The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-12-09
CONSUMPTION.
DIR. cHURcHILL's DISCOVERIES.


An interesting paper on the successful treat
ment OF this dreadful affection, and the allied dis
eases of scrofula, tables mesenterca, etc, by the
hypOphosphites of lime and soda, has Just been
presented to the Academy of Sciences, by Dr.
j. +. Churchill. 1t has long been known that
among the inorganic or mineral substances
which enter into the composition Of the body,
phosphorus is to be met with in considerable
quantities, but chemists and Psychologists are
vet unable to decide whether it is found only
as phosphoric acid that is, in a state of com
plete oxidation, and as such no longer liable to
be burnt by the oxygen Of the atmosphere (as,
for instance, in the mineral matter Of bones,)
or whether It also exists in lower state of oxi-
dation, and as such capable of keeping up the
slow combustion which constitutes one of the
principal phenomena of life. Opinions upon
this point are very nearly balanced the ceebra-
ted Liebig, for instance, stating that it is i'm
possible to decide the question in the present
state of chemical analysis; while his chief dis
ciple in England, the late DR.. Gregory, profess
sor of chemistry at Edinburgh, declares that it
is absurd to suppose that phosphorus can exist
in the animal frame in any other condition than
az phoSphoric acid. DR.. Churchill, by series
of scientific deductions, which it would be for
eign to our purpose to examine came in 1855
to the conclusion that not only was it necessary
to admit That phosphorus existed In the body
in an Oxidizabe or combustibe condition, but
likewise that the proXimate cause, or at least
an Indispensable condition to the existence Of
consumption, or tuberculosis, was the undue
waste or the deficient supply Of this principle
Hence he drew the obvious inference that the
means of curing the disease consisted in the
restoring OF the deficient elements. For this
purpose 1t was necessary to select some com
pound of phosphorus which should be at the
same time OXidizable and assimilable; that is,
capable of entering into and forming part Of
the system. These conditions were found to
exist in the hypophosphites above mentioned
DIR. Churchilrs views were first made known
last July, IN paper presented to the Academy
of Medicine, and subsequently embodied in
worn on Consumption, which appeared ia Oot0-
ber Siuce then, the author has continued and
extended his researches, and his recent commu-
nication TO the Academy of Sciences is founded
on the observation of iorty-one cases. He adj
ministers the hypophosphitos Of lime or of soda
IN small quantity of sweetened water, in doses
varying from five TO twenty grains daily, accord
ing to the constitution of the patient and the
nature of the case The cure of consumption
in the second and third stages TAT a period,
consequently, when there can be no uncertainty
as to the nature of the disease) can be obtain
ed in all cases by this treatment, except when
the existing lesion Of the lungs is of itself sufi-
cient to produce death. Contrary to the opin-
ION generally received the third stage Of con
sumption is, all other circumstances being
equal, more amenable to treatment than the
second. Hereditary predisposition seems in no
way TO cOunteract the effect of the hypophos-
phites; patients in whom it was most strongly
marked recovering rapidly as others. The
paper has been referred by the Academy TO a
committed consisting of DIR. Series Andral and
Claude Bernard, and it is highly desirable that
these gentlemen should lose as little time as
possible in verifying whether and how far Dr.
Churchill's views are founded in truth, more
particularly as the author states that the RENE
DIV discovered by him has not only curative
effect, but will, if used wherever there exists IA
suspicion of the disease, prevent its develop.
ment and thus act as a preseryative with
regard to consumption, just as vaccination does
with regard to smallpox. 1t is already exten-
sively used throughout the whole of the CONT
nent and favorable results have been already
obtained in France, Germany, Italy, and Spain,
as well as at St. Petersburgh and Constantine
pie. We may also state that in consequence
of DIR. Churchil's discovery, the manufacture Of
the hypophosphites in Paris has already attain
ed a considerable degree of Importance where
as before they were applied to no use, and were
only to be found as chemical specimens in the
laboratory. These facts alone, DIR. Churchill
contends are at least presumption that the
remedy isfound to DO Of benefit. Should any
of our medical readers feel inclined to invest
gate the subject, we may state that DIR. Churchill
has established a public dispensary at No. 3
Rue Larrey, near the Ecole de Medicine where
he lectures every Friday, at half past ten Gal
iQH0niS Messenger.