Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1880-02-07

ceeded in lnfectlng amin us with
fubercles. sought also for rene
dy.
He selected for experiment sew
eraI agents which were known TO
be destructive to bacteria, or the
aniin4lcu &c which induce tuber-
culO-is. Among these was the
benZJate Of soda, which of late
years has been used witnlw0nder-
full success In diphtheria. and, as
the subsequent experiments Of
Schiller showed, the most power
full Of the remedies for tuberculos-
is. He placed the animals, which
he had previously infected with
fuhercle-, under treatment OF in
nalslion. The results were most
remarkable. Oftwo rabbits, both
infected. one was placed under
treatment and the other was left
alone. Under the influence Of the
inhalation at stated times each
day TOR several weeks, the first
rabbit recovered, and in six
weeks gained ten ounces. On the
other hand. the neglected rabbit
went through the various stages
Of the disease, and died. On dis
section its lungs were found 10 be
full of tuberculous and Gaseous, or
cheesy matter. Another expert
ment was as follows: A rabbit,
an animal peculiarly susceptible
to infection, was placed, for sever
al hours each day, in an alright
box filled with the vapor of ben
zoate or soda. DIR. SCHUYLER then
endeavored in every possible way
TO infect the animal with tuber-
culosis: his attempts were uni
formly unsuccessful Both these
experiments, as we'll as others,
seemed to show conclusively that
the benzoate of soda was an ef-
fectual antidote TO the tubercular
process, and as such DIR. SCHUYLER
made them public.
DIR. Schuiler's experiments were
confined TO the lower animals;
but induced by their publication,
Prof. V. Rokitansky, of Inns
bruck, tried the remedy on man.
The results of his trial were pub
lished abroad about three months
ago; but we have been unable to
find a translation in any of the
British or American journals. We
can judge somewhat of their char
acter, however, by the following
extract from a letter written by
DIR. SCHUYLER, 30th of September,
1879: ut was these observations
DIR. Schuller's) that induced Prof.
V. Bokitansky to try the remedy,
the benzoate of soda, on man. |
rejoice that he has succeeded in
obtaining the same results in man
that / obtained in the lower aEi-
mails, but l may remark that we
have already made the same OBJ
servations upon man here.'
The news Of these experiments
and their extraordinary results
rapidly spread through Germany
and Austria, and caused, as we
have said, most profound sensa-
ton. DR.. SCHUYLER wrote under
date of November 10, 1879, that
he was unable to answer the nu-
merous inquiries, both from ply
sicians and patients, regarding the
effects of the benzoate of soda. A
medical paper of Vienna, at about
the same time, announced that
inhalations were going on in eve
ry room in the hospital, and that
the druggists of the city could
hardly supply the demand for the
substance, as the use of it had sur
passed all medical prescriptions.
Upon the first announcement of
the discovery in this city-we be-
lieve that the first publication in
America on the subject was in the
Lancet and Clinic, of Cincinnati
the remedy was put into opera
ton in both hospital and private
practice. 1t is yet to early to
speak conclusively of the result
One OF the best-known Of our ply
sicians, to whom we are indebted
for most of the facts of this arti-
Gle, states that it is certain that
relief has been given, but that
months will be required for the
thorough testing Of the cure.
The conditions attending the
treatment in man are much more
difficult and involved than in the
lower animals. The chief differ
ence seems to be that complete
saturation of the latter with the
remedy is more attainable. Prof.
Schnitzler, of Vienna, who APP
pears to occupy the same attitude
toward the remedy that certain
New York Professors do toward
the Edison lamp, attempts to
prove the impossibility Of the pen
etration of the vapor into the deep
err lug passages and the conse.
quent inefficacy of the benzoate of