The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-28
A CONSUMPTION CURE
DIR. PAUL PEQUIN's SUCCESS WITH A
NEW ANTI-TOxIN SERUM.
Results of Experiments ON Thirty
Cases I'm that City.

ing of the ST. Louis Medical Society, last
evening, DIR. Paul Pequn presented his anti
consumption serum and a report on his
years Of experiment, resulting in the dis
covery OF what he pronounces tuberculosis
specific. The news OF DIR. Pequins dis
covery was published last Tuesday, though
the Doctor then refused to make any state
ment or claim, reserving this for the Med
zeal Society," to which he reported last
evening without disclosing the technique
of preparation. 1t is no injustice to the
young doctor whose work is given such pub
LEFTY as this to say that the results he
presented are looked on with doubt by spe-
cialists. The paper presented by Dr. pcquin
was as follows:
1T would seem superhuous to say word
here on the pathology OF tuberculosis But
the nature of the new treatment demands
that we consider some points of it before
certain therapeutic questions to be dealt
with presently may appear clear. The re-
suit of my observation and researches has
convinced me beyond a doubt that tu0er-
culosis, in the stage OF lesions particularly
when pulmonary cavities. intestinal ulcers.
or others such alterations exist, becomes
mixed infection, due to the Introduction of
various other pathologic microbes besides
the bacillus of tuberculosis in the specific
wound. Myriads of germs of the air. water,
food, etc, gain accession to tubercuous
LESSONS and complicate the primary disease
TO very great degree. The destruction
of tissue by these germs the production OF
new, mixed poisons, perhaps more danger
sometimes because Of chemical comb-
nation, are largely responsible for the ir
regular chills fevers and some other path
ognomonic phenomena to be seen in adj
vanced tuberculosis. These complicated
microbic disturbances, which so greatly de-
press and harass the system, are, perhaps,
assisted in their nefarious work by the
toxines generated in weakened, i'm
paired digestive tube, which, failing to di-
gest the food properly. leaves it the prey
of various ~toxic-ferment manufacturing mi
Y in mind when considering the anti-tuber-
Gle serum as a therapeutic agent In tuber-
culosis. for 1t probably will not affect COM
"On the other hand. in tuberculosis we
should never lose sight of the natural vital
vidual. IL is this vital resistance Of nature
that saves the minority who. escape all the
damaging influences Of the disease, and the
therapy To understand this vital resis-
crease crease it It in a medical practice, is 70 WELD
powerful weapon again the foe. The cur
sorry method of diagnosis. therefore. merely
not sufficient to put the doctor in posses
sion of all the important facts necessary
loss phenomena and proper treatment The
microscope should be brought into play
existence or absence of the bacillus of tu-
berculosis,s but also to establish the dill
ferential nature and stage OF the organic s,;ac
the nature and extent of the mixed in
fecticn when ii exists.
SERO-THERAPY IN TUBERCULOSIS.
IT began the serious study of tuberculosis
and experimentation in 1883. at the Univer-
NJ
During my service at that institution L
had unsurpassed opportunities for studies
in comparative pathology and experimental
researches. Early in my Investigations on
tuberculosis l became convinced that the
equine species is to certain degree nat
uralIy immune to the disease. the ass be-
ing less susceptible, possibly, than the horse.
although / am by no means convinced of
this Later doaow,ng sep by .s step the ne
Phagocytosls kltasato and others on the
anrl-septc properties of blood serum, |
direct basis of immunity was lodged the
blood When the Japanese scientist just
mentioned published that properly immuned
Qock-jaw). revealing by this momsntous
discovery the great secret of natures force
in resisting this disease the light began to
dawn in my mind, as in that of every med
ical man, doubtless, that the prevention
and cure of contagious by the use of ma
lures own remedy was only a question OF
time. Not many years after came the well
come announcement that diphtheria was
investigators in Switzerland and France are
culos.s. Now, l beg to report that by the
same principle which underlies the anti
toxic serum Of Ki ta I o., for tetanus, Of
the technique of immuniZation necessarily
differs in certain details the horses blood
serum may be rendered antagonstc to tu-
berculosls.
This have accomplished in labora tory
experiments, and the result obtained in
treating consumptives in the first and seq
ond stages and the beginning OF the third
stage indicate very po.ntesdy tn that sero-
Indeed, dared not hope for such universal
improvements as were obtained. While IN
er serious LESSONS imparing important or
gans gravsly, have not yet arrived at a
Gont where may fosa1e reliable na de-
OF the cases seriously involved increased In
six to eight weeks from five to sixteen
pounds in weight without any tonic, and
without any specially reconstructive diet,
only the regular city hospital or pcorhouse
fare being admitted, whereas every witness
case In the same ward, suffering with the
disease in practically the same stages, UNI
treated by blood serum continued to de-
cline steadily or failed OF Improvement The
treated cases soon began to sleep better
to. cough less. expectorate less eat with
relish, their night Swcats diminished and
they became more cheerful and encouraged
In a. couple of instances at the poorhouse
less than eight weeks. while all the General
signs of good health reappeared. There is
scarcely enough expectoration in these tc
make microscopic analyses. and the germs
are no longer TO be found
THE RACILI4I DISEASES.
"In ali cases OF improvement the bac
of tuberculosis have materially decreased il
number. l have also several cases with
large cavities. which have improved re-
markedly. l have brought here to show
you some OF the worst which we have un
der treatment, that you may judge 70,
yourself OF the nature OF the affection ant
it's LESSONS. These bad cases, with marked
alterations of the lung tissue. have gained
in weight number OF pounds in less than
eight weeks and have improved in every
way. Two of these were stretcher patients
when brought to the City Hospital. Botf
had been condemned as hopeless by severa
physicians. One of these, Mr.. Cummings
weighs now more than he ever did at h's
best wnen he was perfectly sound ane