The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-02-25
ANOTHER SURE CURE.
PROFESSOR MARAGLlANO'S CLAIM FOR
HIS TUBERCULOSIS SERUM.

sumption II Administered In the Early
Stages of the Disease Experiments Be-
ing Made In st. Luse's Hospital.
The unusual interest taken by physi-
clans and the public in the treatment Of
pulmonary tuberculosis, or consumption,
Us it is commonly called, win be increased
by the news that serum has been discov-
cred which, it is declared, win prove an
absolute cure for the disease in its early
stages and will greatly benefit patients and
arrest the progress of the disease in its ad-
yanccd forms The serum is the discovery
Of Professor Maragliano of Genoa, Italy.
A small quantity was brought to this
country, and the physicians Of st. Luke's
hospital began experiments with it a week
ago.
The serum is obtained from the blood
Of horses which have been inoculated with
the tuberculosis germ in -man quantities
and continued under this treatment for
several months. Its effect is to produce in
the blood of the horse some quality of re-
sstance to the disease which when intro
duced into the human system strengthens
the resting power. The serum theory is
therefore exactly opposite to the theory of
vaccination, which introduces the germs
of the disease itself into the system, and
by producing the disease in mild form
renders the body impervious to its further
attacks.
Only small quantity of the serum has
reached this country, about 200 cubic CEN
timeters in all. Part of this quantity was
imported for st. Luze's hospital, but the
greater part was presented to the hospital
by G. W. Wupperman, Professor Maragli-
AMOS agent The serum as at present man
ufactured is expensive, each ccntimeter be-
ing worth about $50.
On account of the small quantity of the
serum available, only two patients have
been selected for the experiment at st.
Luke's, and assurances have been obtained
from them that they will remain in the
hospital long enough to give the remedy a
fair test. The claim is not made for the
serum that it acts quickly. Constant treat
ment for at least two or three months is re-
quired to produce any definite results, and
it should be continued for a year to effect
a complete cure.
Professor Maragliano is modest in his
claims for his remedy. He does not expect
to effect a euro except in the early stages Of
the disease When it has advanced far
enough to produce LESSONS of the tissues, or
cavities, he does not believe that cure can
be effected He thinks, however, that the
progress of the disease can be arrested.
The reason for this is that the serum is
fatal to only one germ, the tubercle bacil-
lus, which alone is present in the early
stages of phthisis, but in the more ad-
vanced stages several other bacilli which
are classed under the general name of pyo-
genie or pus producing germs, are present,
on which the antitubercular serum has no
effect. The removal Of the tubercle hacill,
however, is distinctly beneficial and leaves
the patient with more energy to resist the
ravages Of those that are left, it is urged.
The serum is administered hypOdermical-
ly in doses Of one cubic centimeter daily.
In St. Luke's the injection is made in the
tissues Of the back. This is the part of the
body recommended by Professor Marag-
hano because Of the thickness of the tissues
there and their freedom from small blood
vessels, which might be pierced by the
hypodermic syringe.
While it is too early yet to observe any
decided benefit, the experiments have gone
far enough to demonstrate that no i'll ef-
fects follow the application of the remedy,
the physicians say. There is no feverish
nation as occurs in the administration Of
some other remedies Of a similar nature.
The hospital authorities do not consider
that the two patients under treatment will
afford a satisfactory test, as many patients
have improved under the old treatment
with creosote and many even under the
improved conditions Cf food and hygiene
accompanying hospital treatment, without
the aid of drugs or medicines If the pa
tients under treatment show any marked
improvement, a large quantity of the
serum will be imported and experiments
will be made on a scale sufficiently extern
sive TO enable definite deductions to be
made as to its efficacy.
During the treatment with Maraglianois
serum all other specific treatments are sus.
pended, but every effort is made to build
up the strength and improve the bodily
condition Of the patients by the admins
tration Of cod liver oil, glycero phosphates
and nourishing food.
One Of the staff Of St. Luke's hospital,
in describing the effects of the remedy,
said
The best recommendation we can give
1t is that it does for the patient in this
climate what the climate of the Adiron-
dacks, Arizona or New Mexico does for
him. 1t increases his power Of resistance
to the disease and enables him to throw 1t
off Consumption is a disease which differs
from nearly all others in this respect. The
bacili Of phthisis are everywhere. VEN
ture to say that if the sputum of most
healthy persons was examined some of the
bsoilli would be found I'm it, but this does
not signify by any means that the person
from whom it Is taken is condemned. 1t
is only when the power of resistance leaves
us that we succumb TO the disease and the
bacilli multiply. i have no doubt that I
breathe thousands of them every day in
the hospital, but have the power of throw.
ing them off, and they do not multiply,
When the conditions are right In the hu.
man body for this propagation and the
system is weakened, then q case of con-
sumption develops That is the value Of
Maragliano's serum, II restores the power
of resistance which has been lost by the
patient, and enables him to fight the dis
ease. %
Experiments I'm the same line are also
being made I'm this country by DR. Paquin
of St. Louis, who has not however, pro-
duced any of the serum yet. Its manufac-
ture is slow process the animals from
which 10 is obtained being kept under
treatment for three on four months.-NeW
York Herald
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