The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-01-04
A NEW CURE FOR EPILEPSY
Discovered by New York FoIlowe,
OF Pasteur.

OF Pasteur.
NEW York, Dec. 26.-Dr. Paul Gibier,
president Of the New York archaeological
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 tonight on "a New Agent in the
Treatment OF Epilepsy" In il he tells
the result OF a scientific treatment which
he has applied to a class of patients for
the first time in this country or else
where. The treatment is in line with that
which has excited interest in scientific
medical circles in France, and is a step in
advance of the method employed n
somewhat similar treatment in Paris.
The material used is prepared from the
vital organs of the sheep after it mas I'M
dergone certain treatment in the labora-
tory of the Pasteur institute. The injec-
tions were made daily in each side OF the
patient Just above the hip bone.
DR.. Gibier said that some two years ago
an account was published in the French
medical journals OF an epileptic patient
treated at the Pasteur institute in Paris
for the bite of mad dog, who was cured
of his epilepsy by the anti-rabic iDjec-
tons.
More recently other accounts of the
cure of epilepIics by injections of the
rabic 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 rem
edy or the statements of patients who
were supposed to be cured, and ALEC with
out waiting for the best of time as to the
reliability of the treatment, il was widely
accepted and more than one hypothesis of
its mode OF action was proposed DR..
Gibier said that one other observation. at
least, was established, and that was that
some persons had their seizures checked.
at least Temporarily, after the injections
of the anti-rabic virus.
After some remarks upon the rationale of
the cure and the normal functions of the
nervous system restored, DR.. Gibier said
that he had been enabled. by the courtesy
OF Charles L. Dana. visiting physician at
Bellevue hospital, to make u number OF
observations extending over six months
of the effect of anti-rabic inoculations
upon persons afflicted with epilepsy. He
said that these patients furnished him
with an observation which seemed to
show that as far as cure for epilepsy is
concerned, we cannot expect much
from the Pasteur injections. The
patient, a man of thirty-two years,
an epileptic from infancy. had been
treated with the anti-rablc injections for
eighteen days in the intensive form, and
not only did the epileptic commissions
continue, but they increased in numbers
Ilr l,ihiar coiH ha sod ot
this failure inasmuch as he had learned
indirectly that the cause of the untimely
announcement Of the cure of epilepsy by
the anti-rabic NEGOTIATIONS was due to
the fact that this disease had
been temporarily stopped during
and after the NEGOTIATIONS in
two young epileptics who had been
bitten by mad dogs and treated at the
Paris Pasteur institute. DR.. Gibler as
certained that in the injections given at
the Pasteur institute by which temporary
relief seemed to have been afforded TO
some epIleptic patients, the rabic virus
was not injected one, but in association
with a large amount of nervous substance,
and therefore il occurred to him that II
any benefit had been derived from these
injections it might bs attributed to the
nervous matter and not TO the contained
virus. Consequently he determined to
test the treatment with the injection of
extract of grey nervous substance which
he called nervIne.
The fluid was prepared according 10 the
strictest rules of bactf riology and in ordor
to avoid fatal accidents it was made per
iectly antiseptic. 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 are 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 nervne in cases
of epilepsy. In reference 20 the case
of young Frenchman who belongs to a
family With an eDiIeptic history, DR..
Gibier said: Before being subjected to
this treatment he was almost continuity
IN a state of epileptic vertigo losing con-
seriousness momentariiy several times
daily; he had a persistent headache and a
very severe seizure at least once week. ".
His memory and mental powers were de-
creasinR steadily and his face had an
idiotic expression. he had been sub
jected TO various forms OF treatment with
out much improvement. Under the inhu
oHCe Vi tne lnJeCIlOnet dlHllnisteTeu i've
times weekly and without any other
remedv. his condition improved remarka-
bly,. The severe attacks diminished in
number and gravity. he recovered con-
sciousness very rapidly after the seizures
without persistent headache and his mem
ory became normal. The idiotIc express
sion disappeared and he was more intelli
gent. One of the most interesting results
was the disappearance of the vertigo,
which is only present when the treatment
is interrupted. Instead of four or five
violent attacks in the period of a month
he was one month and a half without
any symptoms of morbus sacer. To-Day he
receives only two injections of six cubic
centimeters weekly and for two months
his improvement has been most satisfsc-
tory"