The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-12-13
TREATMENT.

This most interesting subject receiv-
ed great deal of attention and was
discussed by many of the delegates
present.
DR.. Carrasquilla of Bogota, Colombia,
exhibited many photographs Of patients
treated with his serum taken before
and after the treatment which show
decided improvement. In his commun-
ication to the Conference he still main
tains that the serum is specific for
leprosy. He stated that some patients
cease to improve after the first few in
jections. He advised in these cases
to suspend all treatment for three
months or more, and that improve
ment will follow when the treatment
with the serum is resumed.
DR.. Olaya Laverde of Colombia re-
ported many cases cured with the Sc
rum. Some physicians from Venezuela
also reported good results with the
serum.
DR.. Aiming reported case treated
with the serum with striking effects
at first. The patient gained in weight
from the first injection up to the 18th
day of the treatment
brance that had been treated for two
years without result, were healed with
the serum. The patient had fever al
ways on the Sd day of the injection.
Notwithstanding the fact that the pa
tient had a relapse with eruption of
tubercles, DR.. Aiming thinks that there
is something good in the serum. Hal
lopeau, of the Hospital ST. Louis, Paris,
reports six cases treated with the Sc
rum without result.
Doutrelepont,, of Bonn, reported
three cases treated with the serum.
They showed remarkable diminution
of the tubercles at first; then followed
a period where the disease remained
stationary, and finally, it progressed
again rapidly.
Professor Brieger, Berlin, reported
two cases treated with the serum with
out results.
Professor Dehio, Dorpat, reported 10
cases treated with the serum from
April goth to July 30th. No improve
ment. Some of his patients are now
worse. Professor Lassar of Berlin
closed the discussion on the serum
treatment by recommending that new
experiments be carried on with a view
to determine its value in leprosy.
1t is very difficult to judge accurate
ly the merits of the serum or it's ef1-
cacy in leprOsy. The reports are very
conflicting; some condemn 1t as worth
less, while others praise It very high
ly. Perhaps the truth lies between the
two extremes.
Dr. Carrasquilla claims that many Of
the adverse reports are due to the use
of serum altered or decompOsed while
on its way to foreign countries.
1t is very significant In this connec-
ton that the favorable reports come,
as rule, from countries near to Colom-
bia, whereas the failures occur in coun-
tries very distant from Colombia. DR..
Carrasquilla's explanation is probably
correct.
From the reports of others and from
my own experience, / come to the fol-
lowing conclusion:
That Carrasquilla's serum produces
in some lepers a very remarkable inn
provement, often in very short time.
In those cases that seem to be ready
to respond to treatment, no other
known remedy acts as promptly or as
efficaciously as the serum.
Dr. Unna SalQ tndt after IL years OF
treatment he has found no remedy that
he could recommend.
DR.. Kalindero of Bucharest, reported
good results from the use of crude
petroleum.
DR.. Dyer of New Orleans reported
some benefit from the use of antive-
meme.
DR.. Besnier, Paris, advised the de-
struction of the tubercles and lepromas
with the thermocantery.
DR.. Fornara said that the best rem
edy is AirOl. He exhibited some photo
graphs taken before and after the
treatment showing remarkable i'm
provement.
1t was decided by the Conference to
organize a permanent international
Association, composed, for the present
Of 20 members, for the purpose of pre-
pairing plan for an International Lep-
rosy Society and to make arrangements
for the meeting of the next Congress
for Leprosy.
The following were elected by the