Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-02-27
MARVELS OF RADIUM.
Cures of Cancer and Blindness
Cited by Dr.. S. G. Tracy.
USEFUL IN NERVOUS GASES ALSO

How Afflicted Patients Have Been
Benefited by the New York PhyAi-
Active EIement-Mnrked Improves
ment In Cases of Kindness.
Absolute cures OF cancer and blind
ness by use of radium were told of the
other night by Dr. Samuel q. 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
10 see clearly. \ patient who had
come triumpbantly out of Il poker game
after having been released from total
blindness was referred TO by DIR. 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, a generous
affection, and one case of spasmodlc
tic, the involuntary twitching of the
muscles of the face.
The first case cited by DR.. Tracy was
that of a man forty-five years of age
afflicted with Il large cancer on the
back of the neck caused 10y scratching
a mole with his collar band. The case
was twelve years old when he began
his treatment. DIR. 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 DIR. Tracy
the patient was fifty-three years Of
age, and the cancer had three years
growth. The nose was affected, and
the case was 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
inc part dueCleu WAS eulIItly nediGuy
DIR. Tracy claims.
In the case of lupus cited Dr.. Tracy
says the treatment has not been COM
pleted. Twenty-Five millgrams OF
pure radium were used, and great i'm
provement has been made. The treat
ment has been continued during eight
weeks-three times a week-and prog
ress has been steadily made toward
cure during that time.
DIR. Tracy cited two cases of blind
ness treated by him. In speaking Of
the treatment of atrophy of the optic
nerve. DIR. 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
~ optic atrophy, where blindness had
lasted from seven months to forty
years. L 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 a year ago. The
sight of the left eye was gradually
lost, and over seven weeks ago the
right eye began to fail, and then blind
ness followed.
Radium treatment was given with a
tube held over each eyeball for twenty
minutes each day, and the improve
ment, while gradual, he says, was ap-
parent. II was not steady, for there
were times when it appeared to re-
main stationary, but at other times the
was noticcably great.
Since Feb. 8 the treatment has been
given every other day, and the i'm
prOYement has been continuous. The
other day the patient announced TO
DR.. Tracy that he had won 60 cents
at poker the night before. n clear evil
dence Of good sight.
The other case Of optic atrophy cited
was equally interesting. The blind
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 conclusive move
ments of the lower part Of the face,
he says, were completely cured. while
the twitching about the eye was con-
Iessened. The treatment IL
still continuing.
From this case DIR. Tracy argues
that the use Of radium can be effec-
lively applied to nervous diseases.
Few Prayers.
Yprn-NOw If q mon uouId yofa aa