The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-27
CURE FOR CONSUMPTION
DISCOVERY OF DIR. HIRsCHFELDER.
AFTER TWO YEARS EXPERIMENTS.
'oxytuberculine,7 and How 1t Is Pre-
pared for Use-Only Five Deaths
Out of Seventy Cases.

SAN FRANCISCO, oct. 2e.-Omcial no.
tice has been received by the Belgian con-
sui, Leon GUastain. that the minister of
foreign affairs had transmitted documents
concerning DIR. Joseph o. Hirschfelder's
consumption cure to the Royal Academy
of Medicine, of Belgium, that the academy
had commissioned DR.. Van Lair one of its
members, to make an examinations DR.
Hlrschfelder has been at work on his cure
over two years, during which time he has
made hundreds of experiments and spent
Sl5,OOO in money. He is one of the most
eminent physicians on the coast. Until a
few years ago his speciality was brain and
nerves. He has also long been an authority
on lung diseases
OXytuberculine is made by a long, COM
phcated process. Its basis is the extract of
veal, treated with peptone, glycerine and
made slightly alkaline. After being steril-
lied, the germs of tuberculosis are planted
in it, and allowed to develop in an incu-
bator, which is kept at a temperature of 80
degrees centigrade. After the surface of the
liquid becomes covered with the germs.
which take the form of a gray scum the
mixture is subjected to heat of 100 de-
grees centigrade, which kills the tubercu-
losis germs. The fluid is then filtered and
the clear, dark, amber liquid resulting is
The tuberculine used. Peroxide of hydrogen
is added by gradual process till the
amount absorbed equals the tuberculine.
Then S per cent. of boric acid is put in the
cure and it is ready for use.
A council Of eminent physicians met at
the Lane Hospital in this city yesterday TO
investigate the new cure. Besides the men,
bers of the faculty of Cooper Medical Col
fn Win oh IAr 4ir.ep falc l,alf.
there were present a number of other
prominent physicians. Sixteen patients who
mad been treated with the new cure were at
the hospital for examination. Among those
at the meeting were DR.. Levi G. Lane,
president of Cooper Medical College and Of
the Lane Hospital DIR. HirSchfeider, DIR.
Richard H. Plummer, DIR. Charles N. Ellin-
wood. DIR. A. Barkan, DIR. Charles II. Steele,
Dr. Clinton Gushing, DR.. Henry Gibbons,
Jr., Dr. j. Farnum, DR.. RiXford DR.. Rig
non, DR.. H. c. Harses and DR.. Riley.
Among the patients was Mr. Williams.
president of the California Jockey Club.
LAST year Mr.. Williams was told by DIR;
Frank Billings, of Chicago. that he had
but six months to live. as consumption had
almesr- done its deadly work. He was
treated with oxytuberculine and the doctors
at the meeting yesterday declared him abb
solutely cured. A Sonoma farmer, desg-
of consumption in 1895, when first treated
with the new cure. Now he is well man,
working ten hours a. day on his ranch;
Miss N. r., a Stockton lady, examined
by the doctors yesterday, was found to be
cured although few months ago she
seemed doomed In every case examined the
patient was either wholly cured or the dis
ease had been stopped and the victim was
recovering.
In all DR.. Hirsehfelder has treated sew
enty cases with oxytuberculine, of which
sixteen have been wholly cured, thirty-six
show great improvement, and but FIVE have
died. The others show little change. The
committee of doctors will meet again next
Wednesday to make formal report.
DR.. Lane said of the new cure: II am abb
solutely certain that DR.. Hirschfelder has
made ole of the greatest discoveries Of
modern times. His consumption cure is mar
velously effective. At a recent meeting Of
the faculty of Cooper Medical College APP
pointed a committee for the investigation
of the cure. The committee consists of near
ly all the members of the faculty. They
had their first meeting to-day Sixteen OF
DR.. Hirschfelder'S patients were examined.
Their oral statements were taken. Some of
them were stripped and a careful, minute,
physical examination made. Fourteen were
found completely cured, and the other two
showed marked improvement 1t had been
demonstrated by the microscope that each
one had consumption.
DR.. Clinton Gushing said Il was aston
ished and gratified at what saw yester-
day. The principle underlying the discov-
cry is that the tuberculia shall be modified
by peroxide of hydrogen.