Am AS A REMEDY 



General. — ^While the air acts as the excitant or carrier in differ- 

 ent diseases, it is also an important healing factor in a number of 

 diseases. As regards the harmful effects of the air, these can be 

 referred in part to its temperature and in part to the admixture 

 of dust, bacteria, and poisons. Stable air is an especially frequent 

 source of diseases of all kinds. Its constant, uniform temperature, 

 which is usually too high, exerts a relaxing effect upon the general 

 body constitution and produces a consequent predisposition to dis- 

 ease. The best known of the stable diseases which occur through 

 the influence of the temperature of the stable air are rheumatism, 

 rheumatic hsemoglobinsemia [azoturia], catarrhs, brain and lung 

 diseases, and also summer wounds in army horses. Secondly, 

 stable air operates pathologically through its contained bacteria, 

 gases and mechanical admixtures. These favor especially the 

 development of tuberculosis, glanders, contagious pneumonia of 

 horses and other infectious diseases. The carbon dioxide, ammonia 

 and other gases which may be present act harmfully upon the 

 respiration. The outside air can also cause disease in different 

 ways (hot air, dusty air, arsenical fumes, lead vapors). By a 

 careful prophylaxis all of these disease conditions may be indirectly 

 avoided. 



Furthermore, air is a very important direct curative agent. 

 Its healing action is in part due to the oxygen it contains (open 

 suppuration, anaerobes), in part to its temperature and in part to 

 its purity. To what extent the ozone of the air possesses healing 

 properties has not been scientifically determined. 



Therapeutic Action of Cold Air. — Cold air operates first, like 

 cold water, as a cutaneous irritant. The anaemia produced primar- 

 ily in the cutaneous vessels is followed by a reactive hyperaemia 

 of the skin. As a consequence the circulation is stimulated through- 

 294 



