plaining usually of a feeling of suffocation and shortness of breath. Relaxation follows. A numbing of the sensory nerves occurs, and a sense of comfort and relief from pain takes place. Perspiration profuse and acid. If there be oedema, it is decreased. Thirst increased. If the bath be continued too long, it will produce prostration, restlessness, muscular twitching, cardiac weakness, followed by alarming symptoms. The patient therefore should be constantly and carefully watched. No two patients are alike or affected in the same manner, hence constant vigilance is imperative. The secondary physiological effects are believed to be varied and far-reaching. A deep as well as superficial massage has taken place while in the bath through increased circulation, causing tissues and organs to yield and give up that which they have refused otherwise to relinquish or liberate. The kidney and bowels become more active, the skin softened, and a general toning of muscular and circulatory systems. A noticeable effect is produced on stiff joints. They are relaxed and often can be readily flexed and adhesions broken, which before resisted every effort in this direction. Deposits in joints are usually absorbed to a great or less degree-sometimes very marked is the improvement. There may be and often is increased tenderness in rheumatic cases at first, but that goes with the absorption of the urates, oxalates and other deposits. Recently Dr. Hopkins of Cleveland has given us a very interesting article published in the Medical Record on "Superheated Air in the Therapeutics of Chronic Catarrhal Otitis Media." He has found hot air very satisfactory in the treatment of those cases where there was ankylosis of the ossicles; through increased circulation, deposits were absorbed. He claims out of 62 characteristic cases treated, 58 cures of deafness, the four failures occurring in very old people. In the Therapeutic Monthly for May, Dr. Prescott de Breton of Buffalo, N. Y., has an interesting article on "The Treatment of Disease by Local Applications of Superheated Dry Air," in which he gives a synopsis of 43 cases treated by his method with very satisfactory results in most cases. The doctor appears to have gotten best results in cases of rheumatism, sciatica and sprains. The following ten cases have been taken from those treated at the Colorado Fuel & Iron Company Hospital during the past year. The selection has been made with regard to the variety rather than any special class of cases. Case 1-Miss L., age 29 years. While coming down a stairway slipped, and in trying to save herself from falling, took a step forward and struck a step with the right knee-cap. She was carried home, and a physician was called, who diagnosed simple fracture of right patella without rupture of the capsule. The case was treated by plaster paris splint, and at the end of three weeks pronounced cured. But she could not use the limb, which was stiff, and passive motion was ordered by her attending physician. Case became worse instead of better, and the patient left her attendant to call in another regular physician, who coincided in the view held by his colleague, viz., that the limb should be used. The patient was not satisfied with this advice, and in time came under my care. On examination, no visible signs of a pre-existing fracture were found, but there was a tender point in the knee, close to the insertion of the tibialis anticus muscle, and there was atrophy of all the soft parts. The knee was placed in a splint, and the patient ordered to use crutches. This was continued for a period of seven months, when she demanded a different course of treatment and commenced to talk osteopathy. At this time it was decided to test the virtue of hot or superheated dry air, and at the expiration of a two hours' baking it was possible to flex the knee to an angle of 15 degrees without causing any inconvenience. This course of treatment was followed daily for a period of three weeks, until the injured member could be moved as freely as the other. The leg was then baked less frequently, and at the end of three months patient walked without difficulty. The leg was somewhat weak from non-use, but she experienced only a sense of fatigue after a protracted use of the member. Case 2.-Mrs. Hoe B., married, age 45. Admitted to hospital with Bright's disease and partial paralysis of right leg, following uremia; was given full and partial hot air baths until edema disappeared, and urine showed only small trace of albumin; uremic symptoms disappearing quickly after three baths had been given, and the patient recovered full use of paralyzed muscles. Case 3-Thomas Foley, 45 years of age. Admitted March 10th with syphilitic arthritis, which he said had persisted for months; motion was painful and limited. Was given daily baths with small oven, and after a week's treatment was able to use hands and feet with ease without full motion, which was never entirely recovered. Patient never had any pain from this time, though he was kept under stiff doses of K I, which he discontinued when he left hospital on June 3, 1900. Some months later he was again admitted to the hospital and died from cerebral syphilis. Case 4.-Jack A., age 15 years. Acute synovitis, knee. Two hot air baths were given, and he went home well. Case 5.—Harry J., age 38. Gave history of acute rheumatism for several weeks before being admitted to hospital (August 16). Was given full baths when he was in such condition that he had to be carried to the machine, and yet after a 45 minutes' bake at a temperature of 400 degrees F. would walk back to his bed. Case was discharged cured October 7, 1900. Case 6.—Jos. S., Italian, age 29.-Admitted with fractured femur, which united well, but muscles remained stiff and seemingly bound down. Was given leg baths every other day for ten days, with perfect result following. Case 7.-Henry G., 58 years. Arthritis deformans, with marked deformity-motion painful and restricted. Gave him hot air baths every day for an hour's duration for a period of five days. Patient left much improved. Case 8.-Philip B., Italian, age 42. Admitted with diagnosis of plumbism, which had not reached paralytic stage, but muscles crampy. One full bath relieved above conditions, and after four baths, patient was discharged well. Case 9.-John J., age 20, American. Admitted January Ist, after being on a prolonged drunk, very nervous, and on the verge of tremens. A full bath was given at a temperature of 300 degrees F. for two hours, producing full diaphoresis. As soon as he was removed, went into a quiet and peaceful sleep of six hours. The bath was repeated on January 2nd, and on January 3rd he was discharged well. Case 10.-Luke M., colored, age 38. Admitted February 18, 1901, with acute nephritis following variola. Face was puffed beyond all resemblance to a human being. There was fluid in the abdomen and pleural cavities, but heart was in good shape. Onethirtieth of a gr. of strychnine was administered, and the patient put in the oven for full bath. The temperature was slowly raised to 350 degrees F. and kept at that point for two hours, ice being kept to the head constantly. Two hours after being removed from the bath his face bore some resemblance to that of a person. The following day bath was omitted, but repeated on the second day with the same course. This was kept up until all anasarca had disappeared, and albumin had practically vanished from urine. Case was given absolutely no other treatment except mag. sulph. to keep bowels open, but not to purge, and kept on liquid diet for two weeks. Case discharged on March 14, in a normal condition. Up to the present time no bad results have made their appearance. I wish to especially express my appreciation of the goodness of Drs. Baker and Dyer, who are connected with the hospital, in assisting me in gathering these statistics, and caring for the patients while in the bath and at other times, and thereby making this report possible. All cases in the hospital treated by the hot air method have not resulted so favorably, some only having been improved; others receiving no benefit; and two cases can be recalled (acute rheumatism) which seemingly were aggravated by the treatment. A vast majority of the patients treated, however, with hot dry air have been markedly benefited or cured. I do not wish to be understood as advocating that superheated dry air is a cure-all, but I believe as an adjunct to other remedies, it is of much value. In fact, there are few cases the bath should be given without internal medication, but as an aid to medicine, I think it is of importance and of much service. There is even a faint hope that hot air may prove to be of no little assistance in tuberculosis. It is with hesitation this is suggested, for there have been so many false hopes created to relieve tuberculosis; but heat properly applied, especially locally, may be worthy of further trial than has yet been attempted. In surgery there is no question regarding the efficacy of dry heat. For sprains, stiff and tubercular joints, it has proven itself of the greatest value. It is worth the while of any physician or surgeon to give super-heated dry air a thorough trial. It is not an experiment; it is not new; it is safe and has been long tried. While much has been accomplished through its influence, I cannot feel that its limit has been reached, or all its secrets revealed. IS THE MOST POWERFUL ANTISEPTIC AND PUS DESTROYER. GLYCOZONE (C. P. Glycerine combined with Ozone.) THE MOST POWERFUL HEALING AGENT KNOWN. Successfully used in Diphtheria, Croup, Scarlet Fever, Sore Throat, Catarrh of the Nose, Ozena, Hay Fever, LaGrippe, Bronchitis, Asthma, Laryngitis, Pharyngitis, Whooping Cough, Etc. Inflammatory and Suppurative diseases of the Ear. Send for free 300-page book "Rational Treatment of Diseases caused by Germs," containing reprints of 140 scientific articles by leading contributors to medical literature. Physicians remitting 50 cents will receive one complimentary sample of each, Hydrozone" and "Glycozone." 66 Hydrozone is put up only in extra small, small, medium and large size bottles bearing a red label, white letters, gold and blue border, with my signature. Glycozone is put up only in 4-oz., 8-oz. and 16-oz. bottles bearing a yellow label, white and black letters, red and blue border, with my signature. MARCHAND'S EYE BALSAM cures all inflammatory and contagious diseases of the eyes. DISTRIBUTING AGENTS: Thomas Christy & Co., 25 Lime St., London, Eng. SOLD BY LEADING DRUGGISTS. PREPARED ONLY BY Charles Marchand Chemist and Graduate of the "Ecole Centrale des 57-59 Prince St., New York. AVOID IMITATIONS. MENTION THIS PUBLICATION. 19 |