New-York tribune., 1901-12-26
PROF. NOTYS 4NJTSEPTIC.
DOCTORS THINK HE HAS MADE A
GREAT DISCOVERY IF THE RE-
PORT IS TRUE.

The report printed in The Tribune on Monday re-
garding the discovery of a preparation by Pro-
fessor Frederick G. Novy, which is thought TO be
an absolute intestinal disnfectant and antiseptic
aroused much interest in medical circles Many
expressions Of praise Of Professor Novy for the
work that he is doing were heard 1t was the
opinion of the majority of physicians who were
asked for their views that Dr. Novy had made a
great discovery if the report true
When asked for his views on the subject Dr.
Smith Ely JelIife said:
\ great deal of work has been done along the
line intestinal antiseDsis but up 10 the present
The best antiseptics OF the Intestinal canal are the
all of these Juices become deficient are altered IN
their composition the normal processes of diges-
Fermentation Of the carbohydrate foods-that IS.
sugar and starches-and putrefacton OF the
proteid foods the albumins etc take place and
symptoms Of intestinal indigestion arise
intestinal arrangements become manifest. treat
ment for the same must take into
these processes OF fermentation ana PureIdCtl99li
In order to overcome such 1t is necessary TO de-
Veiop to Its tuH capaclly 5 I9s s sLloS t}T 5oIy
uonS are derlcleIt OF 70 at sun
an antiseptic-to prevent both fermentatlon ana ana
that the intestinal canal is over thirty feet long
and that any autiseptc in order to be able 70 dis
infect the entire length of the canal must De gwen
in large quantities. and if active bacteriacide.
large quantities of it are therefore poisonous TO
The endeavor therefore. has been to make an anti
the germs Of fermentation and putrefactfon not
poisonous to the BODY If such an intestinal anti
septic can be found great step in advance in the
treatment Of the diseases Of the intesttnes has
been made It is evident that Professor Novy, OF
Ann ArbOr Mich. has been working along some
such line : this. As early as last June tnVestl-
cations were taking place in his laboratory at the
University Of Michigan on series OF ne" co+L- IN
pounds. which. as far can be learned al the
present time. had the property OF eliminating
oxygen slowly. At the present time IN medlcine
the physician has a number OF such bodies at MS
has been that the formation of oxygen has been ex.
tremely rapid and there has been no likelihood OF
the anIiSeptic action Of the remedy beng con-
tinued for any great distance in the intestinal
canal Other drugs have been administered that
active principles may become potent only after a
different period, in the hope that at that time
they will have got such place in their journey
to become of service further down than the
stomach.
Synthetic chemists have given the medical pro-
fessOn a series Of antiseptiCs which become active
only reaching certain parts OF the lnteStineS.
where the peculiar chemical composition OF the
active principles az a place where they Will DO
efficient service Thus, the problem has been at
tackled from the physiological mechanical and
chemical point Of view and the best that be said
many Of the antiseptics that are now at the dis
pOsal Of the profession can the much desired re-
suits be obtained.
# Professor Novy has given a new series OF
antiseptic bodies which efficient for the entire
length of the intestinal canal he has accomplished
q good work.
With reference to the idea Of any. antiseptc or
any body doing away with certain diseases, such
as dysantery typhoid fever cholera, ii should
be borne mind that all these diseases are due to
careless modes Of living. and can be prevented by
rigid hvgieniC measures drug is unnecessary II
not useless. But II such a disease has been ac-
QUred the rise of efficient intestinal antisepttc
would make a great step forward in the treatment
Of these all too prevalent and deadly diseases.