Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-12-08
SIMPLE TREATMENT
CURE FOR PARALYSIS
Application of Hyperemia Is
Found to Effect Perma-
nent Relief.

CHICAGO, Dec. IA new method
of treating irfantle paralysis by
causing q rush of blood to- the in
iured cells of the spinal cord, pub
lished in the Medical Record of No
vember II, tells a story OF q series
OF experiments which led to successful
results in handling paralyzed patients.
The treatment is a further applica-
tlon of hyperemia, long practiced
method of rushing blood TO some In
jured portion of the body, thus stinlu-
lating recovery.
The article says any physician may
apply the simple treatment which
makes the blood rush to the affected
cells Of the spinal cord, hitherto in
accessible part of the anatomy. When-
ever there are any living cells left
In the spinal cord recovery is merely
a matter OF time. In the case. where
the disease has killed all the nerve
cells which control the lower limbs
and other parts Of the body no hope
is extended to patients at present.
Seven years experience with the
treatment demonstrated its efficacy In
so per cent of the cases treated. Re-
covery required from week TO Six
months, dependent on the severity OF
the disease. .t...
The first series of treatments We're
accomplished without anything save
the physicians hands and consisted or
suspending a child patient between
the hands of the physician and pro-
ducing a number Of rythmic swing
ings calculated to stretch the spinal
column and to flood with blood the
lumbar or cervlcal enlargement.
This procedure was soon found 10
present certain difficulties, especially
In larger children. In adults the
weight of the patient would make the
treatment physically impossible.
To obviate the possibility of, error
with reference to placing the leverage
at the right place as well as to enable
the physician to practice the swing
ings in . most convenient manner a
simple like appliance was devised to
pass under the patients arms ana
across the back
When suspended therein for a min
ute or two the patient undergoes eX-
tension and relaxation of the spine
without any effort on the part of the
attendant.
The treatment proper is carried out
az follows:
The patient is placed in the ap-
pIiance of size chosen for the spe-
cial case. For the first two minutes
the patient is allowed remain sus-
pended undisturbed for the purpose
of obtaining relaxation of the spinal
column.
The patient then Is swung forward
and backward with a jerk, somewhae
in the manner used to bring down
the mercury in fever thermometer
IL this movement is properly exc
cuted the lower extremities will swing
back in an opposite direction at the
moment each maneuver has been
completed This procedure is exc
cuted fifteen to twenty-five times, de-
pending on the tolerance OF the pa
tient.
Treatments may be given every
other day or even oftener, all depend
ing on the reaction.
The astonishing results that have
followed this simple treatment. ac-
cording to hte Medical Record, can
be explained only by the fact that a
hyperemia Is produced in the af-
fected portion of the cord. Several
physicians have had ample oppor-
tunity to follow UP number Of
cases and 1t is said there is no doubt
as to the permanency Of the results.