540 
CHARLES H. DUNCAN. 
but the toxic substance in solution will. In filtering solutions con¬ 
taining some kinds of bacteria, too great pressure must not be 
exerted. The writer has designed an attachment to a filter to 
meet these conditions. The air pressure on top of the filter is ob¬ 
tained by means of an ordinary atomizer bulb and a column of 
mercury is arranged to equalize the pressure. When too great 
air pressure is exerted the air escapes up through the mercury. 
The mercury really acts as a safety valve in not allowing the pres¬ 
sure to become too great. One drop a minute is not too slow. 
It is a small Berkfield filter, with a rubber cork in the top, and an 
atomizer bulb attached to give slight pressure on the top of the 
solution in the filter. The range of application of this filter is 
very wide. It is especially applicable to many alimentary and 
pulmonary diseases and diseases associated with this canal and 
system, but it also may be used in many extra-alimentary and 
extra-pulmonary diseases.* 
The filtered solution being free from micro-organisms may, 
as far as infection is concerned, be administered freely hypoder¬ 
mically if the proper care is taken in the filtration. The writer 
is treating a number of advanced cases of phthisis pulmonaris, he 
believes successfully, by hypodermically injecting their filtered 
sputa. They do not know what they are getting, but come back 
sleeping better, eating better, no evening rise in temperature, no 
night sweats, they are drowsy as we so often find convalescing 
tubercular patients. They say they feel fine, their skin clearing 
up and they feel like going to work. The dose was regulated in 
each case to suit the individual. There was a sharp local reaction, 
much redness, over a wide area, pain but no infection. It dis¬ 
appeared in between one or two days. One said, “ That medicine 
makes me feel fine inside,” tapping his chest. “ I breathe easy.” 
These are all tenement house cases and lack even proper food. 
They gain in weight from the very start. They have had no other 
medication. The writer offers this auto-therapeutic proceeding 
* The writer wishes to thank the firm of Messrs. Eimer & Amend of New York City 
for courtesies extended in assisting in getting up the filter. 
