The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-12-27
ANOTHER BROWN.SEQUARD
DR.. Paul Gibier Discovers a Wonderful
Nervine That May Cure Epilepsy.
His New Agent, Method Of Treatment and
Result of Experiments Explained to the
New York County Medical Society.

NEW YORK, Dec. 26.-Dr. Paul Gibier.
presidents of the New York Meteorological
Society, and director of the Pasteur Insti-
tute. read an interesting and important
paper before the Medical Society of the
County of New York at the Academy of
Medicine, In West ThIrty-third street, to-
night. on "a New Agent in the Treatment
of Epilepsy" In it he tells the result of q
scientific treatment which be has applied
to q GLASS of patients for the first time in
this country or elsewhere. The treatment
is In line with that which has excited inter-
est in scientific medical circles In France,
and is q step in advance of the method en-
ployed In q somewhat similar treatment in
Paris. The material used is prepared from
the vital organs of the sheep after IL has
undergone certain treatment in the labora-
tory of the Pasteur Institute. The injeo-
tions wero made daily in each sid of the
patient Just abov Q the hip bone.
DE-. Gibier said thatsome W years ago an
account was published in the French med
ioal Journals of an epileptic patient. treated
at the Pasteur Institute IN Paris. for the
bite of mad-doe. who was cured of his
OpliOpby Ny ~ AnJCNoiOho. "
recently other accounts of the cure of
epileptics by injections of the rabio virus
had been published and public interest had
been aroused in the new treatment. Before
an opportunity was offered TO competent
critics to examine the remedy, or the state
ments OF patients who were supposed 20 be
cured, and also without waiting for the
test of time as to the reliability of the
treatment, 1t was widely accepted, and
more than one hypothesis of its mode of
action was proposed. DE-. Gibier said that
one other observation at least was estab.
hshed, and that was that some patients had
their seizures checked, at least temper
arily. after the injections of the anti-rabic
virus.
After some remarks upon the rationale
of the cure end the normal functions Of the
nervous system restored, DR.. Gibier said
that be had been enabled, by the courtesy
of Charles L. Dana, visiting physician at
Bellevue Hospital, to make q number of
observations, extending over six months,
persons afflicted with epilepsy. He said
that one of these patients furnished him
with an observation which seemed to show
that as far as Q cure for ep.
,IsDsy much is concerned s4om .h we f ssne1s f in-
j~ections. The patient. q man of %thirty.two
years, An epileptic from infancy. had been
treated with the anti-rablc injections for
eighteen days In the extensive form, and
not OILY ala the eplleptlC cOnVulSlOn6 con-
tlnue. but they increased in numbers. DIR.
Gibier said be was not surprised at this
failure, lnasmuch as he had learned indi-
rectly that the cause of the untimely an
nouncement OF the cure OF epilepsy by the
anti-rabic NEGOTIATIONS was due to the fact
that tins disease had been temporarily
stopped during and after the NEGOTIATIONS
In two young epileptics. who had been bit
ten by mad dogs. n treated at the Paris
Pasteuf Institute.
r. .:--1 = A. H.
lions given at the Pasteur Institute, by
which temporary relief seemed to have
been afforded to some epileptic patients.
the rabic virus was not injected alone. but
in association with q large amount of
nervous substance, and therefore it &C.
Cured to him that If any benefit had been
derived from these injections IL might be
attributed to the nervous matter and not
to the contained virus. Consequently
be determined to test the treatment with
the injection o! a gray nervous subrtance
which he called nervine. The fluid was
prepared according TO the strictest rules of
bacteriology. and. in order TO avoid fatal
accidents, 1t was made perfectly aseptic.
The Doctor said that the idea of the new
treatment was derived from the method
proposed by DR.. Brown-Sequard, who
thinks that fluids extracted from young
and healthy organs can give TO those which
| ore abnormal and senile the attributes of
youth and health.
DR.. Gibier then gave an account of the
results he had obtained with the use of
his nervine In cases of epilepsy. In refer
| ence TO the case of q young Frenchman.
who belongs to a family with an epileptic
history. Dr. Glbier said: Before being sub
iected TO this treatment he was almost con.
tinually in o state of epileptic vertigo
losing consciousness momentarily several
times daily. He had a persistent headache
and q very severe seizure at least ones
weekly. His memory and his mental pow
ers were decreasing steadily. and his faot
had u very idiotic expression. He had
been subjected to various forms of treat
ment without much Improvement. UndeI
the influence of the injections. adminis
tered five times weekly and without any
other remedy. his condition improved re-
marKably. The severe attacks diminished
in number and gravity: he recovered con-
seriousness very rapidly after the seizureI
without persistent headache. and his mem
ory became normal. The iiiotic expires
sion disappeared. and he was more intel
ligenE One of the most inter ssting result
was the disappearance of the vertigo
which 10 only present when the treatmen
is interrupted. Instead of four or tive vic
lent attacks IN the period of u month. b
was one mont and q half without an,
sYmDtoms Of = recurrence Of the trouble