The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-04-16
SOME VIEWS AT WASHINGTON.
tBY O. A. EpwARDs.)


This administration has entered the heid
OF medicine. It is going 10 establish al
20 cure consumption while you
wait. Mr.. Mckinley signed an order the
other day giving the official aid and sane
tion OF the government to the prosecu-
ton OF experiments looking toward the
cure of consumption. Under this order
Fort Stanton. N. NJ. will be transferred
from control OF the war department to
that of the marine hospital corps, ana VIII
be placed under the immediate direction OF
Surgeon General wyman. It 10 purposed
there to conduct q series OF experiments.
not with the view OF demonstrating the
accuracy and applicability OF any indi-
vidual theory, but to learn II pulmonary
tuberculosis may be cured, or even Z"
the progress OF the disease may be stayed
under proper surroundings and with tho
aid of scieptifo therapcutics. Fort
Stanton Is about Atty miles from La
guna. There are some 10000 acres in the
military reservation, which. with the fort
and accompanying buildings. will be placed
at the disposal OF the surgeon Of the ma
rine corps.
For a number of years Or. Wyman has
been interested In the various experiments
which have established beyond doubt that
pulmonary tuberculosis Is germ dis
ease. He has been studying with close at
tentiop the processes by which the scien-
lists have endeavored to find the neces-
sary germicide for the eradication Of the
tubercular bacllli, and, It Is said. he has
conducted helpful investigations on his
own account. DR., Wyman's urgent rec
ommendation that the government take an
interest in the prosecution OF these in
vestigations indicates that he has conf
denoe, In a measure, at least, that there
will be we'll grounded hope for ameliora-
ton of the conditions Of that vast army
OF human beings who suffer from the
ravages of this most destructive Of all
tages Of climate afforded at Fort Stan
ton and under the favorable conditions
which will follow government control oil
what will practically become a sanitarum,
still greater advancement may be made
in this important field of research.
~
| 1t is a significant fact that for several
years what is called the regular profession
OF medicine has looked with degree OF
favor on recurring assertions that con-
sumption is durable. Not that any mem
Der of the regular profession has held that
lost tissue might be restored or that a new
lung might be built whore disease has
left vacancy, for no reputable physi-
clan would thus ny In the face OF both
common sense and science. But the ex-
periments CT Koch and others In Europe
and in recent years OF Or. Cyrus Edison OF
New York, have received dignlhed atten.
tion. and not ridicule, from the members
OF one OF the most conservative o. all pro-
fessions. The New York Medical Journal
indeed created something OF a turore In
scientific circles some four years age
by printing long explanation OF DR.
Cyrus Edson's experiments and giving tn,
clinical history of the case he had treated
This makes plain the growth of sentiment
among the members of the regular profes
sion, although naturally none will yet ad
init the existence OF Specific" for an,
disease. Quin!ne and mercury. the wis
old doctors say, are perhaps the neares
SPECIFICS Of any item In the whole ma
terla medica. Therefore, DR.. Wyman doe
not argue that he has discovered a cure
for consumption. He simply believes tn
of he he
der proper conditions and with sufhcien
medication, and he desires to carry tn
experiments still further. in the meantim
furnishing an asylum where the Athlete,
may have their condition ameiorated
They will be received there for treatment
In the hope, and in the expectation cher
ished by Dr.. Wyman. that convalescenc
will ensue. DR.. Wyman will have plen,
OF patients at the pulmonary tuberculosi
sanitarlum which he will erect at For
Stanton under the auspices of the gov
eminent. Civilians may be received Their
by permission of the surgeon general. per
haps, but the members of the marin
corps, soldiers in the army and Jackie
in the navy may be sent there under or
, ders, just as those who are invalded nov
4 are assigned to some one of the hospital
for treatment. This will insure work!a
baris for the start, and ultimately T. ma
be that government employees, such a
clerks in the departments, may, be sent I
A Fort Stanton at government expense
: There is nothing particularly startling Il
this story / have written, but 1t slmpl
c shows the tendency of the general govern
ment to do something to assist science.
{ ~
e am inclined TO believe there is NOR
behind the appointment OF the Mazet com
I mittee to investigate Tammany and give
e a dig in the ribs than appears on the sur
face, There is an interesting game of pal
itics going on IN Gotham Just now. an
one that will. perhaps, have direct bear
ing on the next presidential campaign
l think the purpose is not so much I
!, punish individual members OF Tamman
/ and reform the City OF New York as
e is 10 create presidential boom for Roose
+ welt. The rottenness in New York whic
will probably be developed by the investi
eating committee exists perennially and