New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-01-11
TO FIGHT TUBERCULOSIS.
PRETENTTON NOT CURE.
Dr. Robin, of Paris. Says Present
Methods L4re Pain.

Especial to The New-York Tribune by French Cable,
Downright: 1908: By The Tribune Association.)
Paris Jan. 10-In the last six months French
philanthropy, especially in Paris. has been con-
centrated in efforts to combat tuberculosis.
which has assumed the proportions of national
peril. Public and private subscriptions have
poured forth with unexa implied liberality. One
Partisan paper alone, the Figaro" has raised
over 100000 toward the establishment of tu-
berculosis sanatoriums after the German model,
which DR.. Brouardel and the French delegates
to the tuberculosis congress so enthusiastically
commend.
But Wednesday the philanthropic public
received shock that came with the sudden
ness Of bomb from the blue, for DR.. Albert
Robin, of the French Academy q Science. in
lecture delivered at the Sorbonne before an au-
dience composed Of scientists and of prominent
men and women of Partisan society," announced
that all that has far been accomplished in
the great fight against tuberculosis is in vain,
and that medical science and philanthropy have
started on altogether the wrong tack. DR.. Robin
does not hesitate to assert and his position is
supported by data which seemed irrefutable to
such high authorities BHouardel. Grancher
and Landouzy, of the Paris Faculty of Medf-
cine, who were present at the lecture. that tu-
berculoss. when once firmly established in the
system, is practically incurabIe. DR.. Robins
ngureS prove that Of thirty-S1X tuberculosis pa
tients that leave the sanatorium ten relapse
after six months and ten after year,
and that only five out of thirty-siX are saved
The only effcacious method of fighting tuber-
culosis, according to DR.. Robin. is prevention.
The discoveries just made by DR.. Robin and
his colleague, Maurice Binet enable the stage of
predsposition to tuberculosis to be determined
with mathematical accuracy, two infalnbie tests
being the excess of respiratory consumption ana
daily organic Standardization or loss OF min
eral elements of the system. 1t is TO this pre-
liminary stage of tuberculosis that all ef1ortS
should be directed, the absolute remedy OF
prevention being easily attained by the air cure
by abstention from alcohol and by complete
mental and physical rest. DR.. Robin maintains
that the sanatoriums, toward which mlIllohs
have been uselessly expended, are from Indh-
cial point of view impra cticable. and therapeu-
tically are simply chimerica1 DIR. Ropln sup
ports his argument the financial head by
pointing out that, supposing only one hunoreo
thousand beds were provided for the half mill
ion persons suffering from tuberculosis In
France and each bed cost $1,000 for initial en-
at the very outset, without counting lncldehlat
expenses
DE- Robins revelations are commented upon
to-day by all the leading papers in PallS anu
France, and his revelations cause sonnet tnlIs a.; ap
preaching to revolution in the great humanlta-
rian struggle against tuberculosis. The city Oh
Paris has to-day opened a new Ward III the NJ
pitaI de Ia Pitie for the preventive treat OF
tuberculosis on the lines ADOPTED py " INo'1.. -
and under his direction In conversation FaSt
evening DR. Robin assured me that, so IdI otS
examination of facts brought to ms knoWlease
warranted, his opinion was that humanitarian an
philanthropy in regard to tubercufosis Nf~, oit
The wrong tack in the United States, Just as ].
was in France and that a .colnplete change OF
Tactics should he made IN tie great struggle IN
America as well as in Europe. e. l. b. -