The San Francisco call., 1897-10-17
TUBERCULOSIS
HAS AN BuE MY
Local Physicians Have Faith
in Professor Mara
gliano's Cure.
The System Of Treatment Is
Medically Termed Serum
Therapy.
Still Further Experiments Are Anx-
iously Awaited by Many
Medical Men.

A statement, backed by the New York
B ard of Health, that Professor Maragli-
ano, an Italian physician, has successfully
treated seven cases of consum ption since
September %, has been received with
much salts action by the mem bers of the
medical profession in this city, and the re-
port that the ravages of the dread disease
have undoubtedly been conquered has
aroused great deal of interest among all
classes of people.
Physicians are inclined to be conserva-
tive, tuberculosis patients hopeful and the
gener al public interested, to say the least.
Professor Maragliano states that the treat
ment must be continued for one year, and
on this account many medical men say
they will withhold any remarks on the
su jecl until the serum has been given u
thorough trial. Others are sufficiently
in te rested at the present time with the
re markable results attained by the profess
sor to frankly state their beileft that con-
sum ption can be cured if serum can be
discovered which will act on the tubercu-
lar germ and hope that Professor Maragli-
ano Is successful and tn New York Board
of Health right IN their statements.
Although the evident success of the Sc
rum has attracted general attention, the
doubt or many Is based on the fact that
cure for the disease has constantly been
sought Tor by scientists ana medical men,
and that very little success, ii any. has
heretofore been attained and are OF the
opinion that at least tive years Of tests
sh ould conscientiously be made before the
public was notihed of success in saving
patients affected with consum ption.
DR.. Oscar j. Mayer said: at is a we'll
known fact that incipient tn berculosls is
durable if he patient hal pens to be one
xx,sNn TrNgI Il.
should be given him by reputable physi-
clan. HIS surroundings should be what a
physician terms correct and his diet
should be carefully attend d 10. Easily
assimilated foods should e allowed
him and codliver oil and other prepara-
tions for building-up purposes should be
freely given.
The cases reported to have been cured
by Professor Maragliano seem 10
have been we'll advanced before treat
ment was commenced, and although
l hope he report is true without a shadow
of doubt | am of the opinion that We
should wait a reasonable time before
becoming confident that the disease has
been conquered. In cases of incpient
consumption attention 10 the PATIENT IS
the principal factor. Cases which are in
tue second stage can, by careful nursing
and medical a tentlon, be Corrected 10 Il
certain extent, and weight is often gained
cine has such victim been absolutely
cured. because it has heretofore been i'm
possible to completely Grad cate the lis
ease. Although Koch was ridicuied by
many, as we'll as the public press, he has
given to the world theory for treatment
which has resulted in vast amount of
good, and will without doubt accomplish
much more. Serum Tor inoculation to
xiii disease germs is what the medical
profession now bases its success for the
cure of diseases formerly fatal to the pa.
tlent.
The principle on which this cure OF
consumption is based is much ithe same
as cures for other diseases where serum is
used by injection. We now have a cure
for tetanus. diphtheria and erysipeias,
and other cures will constantly he dis
covered for other d seases as time goes
on, but before patients who suffer with a
disease previously incurabIe are told that
their affiictlon is now an easy matter to
eradlca.e q the serum or OF er form of cure
should be tested thoroughly and by COM
petent men.
I'VE medical men seldom have a pa
tient with incipent cOnsum piion, for the
reason that the people who are not medi-
cally educate | do not seq the first symp-
toms of the coming aff1 ction, and IN con-
sedueD ce allow 1t to N axe inroads in their
const tuition tosuch an extent that Grad
cation is impossib bic. l trust Professor
Maragliano's success is as reported.
The principle is sound" said DR.. J. NJ.
William son, land | see no reason why
cure for con umption should not be dis
covered. The system is what is termed
serum-therapy, and, as tetanus and other
formerly fatal diseases were and are sue.
cessfuily treated, it is hard to determine
where the efforts of scientists and medical
men will stop | am of the opinion tnat
many cases pronounced to be consump-
tion are wrongly diagnosed, and hence We
can easily wait for further experiments
on the part of Professor Maragliano; but
the result will finally be attained and l
sine rely hope it is now. All diseases have
germ, and the serum system is he only
one which will attain success n the treat
ment OF many. Serum therapy will &C
complish wonders in the years to come,
and ct the present time much is owing 10
1t by g medical fraternity"
DR.. w. o. Wilcox said THE system is
the right one, and consumption Will be
cured in the course Oh time; but time
alone will tell whe her or not the serum
used by Professor Maragiano in New York
will accomplish the pur ose. nope the
cure has not been misrep presented, for q
large percentage oil deaths through hout the
United States and, in fact, the world are
due to the ravages of consumption"
The fact hat Professor Maragliano's
treatment of consumption has been avor-
a blv reported on by the New Y ork Board
of Health does not seem to impress DIR.
G. j. Fitzgibbon, a mem ber OF the local
board of health, for he merely states:
at me Will tel.