Notes on the treatment of phthisis by pure oxygen and ozonised oxygen / by Arthur Ransome.

  • Arthur Ransome
Date:
1888
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Notes on the treatment of phthisis by pure oxygen and ozonised oxygen / by Arthur Ransome. 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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    6 Ozone.—Whilst these observations upon the action of pure oxygen were being carried out, it was also thought desirable to ascertain the effect of ozonising the pure gas as it issued from the cylinders. It was thought possible that the deleterious effects of ozone, that had been at various times observed by others, might have been due partly to some impurity. Ozone was accordingly obtained by connecting the wires from an induction coil, with the inner and outer tubes of an ozone-generator (Tinsley's), and allowing a gentle stream of oxygen from a Erin's cylinder to pass through the tubes. The apparatus was at first placed in the ventilating chamber, underneath one of the pavilion wards. By means of test papers ozone could be found passing into the ward in increased quantity, but as no appreciable results followed, and as more- over atmospheric ozone was found in considerable quantities in the air entering the ventilating chamber by its louvres, this method was soon discontinued. It was then tried in the sunbath with nine, ten, or a dozen patients, with the windows closed, for half an hour. Irregular results were obtained from pulses and respirations, and there was marked increase in coughing and headaches (? probably due in part to confine- ment of excess of patients in a limited area). Similar treatment in a small ward with three or four patients at the most, and continuing for about six weeks, gave the following results : The room used was 2,790 cubic feet in size. The patients were left in the room for an hour, with the exception of J. S., who remained usually half an hour. The general effects observed were these: Sleepiness (only one patient out of five unaffected); increased appetite for the next meal; no marked effect on either pulse or respiration; no irritable effects, such as increased coughing; no headache; no definite alteration in the amount of bacilli in sputa. One patient (G. H.) was brought in for one inha- lation, but coughed so much that it was not thought advisable to continue in his case. L. C. felt very little difference during several weeks trial, though she could readily detect by the smell the presence of ozone. On two occasions the stream of pure oxygen was shut off, and the ozone obtained from ordinary air. On both occasions all the patients com- plained of coughing and a sense of irritation. Pure Ozone tender slight ]jressure.—Mr. Cottam and I then tried the effect of inhaling pure ozonized oxygen that had been passed into a Waldenberg's apparatus—a kind of gasometer upon which more or less pressure could be made by means of weights and counter weights. As we experienced no ill effects from our inhalation, I selected the following case as one upon whom cautiously graduated experiments with this gas could be tried. The notes have been furnished to me by Mr. Cottam. A. J. E., aged 49, of good family history, was admitted Oct. 10th, 1887. His previous history was as follows : Winter cough since 1882, usually