Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-06-24

DR.. Declat, Of Paris, ascribes nearly every dis
ease to the presence in the body of morbiic
germs. In the broad application of his theo-
ries, he goes further than Koch or Pasteur
For the destruction of these germs anc the
cure thereby of disease, DR.. Declat believes
Ire has found specific in chemically pure car
bolic acid, known as picnic acid. DR.. Declat was
one ofthe earliest to proven practice the useful
ness of carbolic acid, although it is stated that
Lemaire was the first to detect its value. and
Lister was the first to make the practical appli-
cation OF the discovery known TO the profession
and the public DR.. Declat who is on q visit to
this country. recently expounded his theories of
disease germs, and presented the claims of his
speclnc-phenic acid-tO an audience of Chicago
physicians, who manifested considerable in
terest. Last autumn DIR. Declat visited New
YORK, and, since then, as we'll as before, several
surgeons have carefully tested the value of
picnic acid, with results which do not bear out
Dr. Declat's sweeping claims. Several surgeons
nave made careful tests of DR.. Declat's remedies
In order to determine how far these answer
what has been claimed. Among these surgeons
are Dr.. H. B. Sands and DR.. Robert +. Weir. DR..
Sands said: ~
"CarbOlc acid has been used for a long time,
and nobody doubts it excellence in external APP
pcariOns and in some branches of surgery. 1t
mas Deen injected In Germany in cases of erysi-
pelas. But, while its use is not new, claims
like those of DR.. Declat have never before been
made. have used his preparations of picnic
acid internally and in injections with negative
results-that is to say. with no results whatever.
We use ordinarily Calvert's carbolic acid. the
purity OF which consider satisfactory. l have
doubts about the poisonous cresylc acid which,
Dr. Declat claims, exists in carbOlic acid and it
seems to me absurd to claim that carbOlic acid
can only be used when prepared in his special
way. No doubt, however. he manufactures a
very pure form. To sum up in regard to his
theories, treatment and remedies 1 will say this:
DR.. Declat's claims are altogether extravagant
and unwarranted. We have no evidence to show
that the results he promises can be accom-
piished, and my own experience has not pro-
duced favorable results. At recent meeting
of the New York surgical society, Dr. Yale read
report on the use of picnic acid in Bellevue,
which was rather rose colOred. but discussion
was aroused in which several surgeons gave
strongly unfavOrabe opinions"
my experience in its use," said DR.. Lervy NJ.
Yale, 'has been confined to so-called septic
levers with high temperature; have never seen
any reason Tor trying the treatment on tumOrs.
might add that do not believe that it is in
any sense the panacea which DR.. Declat makes
out. but in cases where other well-recognized
plans Of treatment have failed, it is proper to
give it a trial. l have known enough cases to
make it justifatle plan of treatment in.cases
OF emergency"
DIR. Robert F. Weir said: "In nv wards at the
Bellevue and New York hospitals, in cases of
erysipelas and septicRmia, the treatment sug-
gested by DIR. Declat seemed at first to afford en-
cOuraging results, but larger experience en-
bracing test cases has led me materially to doubt
its efficacy, especially in septicamia In respect
to tumOrs, have not seen the slightest favOra-
BILE influence from its use, and in the only case
In which benefit appeared to result, the tumOr
was subsiding spontaneously prior to the be-
ginning of the treatment with picnic acid.
have now under my charge tour cases of cancer
in which histreatment has been employed with
out the slightest trace of benefit. I may say
that Lamaire preceded DR.. Declat in the dis
covery of carbolic acid, and to him is due the
honor of priority, while the honor Of making
carbolic acid actually known in practical way
is due to Lister, although DR.. Declat was a very
early worker in this field"