THE OXYGEN CURE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7237, 25 October 1901, Page 2

THE OXYGEN CURE.

A REMARKABLE DISCOVERY. AND HOW IT WAS MADE. The use of jjss to mike the hair prow is one of the latest medical discoveries. Thn gas employed is oxygen. A large cap iits tightly round the head, >and is supplied with oxygen from a b::g which is j-lung over the pp'tifni's shofilders. Id is worn for a few hours every day, and even in cases of absolute baldness is said io produce a more or less luxuriant crop of hair-. The discovery was made at the Oxygen Hospital, Fitzroy Square, an institution of which lite Princess Louise is patron. The p:ts is used for the cure of quite a number of diseases. A woman was undergoing the oxygen cure for skin disease, and one of her aims lwl for many days been placed in a. light air-ttght box filled with the gas. Ifc was soon noticed that on that paru of the aim ihat was nffected by the disease the growth of 't'ne h:i.ii. was much stimulated, and this naturally suggested oxygen as a cure for balc^n-ess. The first experiment was msde upon a woman who had completely lost, her hair, juid it was found that aft«r a. few weeks' treatment there was quite a strong growth. The gas has also been found beneficial for weak eyes, and is used in a very similar manner, a hollow flexible cup being placed over the upper part of the face. This is connected by means of an ir.dia-i-übber tube to a nn.'tll gas-bag, and is worn day after day until a cure is effected. But, by far the greatest service that oxygen is* to perform is in the cure of consumption. The patients inhale the gas for ten hours every d:n\ ai:d find almost immediate rfikf. The germs of the disease cannot exist in oxygen a.lone. though in C3nv.v.cm a'iv tliev wmitiply vapidiy. This is ar present the only we<ik point of (he svmm, for it is f^ucd that in practice lbs patient lrs-es during (be nighr almost all the beriPfit .vhat. he has dpKved from the -.nhalatimi of cxvgen duri::g the day. 3ut this obicction is to be $\rent away when a- new* laboratory hxs b:en built where consumptives will h? able to breathe the C.j< d;-»v ar"! eight until n cure lias been effected. Wonderful results have already !)oen achieved. ai:;l it seems a, pity that for want rf a few hundred ncur.ds tbe erreat woik of the hospital should be delayed. Or.cc piopevly appointed mom? hive been iittel up. there seems m; (1...ubl that a great step towards the c:,nqiie.si o!" eoiiMiniption will liiy.- \>cen uike.'i.