. . .I have gratified that curiosity by breathing it, drawing it through a glass syphon, and, by this means, I reduced a large jar full of it to the standard of common air. The feeling of it to my lungs was not sensibly different from that of common air; but I fancied that my breast felt peculiarly light and easy for some time afterwards. Who can tell but that, in time, this pure air may become a fashionable article in luxury. Hitherto only two mice and myself have had the privilege of breathing it.[p. 162]

. . .From the greater strength and vivacity of the flame of a candle, in this pure air, it may be conjectured, that it might be peculiarly salutary to the lungs in certain morbid cases, when the common air would not be sufficient to carry off the putrid effluvium fast enough. But, perhaps, we may also infer from these experiments, that though pure dephlogisticated air [oxygen] might be very useful as a medicine, it might not be so proper for us in the usual healthy state of the body; for, as a candle burns out much faster in dephogisticated than in common air, so we might, as may be said, live out too fast, and the animal powers be too soon exhausted in this pure kind of air. A moralist, at least, may say, that the air which nature has provided for us is as good as we deserve. [pages 168-169].

In venturing to call professional attention to the subject of this paper, I may safely premise with the remark, that it is one respecting which there exist great diversity of opinion and very little practical knowledge. The therapeutic use of oxygen gas, either alone or as an adjunct, in various intractable diseases, is a subject of vast importance to my professional brethren, enhanced in value as it is by an impartial reflection upon the still very uncertain and unsatisfactory state of our knowledge of medicinal modus operandi. Thus far, excepting to a few individuals and to a very limited extent, this gas, although so well known in its physiological relations, has been practically litttle better than a "secret" in it therapeutic bearings. Notwithstanding that from the time of Dr. Beddoes and Sir Humphry Davy several practitioners have made successful trial in private practice -- notwithstanding that the researches of modern chemistry have made us more scientifically cognizant than formerly of the relations of oxygen to the other elements of the vital organism -- notwithstanding that the daily observations of every man who has disease to treat shows him that the patient needs plenty of pure air, more air (in other words more oxygen) than he can possibly obtain under many circumstances and in many diseased states from the atmosphere around him -- the idea seems merely to float through the professional mind, without any resulting general endeavor to make a practical application of it.

The gradually increasing interest, which I now find existent in the profession, with regard to oxygen as a therapeutic agent, induces me to believe that a communication onthis subject may not prove unacceptable at this our annual meeting, particularly if thepaper offered be rendered as practically useful as possible.

Somewhat discouraged by much opposition, passive and active, I have thus farpermitted myself to remain comparatively isolated. . .It may seem presumptuous toimagine that I may succeed where Drs. Beddoes, Hill, and Thornton (although eminentlysuccessful in their own practice), left no permanent impression; where hospitalexperimenters are reported to have always failed; where authorities in general aredecidedly adverse. . .

In leaving this period [early 19^th century] it may be said that oxygen had been almostcompletely abandoned. Condemned to disuse by nearly all the authors who had had occasion to speak of it more or less directly. . .it was scarcely possible that oxygen should any longer be received in the domain of current therapeutics, and if in our time recourse has been had to this gas, it has been only under the head of remedies of last resort that ithas been employed. Thus, in 1832 several distinguished physicians attempted to administer the gas in the last stages of cholera, but without success.

For some years following, oxygen seems to have regained a degree of favor with our cousins on the other side of the Channel. Thus, within fifteen years, there have appeared in England several works treating on the medical use of this gas, without counting the isolated reports published in the journals. . .

. . .I do not propose to treat here of the chemistry of oxygen, nor of its physiological effects, nor even of the objections which have been urged against its use -- but simply to state the facts which have come under my own observation.

Case III. Phthisis pulmonalis.--Mrs. W.--@ 31, who had lost her father and sisters of consumption, consulted me in Dec.1867. For the last six months had had cough, for the lastthree had been emaciated, and at this time had theprostration, night sweats, diarrhea, and hectic of the thirdstage of phthisis; hemoptysis had occurred several times:the expectoration was generally purulent. There wereviolent pains, especially over left chest, and examinationrevealed a fine crepitus at apex of left lung. The patientwas treated with ordinary medicines, and improved gradually. Opium in the form of an atomized spray was foundto be the best medicine for relieving cough, and procuringsleep; tincture of steel and carbolic acid used in the samemanner relieved, to a certain extent, the profuse expectoration; and although the case became complicated witha peri-uterine haematocele, in February 1868 she ralliedfrom this also.

It was July 1868 before she could walk as far as myhouse. Her principal symptoms then were debility, painsin the chest, cough, and copious muco-purulent sputum. At this point she began inhalations of oxygen in theproportion of 6 pints to 60 of air, increasing to 12 pints. She took inhalations at intervals of two days, and thenfound the above symptoms so relieved as to be able toomit all treatment for a time. She herself attributed greatbenefit to the gas, and was taking no other special medicine at the time. Since then she has borne fairly well thecares of a large family. She has gained flesh, and thoughthere is still a frequent cough, and sputum, a mucous raleabout the left apex (I examined the chest two days ago),the progress of the disease is arrested for a time at least.

The subjoined pages have been written to inform suffering invalids that the inhalationof oxygen gas and atmospheric air, when mixed in proper proportions, is a singularlysuccessful remedy in various diseases which are not curable by ordinary methods oftreatment, and that an instrument can be supplied which renders the application of thisremedy as simple as taking medicine from a phial or pill-box.

The idea of applying the vital element of our atmosphere to the treatment of diseases isnot a novelty, it having been introduced towards the end of the last century by Dr.Beddoes, with whom were associated Mr. Davy (afterwards Sir Humphry) and the well-known James Watt, the father of the steam-engine; one as chymical assistant, the other asmaker and designer of apparatus. Lavoisier, Priestley, Carmichael, Menzies, and manyother celebrated philosophers and physicians of that period, tried oxygen as a remedywith success; but, from the want of suitable apparatus, its application was verytroublesome, and in many instances nearly impossible. Subsequently, Drs. Daniel Hill andThornton became celebrated for the use of oxygen, which they continued until 1820, or afew years later; they both were particularly successful in making cures, and had greatnumbers of patients. When these gentlemen died, oxygen as medicine was soon nearlyforgotten; the profession either neglected, or tried it carelessly, or considered it "animpracticable remedy;" and, while the medical friend had to design and procure a suitableapparatus, and then to prepare pure oxygen gas to use with it, the remedy certainly was adifficult if not an impracticable one, in a general practice. A knowledge of the value ofoxygen inhalation as a curative agent led the writer of these few pages, twelve years since,to design an instrument, by means of which the profession might employ oxygen in theirpractice without trouble; and this invention, and his constantly inviting attention to thesubject, has principally been the means of re-introducing a most important medicinalremedy (which had been allowed to fall into disuse). . .

"SEVERE PERIODICAL HEADACHE OF MORE THAN THIRTY YEARS' STANDING"

"Mrs. W----f, @ 46, first suffered from attacks of severe pain in the head in childhood,and excitement invariably produced one. Change of life occurred at 17, and then the headattacks became regularly periodical, and were attended with many other distressingsymptoms, obliging her to be always kept for four days in a darkened room and in arecumbent posture, every month. Medical treatment of every \possible kind (quackeryincluded) had been tried without the slightest benefit.

"Oxygen was recommended, with the hope that it might prove useful, even if incapableof curing, in so severe a caws of such long standing. The first dose, very carefully given,made the patient feel more lively and with less weight about the head. The second dose on the following day caused a special condition to recur a week before the usual time, and without any headache whatever. The result of the treatment was most surprising, the ladywas quite cured in a few weeks, and her distressing affliction has not since returned."

REMOVAL -- Friends are requested to observe, that G. Barth has entirely removed from36, Long Acre, and his Laboratory is now at 26, Duke Street, Bloomsbury, W.C., four doors from New Oxford Street.
A question is frequently asked, "Is Oxygen Gas Inhalation dangerous?" the reply isdecidedly, not at all so; it can be used without any possible risk of harm, and always with areal of hope doing good.
The subject of Oxygen Inhalation is daily attracting more attention in the Profession,and a clever treatise has just been published on it by Dr. A. H. Smith, of New York.*
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The price of the Oxygenator is now 6:6 [pounds], and it may be had on hire with option of purchase for 1.1 [pounds] per month.
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A Third Edition of the Pamphlet will shortly be published, with several Interesting recent CASES.
Names and Addresses will be given on application, to George Barth, 26, Duke Street, Bloomsbury, W.C.
1st July 1870
---------------------------------------------------------------------------*Also a Second Edition of Dr. Birch's work in 1868, price 3/6.

The gas is contained in cylinders holding 100 and 200 gallons each, under a presure of seventeen atmospheres.

Each consumer is furnished with the necessary bag, etc., for inhaling, to be returned when no longer required.

The offices are open day and night, and during the day there will be no charge for delivering cylinders in any part of the city.

The person delivering the cylinder will give the necessary instruction as to the management of the apparatus; but the quantity to be inhaled should, as a rule, be determined by the physician. The medium quantity in most chronic cases is four gallons, morning and evening.

Dr. Andrew H. Smith's Apparatus far [sic] generating oxygen at the bed-side (as described in the foregoing essay), is available for those at a distance who cannot supply themselves with the compressed gas. Price, including extra retort, lamp, bag with stop-cock, tube, mouth-piece, etc., and one pound of the chlorate of potash mixture, $25. The apparatus is packed in a neat box for convenience of carrying.

Reliable chemicals for this purpose constantly on hand.

W.H. Wells

The idea of inhaling oxygen as a remedial agent is by no means a new one. It waspractised sixty or seventy years ago by Dr. Beddoes, but given up because the gas couldnot then be obtained in sufficient quantity, cheapness and purity. It was thought that theimpurities caused irritation of the lungs, and even salivation had resulted where theoxygen had been procured from the red oxide of mercury. Moreover, caoutchouc in itspresent form was then unknown to the arts, and there existed a difficulty in handling thegas which the rubber gag of to-day has entirely removed. Dr. Beddoes used small closetsand chambers which were filled with oxygen at large expense. But it was the discovery, byTessie du Motay, of a process of obtaining oxygen fro the atmosphere in almost absolutepurity, the only adulteration being the admixture of a slight proportion of nitrogen, anormal element of the atmosphere, that at once removed the objections of impurity andhigh cost. This process is so admirable for its simplicity and perfection that, like mostgreat advances in science, the wonder is that it was not discovered before. . .

. . . The diseases in which oxygen is of benefit are conveniently divided into threeclasses:

First, those involving dyspnea, which are essentially acute. The oxygen here acts onlyas a palliative, serving to bridge over chasm, and to give nature an opportunity to eroverher scattered forces. It mere prevents death from absolute suffocation arising fromimperfect aeration, or, more properly speaking, oxygenation of the blood. Examples ofthis class are the acute stages of bronchitis, Bright's disease, heart disease, uraemia,opium poisoning, and the like.

Second, those involving defective nutrition or excretion, which are essentially chronic. Oxygen here acts as a tonic, increasing the weight and strength, and visibly restoring thenatural ruddy hue of the face in health. It has in this way been found valuable in phthisis,emphysema, acute dyspepsia, anaemia, &c. In these affections, three of four gallons areinhaled daily.