OXYGEN. 
AN ADJUVANT TO THE HOMOEOPATHIC TREATMENT OF DISEASES 
OF THE 
RESPIRATORY AND CIRCULATORY SYSTEMS 
BY f 
WILLIAM W.VAN BAUN, M.D., 
PHILADELPHIA. 
Reprinted from the Hahnemannian Monthly, Philadelphia, 
March, 1889. a / /] } 
AUTHOR’S EDITION. 
1889. OXYGEN. 
AN ADJUVANT TO THE HOMOEOPATHIC TREATMENT OF DISEASES OF 
THE RESPIRATORY AND CIRCULATORY SYSTEMS. 
WILLIAM W. VAN BAUN, M.D., PHILADELPHIA. 
(Read before the Philadelphia County Homoeopathic Medical Society.) 
The effort now being made to strip oxygen of its charlatanism 
and to cloth it as a scientific remedial agent, claims the approval of 
the profession. 
While we deeply regret that the arduous labor, and the notable 
results attained by Drs. Beddoes, Sir Humphrey Davy, Hill, Thorn- 
ton, Cavello, Erichsen, Demarquay, and others, in developing oxygen 
as a therapeutical agent, should have borne so little fruit, we are 
reconciled, in the present, by the fact that the researches and inves- 
tigations of Drs. Smith, Wallian, Jaccoud, and others, have given 
oxygen an impetus that is carrying it towards a future of unusual 
distinction. 
The therapeutical history of this great pneumatic agent has been 
such as merit of the unworthy must expect. The wonderful results 
announced by the early enthusiastic investigators were too miracu- 
lous for the conservatively biased medical mind of the early part of 
the present century. Its unjust, prejudiced and incompetent critics 
turned from a scientific investigation of its merits to indulge in ridi- 
cule, and then in positive persecution of its advocates. The explo- 
rers in this new field of materia medica were not able to withstand 
the malevolent attacks of its enemies, and, failing to enlist new re- 
cruits, they did but little towards determining the remedial value of 
the new factor. 
The storm of ridicule and unreasoning opposition, however, did 
not deter the professional outlaws from seizing upon part of what 
was good in the pneumatic revelation, and from that day to this they 
have, by means of public appeals to the love of the mysterious so 
inherent in human nature, enriched themselves, at the expense of 
credulous dupes, by using the so-called “compound oxygen/’ “the 
oxygen home treatment,” “ perfected oxygen,” and the various ozone 
1 2 
cures. Their methods were, and are, so notorious that the very name 
of oxygen has become offensive to the professional mind, and it is 
only recently that the great utility of this gas has commanded the 
attention of the highest professional circles. 
The chief source of hindrance to the general employment of 
oxygen by the profession has been the lack of facilities for procur- 
ing a prompt supply of the agent in convenient form, and of a 
quality sufficiently pure for prolonged clinical exhibition. 
The commercial gas, on account of chlorine and other impurities, 
and by its deterioration from pressure, is not fit for medical use. 
Fortunately, to-day these difficulties have been surmounted, and 
it is now no longer “ necessary to use impure or questionable gas. 
The process for evolving pure oxygen is not complicated, and may 
be conducted without the aid of expensive apparatus by 
are not particularly apt in chemical manipulation. Familiar as it 
is, perhaps its concise repetition may assist some experimenters who 
have never attempted it, or whose recollections of the laboratory 
have been dimmed by time.”—Wallian. * 
The best formula for practical purposes is that suggested by Fre- 
senius : 
» 
R . P. Potass, clilorat., pure, lbs. iv. 
P. Manganesii. cryst., pure lbs. i. 
P. Ferri carb., prec., grs. lxx. M. 
S. To be well mixed and triturated, avoiding violent friction, lest 
an explosion be produced. (With reasonable care the liability to 
this accident is very slight.) The prepared material should be thor- 
oughly desiccated by being exposed to moderate heat in an open oven, 
or by means of a chemical drying-chamber. Store in any receptacle 
which will protect it from moisture until wanted for use. 
This is the method used by the American Oxygen Association in 
preparing their material for the generation of oxygen. The mixing 
of these ingredients is an unpleasant task on account of the dirt, and 
it will be to the advantage of those intending to use the gas to pur- 
chase the prepared material. 
Most of the oxygen in use to-day is obtained by applying heat to 
potassium chlorate. The salt melts and decomposes with ebullition, 
yielding large quantities of gas; frequently, finely powdered, black 
manganese oxide is added, which causes the oxygen to become dis- 
engaged with greater facility. The manganese undergoes no change 
whatever; it merely acts by its presence. 3 
The necessity of the entire purity of gases to be inhaled by the 
lungs cannot be too much dwelt upon, especially in chronic cases, 
where the administrations are to be continued for a considerable 
length of time. A perfectly pure oxygen can be obtained : 
1st. By observing care in procuring the best of material from 
which to generate the gas. 
2d. By avoiding a too high temperature in heating the material, 
as excess of heat evolves chlorine. 
3d. By removing all deleterious matter given off with the gas by 
washing the oxygen through a series of wash-bottles. The first two 
bottles to contain a strong solution of caustic soda; the third a solu- 
tion of ferrous sulphate; the fourth, pure water, or a solution of 
potassic permanganate; and a fifth bottle packed loosely with anhy- 
drous calcium chloride, covered with a filter of absorbent cotton. 
As the blood does not absorb more than 25 or 30 per cent, of 
oxygen from the volume of any given inspiration it is not necessary 
to administer the gas in full strength. Experience has shown that 
50 or 60 per cent, of oxygen, combined with 40 or 50 per cent, of 
nitrogen monoxide, is far more efficient than undiluted oxygen in 
cases with neuralgias, neurasthenia, insomnia, etc. And for the ma- 
jority of cases, especially those of the respiratory, circulatory, and 
haematopoietic systems, a further dilution of the tw7o gases with 20 
to 40 percent, of common air will be found necessary to attain the 
full and lasting benefit of this method of treatment. 
The apparatus necessary for the generation, purification, storage, 
and dispensing of oxygen and nitrous oxide gas, are few and simple. 
They consist of an ordinary oil stove for generating heat; an iron 
or copper retort, preferably cone-shape, for heating the prepared 
oxygen material ; six glass wash-bottles of sufficient capacity, with 
rubber corks, fitted with a long and short glass tube. (The long 
perforated bulb-end tube of the American Oxygen Association, is 
the best, as it conveys the gas to the bottom of the liquid in the 
bottle and breaks it into fine bubbles, the gas by this means being 
thoroughly purified.) For storage, an ordinary twenty-five or fifty 
gallon gasometer is all sufficient. The best method of handling the 
nitrous oxide gas, is in the shape of a 100-gallon cylinder, such as 
is furnished by the S. S. White Co., for dental purposes. A gaso- 
meter of eight or ten gallons capacity will be most serviceable for 
preparing the gases to be dispensed; the oxygen and nitrogen mon- 
oxide can be readily mixed in any proportion, and common air may 
be added as desired. The customary dispensing flask is to be 4 
attached to the gasometer, by means of rubber tubing. The inhal- 
ing tube, leading from the flask, is to be furnished with glass mouth- 
pieces, which can be readily detached, cleansed and disinfected. 
Administration : Inhalations of oxygen should not be given on an 
empty stomach, or after a prolonged fast, or when the patient is un- 
usually fatigued. As a rule, one treatment per day is sufficient. 
(“ In the anxiety of both physician and patient to see palpable signs 
of immediate improvement, the tendency is to overdo in matter of 
dosage.”— Wallian). The patient is to stand erect, with the shoulders 
well back. The residual air is then to be expelled from the lungs 
as thoroughly as possible, after which, the gas is to be slowly inspired 
by a steady effort until the lungs are as full as comfort will permit. 
The inspired gas is to be retained as long as may be, or until the patient 
experiences some distress; it is then to be slowly and deliberately 
expired through the nose. I find it of advantage to have some 
patients walk once or twice across the office floor, before allowing the 
gas to escape from their lungs. 
In using oxygen as a remedial agent, care must be exercised in 
selecting cases. It is useless to accept hopelessly incurable patients; 
or those who will not loyally follow up the treatment for a definite 
period of two, three or four months. With these conditions attended 
to, oxygen will be found to be indicated “ in every chronic morbid 
condition of which it is possible to form a conception.”—Wallian. 
It is also efficacious in acute conditions requiring aeration of the 
blood, as in oertain stages of pneumonia, where it will often bridge 
over an imminent danger, in typhoid fever, and in the asphyxias. 
In incipient phthisis it is undoubtedly desirable to secure an in- 
creased expansion of the chest, and how can this be more effectually, 
or more expediently accomplished than bv inflating the lungs with 
deep inhalations of oxygen, combining with it, forced efforts of ex- 
piration to overcome the mechanical resistance ? 
“In the year 1784, Jurine of Geneva, published a short essay on 
the subject of oxygen, and reported a case of phthisis, in a young 
lady, very much benefited by inhalation of the gas. 
In 1789, Chaptal of Montpelier, reported two cases of phthisis 
treated by the same agent, in one of which marked relief was ob- 
tained, while in the other the results were negative.” 
Drs. Ilayem of the St. Antoine Hospital, Paris, Linger of London, 
Buttles of N. Y., Kirnberger of Mayence and Lorenz of Vienna, 
report excellent results in anaemia, chlorosis, leukaemia and pseudo- 
leukaemia, from inhalations of oxygen. 5 
Dr. Andrew K. Smith, in a prize essay on “ Oxygen Gas as a 
Remedy in Disease,” claims that oxygen inhalations cause an average 
of nine beats less in the heart per minute, and that it facilitates 
capillary circulation. 
Paid, Demarquay, Duory, Ozanam and Jackson, consider oxygen 
an antidote for all the asphyxias, and especially for the relief of cases 
of overaction of an anaesthetic. 
Dr. Paul, of Paris, and Dr. Eckert, claim that albuminuria has 
disappeared under the influence of this gas. 
Dr. Heinemann, at a recent meeting of the New York Neurological 
Society, recommended the oxygen treatment in muscular weakness 
of the heart uncomplicated by dilatation or valvular disease. 
Dr. J. Schmidt in the Munchener Medicinische Woohensehrift, No. 
16, 1888, reports that he obtained astonishing results from the par- 
enchymatous injection of ozone water, in retarding the growth of 
cancer nodules and causing their final disappearance. He especially 
recommends it for recurrent growths and cancers which are not 
readily accessible to operative treatment. 
Dr. Korndoerf'er, in the Homoeopathic Recorder for July, 1888, 
states that he has observed “that ozone will positively increase the 
duration and intensity of the reactive force of the patient ; or, in 
other words, increase the curative effect of the administered drug.” 
“ In his recent dangerous illness (pneumonia and bronchitis), Pro- 
fessor Billroth, after everything else that science could suggest had 
been done for his relief, appears to have derived most benefit from in- 
halations of pure oxygen. Under this treatment the dyspnoea dimin- 
ished, the pulse became stronger, and consciousness gradually re- 
turned.”—Brit. Med. Journal. 
Pepper, Herman, Biegel, and others, recommend the use of oxygen 
in croup; and good results have been reported in cholera, diabetes, 
hydrophobia, senile gangrene, eclampsia, eczema, etc. 
Oxygen is not a destructive element, but in reality is a restorative; 
its absorption into the blood, its direct and rapid distribution to every 
tissue throughout the entire system, contributes directly towards con- 
structive rather than destructive metamorphosis; its direct effects 
are, therefore, “ to be looked for in the circulating fluid rather than 
in the mere organs of respiration.”—Wallian. This is seen to be 
the case by noting the results of the oxygen treatment in phthisis, 
scrofula, rachitis, chlorosis, hypochondria, Bright’s disease, uraemic 
coma, etc. It is on this factor that Jaccoud founds his treatment of 
Bright’s disease; which is, to give ten-litres inhalations of oxygen 6 
three times daily, with the simplest possible diet, and at the same 
time to promote tissue exchange with the inhaled gas by a systematic 
application of douches followed by friction. 
In presenting the following cases for consideration, I do not desire 
to over-estimate the value of oxygen, neither do 1 wish to under- 
estimate the great utility of this pneumatic adjuvant in the treatment 
of suitable cases. My experience has taught me that without the 
indicated remedy the results are neither as prompt nor as lasting. 
Case J.—Miss X., a young lady of 21 years, in good circum- 
stances. Has been under treatment two years for chlorosis; during 
the last six months she has been rapidly growing worse. October 
10th, 1888. Fhe patient is a plump brunette, five feet in height, 
and weighing 106 pounds, with a characteristic yellowish-green 
complexion, with bluish-black rings, or occasionally puffiness, under 
the eyes, the sclerotics being pearly and glistening. Mucous membrane 
of the mouth pallid. Temperament emotional, with marked ner- 
vous symptoms. She complains of breathlessness, palpitation, and 
fainting. Effort of any kind, especially muscular, starts the heart 
into tumultuous action, and brings on difficult breathing with oppres- 
sion of the chest and great throbbing on both sides of the neck. 
There is a constant, strong feeling of fatigue and weariness. On 
walking any distance, the calves feel swollen and hard, followed, 
during the night, by severe cramps, knotting the muscles of the legs 
and continuing, at intervals, all night. 
Energetic muscular exertion causes exhaustion with fainting. Yes- 
terday, on ascending two flights of stairs, with halting for breath, 
on reaching the top landing she fell in a dead faint, remaining in 
the swoon for over an hour; this was followed by palpitation, terri- 
ble distress in praecordia, dyspnoea, and sleeplessness. 
Her appetite is capricious, with poor digestion, and severe, long- 
lasting constipation. Menstrual flow now absent for five months. 
No leucorrhcea. Mouth dry, occasional sore throat, naso-pharyngeal 
catarrh, and a dry, barking cough. 
Physical Examination.—Heart dilated, without compensation, 
apex beat at upper border of sixth rib, to the left of nipple, two 
fingers in breadth; action irregular. An anaemic bruit at the base 
and over the large vessels, being especially distinct at the left side of 
the neck. Pulse, rapid and full, but soft. Lungs and other organs 
negative. Micturition frequent; quantity, 30 to 40 ounces ; color, 
yellow; sp.gr., 1008; reaction, acid; sediment flocculent; no al- 
bumen, no sugar, and no tube-casts. 7 
Microscopical examination of the blood showed a great increase 
in the number of white blood corpuscles. 
The patient having been under a course of iron and oil, she now 
received tincture of digitalis and glonoin. 
October 20th.—Palpitation, dyspnoea and sleeplessness greatly 
improved, other symptoms the same. 
October 24th.—Condition not changed; cannot walk fast or use 
any exertion on account of distress in abdomen, and a great weari- 
ness. To-day, her pulse is 102; vital capacity, 130 cubic inches 
(tested by dry spirometer), and expansion 2J inches, being 52 cubical 
to 1 lineal inch. Commenced oxygen treatment, 0,N20, and com- 
mon air, aa, 3 gallons daily. 
November 5th.—Feels much better, but still she cannot walk fast 
or hurry in any way. She can now ascend, slowly, one flight of 
stairs without stopping. Vital capacity, 150 cubic inches ; pulse, 84 ; 
respiration, 18. The capacity is increased 20 cubic inches, and the 
pulse is lessened 18 beats. Treatment continued, with the following 
remedies, as indicated, cal. carb., cocculus, and lycopodium. 
December 5th.—Is greatly improved ; she can ascend two flights 
of stairs without resting, and there is no palpitation or dyspnoea. She 
has a good appetite, with easy digestion. Bowels have been moved 
daily tor one month. Menstrual function has been renewed. Lips 
have quite a deep color, and her face is no longer “ white,” but is 
frequently flushed. Vital capacity, 150 cubic inches; expansion, 3 
inches; weight, 112| pounds, a gain of pounds. Treatment con- 
tinued. Au occasional dose of lycopodium. 
December 30th.—Has returned from a week or two in the country ; 
states that she is in better health, and that she can endure greater 
fatigue than at any time for the past three years. Contrary to orders, 
while away she has been constantly on a social round, attending three 
or four dances which she enjoyed greatly. As an evidence of her 
recovery, and as an intimation she desires to stop treatment, she 
states that before starting out to-day she ran up stairs from the 
ground-floor to the third story without any discomfort. The heart is 
markedly toned up, and the anaemic bruit, while still present, is very 
much weaker, and is heard only at the neck. I have insisted on her 
continuing treatment for one month longer. 
February 15th, 1889.—The patient is still enjoying exceptionally 
g-ood health. 
c> 
Case II.—Mrs. H., aged 26 years, married, one child. Family 
history, phthisical; father, five brothers, two sisters, and all of her 8 
mother’s family have died of consumption. Mother, insane. The 
The patient suffers from severe dysmenorrhoea. She has had cough 
and chest pains for two years. A naso-pharyngeal and laryngeal 
catarrh. There is deficiency of expansion, and feeble respiration 
over the upper portion of the right lung, but no appreciable consoli- 
dation. 
Expansion, 1£ inch; capacity, 70 cubic inches on forced expira- 
tion. 
After one month active treatment of oxygen and nitrogen mon- 
oxide, equal parts, diluted with 30 per cent, of common air, commenc- 
ing with three inhalations daily of 60 cubic inches, which was grad- 
ually increased to six inhalations of 150 cubic inches daily, with the 
appropriate remedy, her vital capacity increased to 160 cubic inches, 
and the expansion to 2 inches, with 2 pounds increase of weight, 
together with marked benefit of general health. At this stage, I re- 
gret to state, that owing to circumstances that could not be controlled 
the patient was compelled to stop the oxygen treatment. 
It is to be noted that, at the end of one month, this patient’s chest 
expansion had increased three-fourths of an inch. Her vital capacity 
had jumped from 70 to 160 cubic inches, a gain of 90 cubic inches; 
with a relative alteration of the cubical to the lineal measurement 
from 60 to 80 cubic inches to the lineal inch. 
Admitting that the oxygen was administered in this case for too 
short a time to be of lasting benefit, if the patient will continue to 
use her increased lung-space, she will derive incalculable benefit from 
the thorough inflation of her lungs. 
Case III.—Mrs. McN., aged 50, a hard-working woman. This 
is a case of inveterate bronchial asthma, of seven years’ standing, 
gradually growing worse. The attacks are always aggravated in 
October and November, at which time she is confined to her room 
for six or seven weeks. These severe attacks have been repeated 
yearly since the fall of 1880. 
October 29th, 1888.—She called at my office, stating that for a 
week her regular annual attack of asthma had been gradually coming 
on, and she was sure to be confined to her room in a few days, as she 
had never been able to obtain relief. She had been compelled to sit 
up all night for the last three nights. 
At present her breathing is somewhat increased, inspiration short, 
abrupt and jerky, expiration prolonged, respiration noisy and wheez- 
ing, she has a hard cough, with expectoration of little lumps of phlegm. 
I gave her nux vom. 3, and allowed her to inhale frequently, every 9 
five minutes for half an hour, oxygen and nitrous oxide, aa. She was 
only able to breathe in, with a somewhat prolonged gasp, 15 to 20 
cubic inches of the gas at each inspiration. At the end of half an 
hour she stated she felt better than for three days past. I could not 
see any change in her breathing. 
October 30th.—Patient had a better night. Treatment continued. 
November 3d.—According to her statement, her lungs had never 
felt clearer in seven years; she had slept in comfort, all night, the 
last two nights. 
December 30th.—The patient has continued treatment, on and off, 
up to the present time. Whenever the asthmatic symptoms returned, 
they were promptly and entirely relieved in three days by the oxy- 
gen ; then she would stop coming until, owing to' her constant ex- 
posure, a fresh cold would cause a renewal of the trouble. She has 
not lost a day’s work on account of her asthma this fall or winter up 
to the present. 
Case IV.—Mrs. K. A well-marked case of emphysema, with 
bronchial catarrh ; her trouble dates from a catarrhal pneumonia in 
1880. There is a persistent annoying cough almost all the time, 
with frequent expiratory dyspnoea; scanty expectoration. Some 
dyspepsia. Expiration is prolonged and jerky. Vital capacity, 
90 cubic inches. Expansion, one-fourth of an inch. After a month’s 
careful treatment, her capacity increased to 100 cubic inches on pro- 
longed forced expiration. She has never been able to go beyond this 
figure. The patient has improved in every way, although by no 
means well. The prominent symptoms have all been relieved. The 
patient is still under treatment. T consider that the prospects for a 
complete cure are dubious. 
Case V.—Willie J., aged 13. History of frequent illness; two 
violent attacks of inflammatory rheumatism lasting for weeks, one 
when five and the other at seven years of age. When ten years old, 
he had a catarrhal pneumonia, since which time he has never been 
well, having recurrent attacks of bronchitis, with dyspnoea and great 
depression of vital forces, each fall and winter. Plis chest is bulg- 
ing (emphysema), excepting the anterior right side below the fourth 
rib, which is consolidated. Mitral insufficiency, apex beat diffused, 
three finger tips. Urine negative. Capacity, 90 cubic inches; 
expansion, 2 inches. 
The oxygen treatment has proved decidedly beneficial in this case. 
After two months of daily inhalations, his capacity has increased to 
120 cubic inches, and the expansion to 2J inches. His cough, short- 10 
ness of breath and wheezing have not troubled him during the last 
month, much to the delight of bis parents. Although exposed to all 
kinds of weather, he has not caught cold, and has had but few twinges 
of his old chronic rheumatism ; he can stand much greater fatigue, 
sleeps well, and awakens refreshed. The change, if any, at the base 
of right lung, is for the better. I feel justified in urging this case to 
continue the treatment. 
Case VI.—Miss G., schoolteacher, aged 36. A most marked case 
of what is now so well understood by the fashionable term neuras- 
thenia, or, as Hahnemann put it, a case dependent upon psoric 
miasm. I had been treating her with antipsorics for a year and a 
half with a slow but sure improvement. Desiring to hasten the case 
I placed her on the oxygen treatment, with daily inhalations of three 
gallons of equal parts of 0,N20, and common air. After the first 
week she seemed to rapidly improve, her gastric symptoms, insomnia 
and many of the nervous phenomena disappeared, her menses re- 
turned after an absence of twenty-two months, she increased in 
weight at the rate of a pound and a half per month, and appeared 
to be rousing her dormant self to an interest in the world, when 
suddenly, without a moment’s warning, towards the close of the 
third month of the treatment, she grew rapidly worse, and at present 
her condition is the same, if not worse, than when we began the 
oxygen. The cause of this relapse I have not yet been able to satisfac- 
torily determine. I have advised her to discontinue treatment for 
one month, when I will try again, and report results. 
The oxygen treatment in all these cases has been coupled with a 
most careful medication, a rigid dietary, and a systematic personal 
hygiene. 
In the first five cases the results have been all, and more than was 
expected. The sixth case is sub judice.