The Weiser semi-weekly signal. (Weiser, Washington Co., Idaho) 1904-1911, 1904-04-02

psnaated nv the New York Physi-
clans Application of the Radio
Active EIement-Marlxed Improve
ment In Cases of blindness.
Absolute cures of cancer and blind
ness by use of radium were told OF the
other night by DR.. Samuel G. Tracy
of New York in an address before the
Clinical society of the New York School
of Advanced Therapeutics, says the
New York American.
The cases described by DR.. Tracy all
indicated that cancer may be cured by
radium and that atrophy Of the optic
nerve, heretofore regarded as produc-
ing hopeless blindness, had been re-
duced so greatly that those afflicted,
after series of treatments, were able
to see clearly. A patient who had
come triumphantly out of poker game
after having been released from total
blindness was referred to by DR.. Tracy
as one of the results of the application
of radium.
DR.. Tracy cited six cases Of treat
ment with radium, dealing with four
different diseases. There were two
cases Of cancer, two cases of blindness,
one case of ordinary lupus, cancerous
affection, and one case of spasmodic
tic, the involuntary twitching of the
muscles of the face.
1.-The first case cited by DR.. Tracy was
that of man forty-five years Of age
afflicted with a large cancer on the
back of the neck caused By scratching
mole with his, collar band. The case
was twelve years old when he began
his treatment, DR.. Tracy said. After
twenty-five applications the cancer was
completely healed over, and in one cor
ner the skin now, he says, is as smooth
and perfect as in any other part of the
body.
In the second case cited by Dr. Tracy
the patient was fifty-three years Of
age, and the cancer had three years
growth. The nose was affected, and
the case was a particularly severe one.
Radium of 100000 radio activity was
applied twenty minutes each day for
four days. At the end Of that time
there was marked improvement and
at the end of the eighteenth treatment
the part affected was entirely healed
DR.. Tracy claims.
In the case of lupus cited DR.. Tracy
says the treatment has not been com
| pleted. Twenty-Five milligrams of
pure radium were used, and great i'm
provement has been made. The treat
ment has been continued during eight
weeks-three times week-and prog
ress has been steadily made toward q
cure during that time.
| DR.. Tracy cited two cases of blind
ness treated by him. In speaking of
the treatment of atrophy of the optic
nerve, DR.. Tracy said
There are those among the blind
who can distinguish light from dark
ness. In these cases the optic nerve
receives partial impressions. have
treated many cases of blindness, most
ly optic atrophy, where blindness had
lasted from seven months to forty
years. 1 have found little improve
ment in cases of over five years stand
ing"
The first case Of optic atrophy cited
by Dr. Tracy was that of a tailor
twenty-eight years old, whose vision
began to be impaired year ago. The
sight of the left eye was gradually
lost, and over seven weeks ago the
right eve began to fail, and then blind
ness followed.
Radium treatment was given with
tube held over each eyeball for twenty
minutes each day, and the improve
ment, while gradual, he says, was ap-
parent. 1t was not steady, for there
were times when it appeared to re-
main stationary, but at other times the
Improvement was noticeably great
Since Feb. the treatment has been
given every other day, and the i'm
provement has been continuous. The
other day the patient announced TO
Dr. Tracy that he had won go cents
at poker the night before, clear evil
dence of good sight.
The other case of optic atrophy cited
was equally interesting. The blind
ness had begun three years before
and practically total blindness had fol.
lowed Now the patient is able to
count the spots on a card and tell the
suit.
In the case Of spasmodic tic, treated
by Dr. Tracy, the convulsive move
menus OF the lower part of the face.
ne says, were completely cured. while
the twitching about the eye was CON
siaerably lessened- The treatment is
still continuing.
from this case DR.. Tracy argues
mat the use Of radium can be effec-
uveiy applied to nervous diseases.