New-York daily tribune., 1858-11-30
" DR.. CHURCHILL AND HIS DJscoy
EhlES.'
To hs Editor u 7A< S. Y. T,rBus>.

To Ne Editor u TA< y. v TyrSuae
SiR: TX Is rot o. sll "nes thing under Al. 49,.
THAT vixen any remarkable or VALUABLE di.,ox0,~ .
made by which great benefits are cou.r-,3 -
mapkird, ma0y claimants to tue honor u,., !, ,hs''
oLt parts ot the world. Instance. Of mi. li,J
numerous that 70 special reference need h, no.s :.
them.
Since tie announ cement OF the discovery NV n
Churchill Of Paris OF method for the rrcv,r..
Of umpton, t'co claimants for IN. oIcit dsst,h,
have appeared in the colaeins OF Tsr ralsu,r !.
both cases. bowever, tie parties nave showo.,s,
ignorance of DR. Churclilis theoy, and in each d,
claim appears 10 be for sOnc'h,Rg eatire'v a,s,r,s
in fsct tie very reverse OF that pf,mul gated by t
The lsst of these Contestants ot the honor Of D,
Chnrcills dlscoyoryts Mr.. William Gultord Of vi
low Syringe, Onio, whose Communication spps.r-s 4.
y0ur issue of the 18th ius'. lie very gray.ly .ta,s
that tie iuioEwei the world, through the eognp. 4,
the Western Isuc-i as hong ago ~ istf ia an srje
,n Consumption, Chemically Considered ~hu v,s
the TRuE CAUSE Of that disease; implypgthst hs !,
thereby in advance Of DR.. Churchill as the real AZ.
covtrer. Let examine into the question At is.ae.
DR.. Churchills claim II as iOiDss:
"I The c,uss. s,sllsvents ssen,. cc,
don Of the tubercur d@taes' the iecsesse .y..sa
oftie pho'l hor's II colisne 40 a. Nysenfiabh state
Ii tle sPsoIEIo ReNsDt OF 1e dass cons.,. No ~
ing ~ that /, nay be directly sssimiated and 4.
the lowest poss be degree II Aydstios
The claim of Mr.. Gui'fori il this:
" h.i claim. aud believe osu demonstr Il, Au D.
Ctmchs theory l. ohrDi,aly Incorrect ani hls dsdsu
therefore .rroueous au1 p,laciit true AID
standing OF tns uius se OF ta- oiscass He
no'phoTu' exists IN the system ~ the form OF hypopho's
arc s.smpt Ot only destitute of proof e.
bAty for the snsyss of bln-, t.sue s.ier L.
yields acid ana The phosIha'e' and never Tspss
G., or ht1phosrhorOUs aid the Ihosghe.
ts des the combustion occurring during he
Of th. pc sca q the Ytosphorc Ad ass
appeal to chs mist sud phYsoc ssts wneth.r An coesN
not The proN@se Cause Of o.ins .s an aaJ
convinced ,lcercy Of the henstl gobnln of alb %.
rhoru, /, only the nseden,. supplying Tai. sbn~
viii meet the ind stions n potion Of toe es.-s'
Mr. Guiltord appeals to chemists tor tue cornetaes
Of his theory. Without preteodrg b. very ttlnaA
knowledge of chemistry, We still do not hesitate e.
ine this appeal, ana ascertain, IN the hight of a
science, If his positions be not unsubstantial Ne lYL
G.) argues that, because hypophosphorous acid nN
found by the analysis # bone tissue, &c. white pho
phorc acid is therefo DIR. Cburcnill must be vroaf
Tie formula Of the bypophosphorons acid is 7. O.
Nothing can be more certain to chemist tban the in
possibility Of the coubiua; on OF phosphorus n
oxygen remaining in the system Tor aoy length d
time without bong converted ito phosphorus sod
the great afoity OF phosphorus fos OF ,gss Sosl
wthcta" two equivalents Of oxygen rom ths bci,
thus forming pb, sphorlc acid which IL eompo-el 4
thIeo equivalents Of oxygen to one of phosphorus,
ard ia expressed by l.. O3.
Upon this well-established but beautifully sinpe
reaction s founded d.. Churchls theory for the care
of Consumption. Ii is needless TO remark ths, IN
IL not fonnd N the human system, beiog mmedst,y
absorbed and conver'ed into phosphorc acid The
argument Of Mr. GuilfoTd would be equally conclusive
ii lie should assert that anayss Of bone, tssue &c.
failed - show any beeistesk ia the system though
the subject may lave mainly subssted upon that
ticlc of diet dining his lifetime.
Dr. Churchill must have been well aware that phos-
phorus ite would have fulfilled ia the highest degree
a. the requirements of absorbing oxygeL; but ht
great danger Of s IRE precuici hlm from applying |.
10 that form. lie certainly deserves the highest cre
for having found, in agent hd, r0s rare aaf alsos
uHknorR R commerce, on article which, whJe rs
TlRELT HARMLESS TO THs HUMAN SYSTEM, c0npletes
y fulfilled those very conditions Of " assimilation
ard "oSydaii"n" which his long study Of this terrible
disease had convinced him was essential 10 its cure.
Whatever may be the ments Of Mr.. GuiliOri s
dscoverer, must be quite dcrt that there is Ats
Smiitude between his claim and that of Dr. Charchl
and that tie article Of the former ia your j,nrns hu
failed to weaken the credit due To the latte for the in
portent addition TO medco. chemical kno xleJge made
by lin IN the paper read before the French Academy,
IN regard To the proxnate Of and specific treat
ment for Consumption. We do not consider II an VT
OF Justice to eminent man, benefsctor of mankind
to allow caim 10 the discovery Of his theory TO pas'
unrebuked, when the claimant exposes his ignorane'
of what DR.. c. views really are. J. WncHEsTrR.
No 10 .oan srset. h'e Y.,k, Nov. n, 1885,