Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1908-06-13
KUHN'S SUCTION MASK
FOR TUBERCULOSIS
Doctor George J. Williams. Of New
port News. Explains Uses Of New
Invention for Relief OF Pull
monary Ailments.

The current number OF the Virginia
Medical Semi Monthly publishes the
followin address made BY Dr.. George
J. Williams. OF Newport News. before
the First Virginia District Medical
Society in March last.
Il recently had an opportunity 20
observe some cases OF tuberculosis
treated With the Kuhn Suction Mask
and being much impressed with the
marked Improvement % the patients.
wrote Professor r. Kuhn. OF the
Royal Charity Hospital. Berlin. ask
ing for experiments in the use OF his
mask. lie very kindly forwarded me
the results In the form of recent re-
prints. az the same time calling my
attention 20 the marked Increase In
the blood elements obtained hy its use
The mask is a ceiluloid arrange
ment constructed SO as 20 admit free
expiration. while inspiration Is inter
Tered with 20 a limited de gree-the
object OF which is Co induce haemic
plethora in the lungs. Former at
Cempts at the treatment Of pulmonary
tube rcUlosis by this method proved
failure because OF faulty technique. as
all other instruments interfered with
free expiration. thereby counter bal
ancing the results obtained by slightly
. AilLaNALA AIlOuMi VI AR +Aht H III III q
given time. 10 Is recognized fact
that a greater disposition OF the upper
portion OF the lung 20 tuberculosis Is
due 10 the lesser amount of movement
OF the upper portion OF the thoraX.
The apices CT the lung are not OF
themselves points of minor resistance.
but impaired circulation OF the blood
and lymph. due TO the above mention
"a condition. render them more sus-
ceptible 70 this disease.
As you are aware. the treatment
/ OF certain disc asses by inducing haemiC
plethora was suggested 20 Bier by the
+ observations Of RokitansH in cases of
heart disease. on the other hand. in
pulmonary stenosis. the patient al
most invariably died OF phthisis pull
mOnalis.
In HYPNOSIS. where the tuhercular
J process Is located in the spinal col
Gmn. the subject rarely dies OF pull
monary tuberculosis, owing TO the
lung congestion caused by the circu-
latory embarrassment. but almost in
variably succunbs 10 heart disease.
The intrinsic value OF blood is
demonstrated in the frequent location
. OF primary tubercular disease. on ths
posterior aspect OF the epiglottis and
vocal chords parts very poorly sup
piled with blood In cirrhcsis of the
liver which Is often the cause OF tu-
bercular peritonitis by favoring lymph
stagnation. the primary large nodules
are formed upon the parietal layer OF
peritoneum. while on the parietal coat
Of tie bowel which is richly supplied
with blood. tubcrcular nOdules are
seldom found.
Advantage OF Treatment.
The advantages OF the treatment
may be briefly summarized: First. and
the most striking. is the immediate
change in the type OF respiration
owing 20 the increa sed negative pres
sure in the thOraN. the diaphragm Is
drawn by suction upwards. participate
ing feebly In respiration. a costal type
2 Of breathing is the result and the Wild
: ening of the upper chest follows. As
r ISOLATED with the consequent hypere-
{ mia is an accelerated flow OF lymph
! differing ia this respect from othel
J passive cOngestiOns which are assO
Ciated with injurious amounts o.
: lymph stagnation-
Second. Absence OF danger from
: hemorrage. the mask being employe,
as a prophylactic.
Third. Strengthening OF the heart
I EOAENlAr CAAlAuAALlOM OF nlOOu AOlAu
ing organs by diminished oxygen ten
sion. analogous 70 that which take
place in high attitudes without tn
disadvantage OF marked respiration
effort. AS TO the influence on cellula
elements Of the blood. ProfessO
Kuhn's experiments show that By
moderate interfe renee with the res
piratiOn for an hour a marked in
- crease in she cell elements and haemo
"a glObin in the peripheral circulatiO
n occurs. and after the use Of the mas
y Of from a few daSs 10 a few week:
r using il an hour each morning an
IS evening. this increase is absolute an
- permanent.
The increase Is accounted for on th
same theory applied 20 the increase
3 cells BY going into high attitudes
& That is. in high attitudes tnere Is NOR
blood in the external capillarie
& veins. and lungs. and the body wan'
8 10 restore this blood that is take
b from the great circulation thrOug
81 new formations
NO increase OF cell elements VI
noted where oxygen was given du
ing the use OF the mask. When give
independently. a decrease was noted