Researches on tuberculosis : the Weber-Parkes Prize essay.

  • Ransome, Arthur, 1834-1922.
Date:
1898
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Researches on tuberculosis : the Weber-Parkes Prize essay. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

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    Case III.—J. T. J., at. 19, had phthisis in the second stage on the right and probably slight consolidation on the left side. He commenced the inhalations on January 20, having been in hospital ten days. His weight on January 20 was 1101b., and on February 15 it was 115 lb. He emptied the gasometer daily from two to five times, under a pressure of four kilos, and seemed to have benefited from the treatment; his pulse had slowed somewhat; he ate and slept better, and his temperature became normal. His sputum on January 20 showed no bacilli, but on February 14a few were found. On the whole, he gained 17 lb. in weight during eleven weeks in hospital, and afterwards, during a visit to Wales, he gained 101b. more. These cases were deemed sufficiently favourable, and it was accordingly determined to give the treatment a more extended trial. During the following seven years, therefore, about sixty cases of phthisis were thus treated, in addition to the ordinary treatment of the hospital. Very little selection was made of the persons submitted to the inhalations, except that all obviously hopeless cases were excluded. All three stages of the disease were submitted to the treatment, and full notes of the first fifteen cases were taken. The details of these cases can be given, if required. I may state generally, that the average gain in weight of all the patients, in all stages of the disease, was upwards of 10 lb. ; and although many of the cases, after their return home, again developed active disease, yet, whilst they remained under the treatment, in only one or two instances did the tubercular mischief make progress. Both before and since retiring from the hospital, I have also used the inhalations in private practice ; but I have not found it necessary to employ the gasometer, as the quantity of the mixed gases used could very well be ascertained by means of a pressure-gauge ; the only apparatus really needed being a dry battery or accumulator, a Ruhmkorff coil, an Ozonizer (made by the Electric Ozone Company), and a cylinder of Brin's Pure Oxygen. I have never seen any ill effects arising from its use, but usually great benefit to the patients, especially to those who were at all anaemic. Although we have often had highly gratifying results from other treatment at the hospital, I do not remember any that were quite so satisfactory as in those cases in which this ozone was also used ; such continuous freedom from fever, absence of night- sweats, diminution in the amount of expectoration, improvement in appetite and in sleeping power, and such consequent gain in weight and strength, and in the colour of the blood.