatment
could be applied to-any part of the body
and used for other disease) by the use
of static electricity, sponge electrodes
being saturated with the medicine in So
luton. Inhalation of the medicine is
also a part of the treatment.
For several months the Francisque
Crotte electrical method of treating con-
sumption has been the subject of Off
cial test at st, Lukes hospital. Nine
physicians have been appointed as a
committee to watch and test the results
of the experiment The Crotte method
of treating consumption secures en-
trance to a cavity in the body hitherto
closed to indictments. A powerful,
germ-killing drug is placed upon the pa
TENTS chest, and, by the power of cleo
tricity, is driven through the skin, flesh
and bone of the chest walls, and so into
the diseased structure of the lungs.
The Crotte treatment differs entirely
from those which have preceded it, 1t
has been demonstrated that the germs
of consumption cannot live in the pres
ence of gas known as formaldehyde,
the active principle Of which is formic
acid. Unfortunately formaldehyde gas
cannot be breathed. Any attempt at
respiration of the gas causes a severe
fit of coughing and this would be dan
gerous in the case of a consumptive.
Professor Crotte In his Investigations
into tuberculosis became familiar with
formaldehyde gas, but unlike other in
vestigators, he was not deferred by the
difficulty of using 1t. Certain discover
les which had been made in the realm
of electricity occurred to him. He knew
that large French manufacturing es-
Establishment was driving waterproof
material into wood by means of cleo
tricity. 1t occurred to him that what
elGcIIlclIy COulU dCCOlIl DllEu III lllS tetSC
of vegetable fiber 1t could possibly do
for the muscular fiber of the human
body, and he tried the experiment. The
result was success and the establish
ment of the Crotte method.
Professor Crotte says his treatment
will cure every case Of consumption in
the first stages of the disease, rs per
cent in the second stage and 80 per
cent. in the third or so-caled ''hope-
less" stage. Professor Crotte has been
conducting clinic in Paris for the past
five years, and it is matter of record
that he has cured consumptives in
about the percentages mentioned
AS a measure of precaution Professor
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, Professor
Crotte devised electrical machines for
administering the currents properly,
sponges saturated with formaldehyde
being applied to the patients back or
chest and attached to the poles of the
apparatus. In applying the treatment |
the patient is stripped to the waist, and
after being placed on couch or operat-
ing table is carried near to the machine. |
Then sponge filed with formaldehyde |
is attached to one pole of the electric |
machine and placed on the sufferers |
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 inspirations, while in |
some cases the second sponge is placed !
against the patients chest.
Then the electric machine Is started |
and the static electricity flows in a |
into the body of the patient, carrying |
the formaldehyde with it and destroy |
ing all germs with which the gas comes
in contact. One of the experiments in |
connection with the treatment consists |
In an examination Of the matter expec-
torated by the patient just before the
current is applied. The germs are found |
by the thousand, alive and moving. I'M
after the operation another |
examination is made. Usually all the |
germs discovered are dead. Day after
day this process is repeated, the lungs |
gradually healing as the germs are kill
ed and the searching gas goes deeper
and deeper into the cells, searching out |
the cavities containing the bacilli until
ut last all have been killed by the deadr
ly formaldehyde. Then the patient is
cured Western Electrician.