Oxygen gas as a remedy in disease.
- Smith, Andrew H. (Andrew Heermance), 1837-1910.
- Date:
- 1870
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Oxygen gas as a remedy in disease. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.
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![up in the following table, from a review of Beddoes's work which was published in the British Library: OASES TllEATED. Obstinate Ulcers Leprosy (?) Spasms Gutta Serena Chlorosis Epilepsy Asthma Cancer Dropsy of the Chest Hypochondria Dyspepsia Dropsy Hydrocephalus Headache Poisoning by Opium Paralysis Scrofulous Tumors Deafness White Swelling , Scorbutus Venereal Melancholy , General Del)ility Continued Fever Intermittent Fever Coldness of ExtTemities Total It will be observed that no cases of phthisis are included in this table. The explanation of this is to be found in the peculiar vieAvs entertained by Beddoes as to the relation of oxygen to this disease- Accepting without question the reports of Fourcroy as to the ulti- mate acceleration of the disease by oxygen, he framed the theory that in phthisis there was a change, either in the constitution of the blood or in the substance of the lung, that favored the absorption of oxygen, which was therefore already present in excess. For this reason he considered oxygen as absolutelj'' contraindicated. In scorbutus, on the contrary, he su]3posed that there was a deficiency of»oxygen in the system, which he thought should be supplied by artificial means. The labors of Beddoes did much toward establishing the true position of oxygen as a therapeutic agent. They demonstrated, on the one hand, that the ideas at first entertained as to its curative power were extravagant, and, on the other, that it was an agent capable of producing good efi'ects in many cases not reached by Cured. Relieved. 2 2 5 ... 3 2 • ■ • 2 5 2 1 ... 10 9 3 2 1 1 3 1 2 ] 1 9 9 1 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Not bene- fited. 5 3 49 30 14](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b22268054_0008.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
