Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1893-11-23
AMlCKS THEORY.
How It Conflicts With Some Re-
celVed Opinions.

When The Cincinnati Post undertook,
over year ago, to examine into the causes
of tuberculosis and the methods which had
been advanced for its cure, the idea was 10 SO
thoroughly sift and test alleged "cures"
that their merits should finally be settled
to the satisfaction of the public.
DR.. w. II. Amick had Just announced that
consumption could be cured by the use of
a new method, which he proposed to intro.
duce. Other doctors IN considerable num-
bers, derided the idea that anything more
efficient than old school treatment with cod
liver oil, creosote and the various hypophos-
phites could be devised, and some of them
entered the newspapers and medical Jour
nails to say so In brusque English. Others,
again, who were not so confident that the
acme of medical science has been reached,
were disposed to await test of Amick's
method, before giving their opinions.
It was at this stage of the proceedings
that The Post conceived the idea of select
ing test cases of consumption, and also one
or two of asthma for Amick to treat, the
equally effective in asthmatic troubles,
! The plan for the test as laid down by The
Post and accepted finally by Amick, was
to select from persons who were affected
with tuberculosis. three whose cases
passed beyond the initial stage and would
therefore be past the assistance of such treat
ment as could be given by the standard
methods of the day.
/ II WIS agreed that If Amick succeeded in
curing the test patients he should he given
full and free credit for the same and that if
he failed the treatment should receive mer-
| tied condemnation. Full reports of the
progress of the tests were to be published
| frequently until the end of the undertaking
and the patients either died or got we'll.
Acting on this plan The Post advertised
| for patients and secured several, including
one of chronic asthma OF 81 years standing
and others of consumption which had pro-
gressed into the third stage. The treatment
I of all the cases was persistently carried on
for over six months. The progress of the
test was duly chronicled and become familiar
to all the people of the Ohio Valley and con-
tiguous States. Marked interest was ex-
| cited and the outcome was as anxiously
awaited by the public as by the unfortunate
patients themselves.
After tho lapse of the time mentioned the
Post stated that all of the test patients were
alive and we'll.
At the present time one OF these test pa
tients 10 living at North Bend, o., while an
\ other resides on West Fourth Street. Cincin.
matt, and is continually praising the Amick
cure as final relief from long continued
trouble, and the third who gained 80 pounds
in six weeks has become giant in strength
and lives now on Main street.
| just before the test of the Amick cure
took place, as narrated DR.. Koch the cele.
brated German physician and scientist had
announced cure for tuberculosis, which,
when thoroughly tested, proved to be ineffi-
cient and the collapse of the general expec-
tation which had followed Koch's announce
ment, made 1t difficult for Anick's treat
ment 10 find favor.