The physiological, pathological and therapeutical effects of compressed air / by Andrew H. Smith.

  • Smith, Andrew H. (Andrew Heermance), 1837-1910.
Date:
1886
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The physiological, pathological and therapeutical effects of compressed air / by Andrew H. Smith. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

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    same remark would apply in the case of a dilated right ventricle, and the advantage derived from emptying the engorged pulmonary vessels would be more than neutralized, if the sitting were too pro- longed or the pressure too great, by the increased labor thrown upon the right heart. In fact, in any cardiac affection the chance that the patient will be benefitted will depend in large measure upon the judgment and experience of the physician having the treatment in charge. It has been claimed that the use of compressed air, by favoring the oxidation of tissue, is effective in the treatment of obesity. But, to be succesaful, it is generally necessary that the treatment should be sup- plemented by withdrawal of the fat-producing articles of diet, and, as the latter expedient is usually suffi- cient in itself to attain the object in view, there is little to recommend the employment of the cabinet in the first instance. There seems to be no room to doubt that the cabinet treatment exerts a favorable influence upon cases of defective haematosis, and, therefore, upon anaemia and chlorosis. The best results are obtained when the pressure is not allowed to rise above five or six pounds to the inch. Rapid cures have been ef- fected in this way. A higher pressure rather hinders than favors the renewal of the blood corpuscles, probably by making too great a demand upon the weakened heart muscle.