A VISIT TO THE OXYGEN HOSPITAL.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9594, 8 December 1896, Page 3

A VISIT TO THE OXYGEN HOSPITAL.

Th 4 Queen. A new era in medical science has been introduced by the experiment of treating ulcers and wounds by exposure to oxygen gas—but it is still on trial. Hitherto, msay of such cases have been regarded as prao« tically incurable, but under this new treatraent a fresh order has set in. In the early part of this year a committee of ladies and gentlemen, under the presidency of Baroness Burdett-Coutts, took a house at 35, Sfc Georges-square, S.W., for the purpose of carrying out their beneficent scheme. It was an .experiment, but bow far it has succeeded may be judged from the coves which speak from the leaves of the case books. It is known to etudeate of science that the greatest enemy which the Burgeon has to fear when dealing with a wound ia impure air, teeming with harmful bacteria, and that his best ally ia pure air, full of oxygen. This Dr. George Stoker verified when he was ambulance-surgeon during the Zulu war, and he was led to believe that the most effective healing of open wound* would be by bringing aa much oxygen to bear oa them as possible. Accordingly, this is the theory which is put into practice at St. George's Hospital, and its results are marvellous. The simplicity of the treat* ment is one of its best points. The oxyfen is generated in an iron funnel, aad pumped into indiarubber bags, according to the strength required, then diluted with pure air. An air-tight box ia then placed over the part of the limb affected, the opening is encased in . oilskin, and the oxygen introduced into the box by mean of a tube. One of the most noticeable features of the treatment is the immediate cessation of pain; patients who have had bad nights for years past are able to enjoy a complete rest. Another point which may be recorded is that oxygen is a powerful disinfectant and deodorant, and in cases of this kind this is the utmost importance. One cast in the hospital was of forty years' standing, and had undergone every remedy at the hands of many doctors, yet within, three weeks it was already - cured b> the oxygen, and presented a most healthy appearanc:. There were other cases of eighteen, twenty and several years' durataon, and all told the same satisfactory t»le._l» was also found that oxygen was a wonderful agent in promoting the growth of Jtenv Mα. several ewes of perfect baldness nowpween* healthy heads of hair. The head « &**& with an oxygen cap, and in a J*™**"" , «» above mentioned reeulfc is.obtained. The home is small, but if it were ten tunes aa Urge it would be incapable of containing anything like the number of thoee who seek admission, and it is a painful duty to fcwrn away so many who are honing to Dβ «otta of terrible diseases.