Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-13
IT CURES CONSUMPTION
AT LEAST THAT Is THE CLAIM
MADE FOR sANosIN.
A Combination Of Eucalyptus, Sulphur
and Carbon-Experiments
in Germany.


In a report to the State Department Con-
sui General Frank II. Mason. at Berlin.
says that at the latest meeting of the Med
ical Society of Berlin DR.. Danelius and
Prof. Theodore Sommerfield presented an
elaborate thesis describing their expert
ments with new system of treatment for
tubercular disease by inhalation, or rather.
fumigation, with the combined fumes of
eucalyptus, sulphur and charcoal. These
experiments have been a subject of keen
and sustained interest among the foremost
medical men of Berlin during the past six
months. The high authority of the tests
which have been made the encouraging ma
ture of the results reported and the fact
that these results may constitute an i'm
portant step toward the scientific mastery
of disease which has become one of the
most widespread and fatal scourges of the
human race give to the proceedings pop
ular interest which transcends all the or
binary limits of pathological discussion.
Briefly stated. the history and nature OF
the new methods are the following:
While travelling through Australia Mr..
Robert Schneider, a German merchant with
a practical knowledge of chemistry, no
ticed that the natives in the northwestern
boiling the leaves and roots of the eucalyp-
tus tree remedy for consumption.
which is a prevalent disease in many sec
tons of that country. From all that he
could observe and learn by inquiry Herr
Schneider concluded that the effective re-
medal agent was the eucalyptus which is
known in materia medica a germicide
and antiseptic of recognized efficiency.
With the aid of physiological chemist he
prepared a combination of flowers of sui
phur powdered charcoal and the pulver-
lied eucalyptus leaves, impregnated with
essential oil of eucalyptus. The mixture
has been named ''sanosin," and Is the ma
terial which has been used in the recent
experiments.
Effective Combination
Since the time of Galen the fumes of sui
phur have been known to exert a curative
effect upon sufferers from phthisis. and 1t
appears that the combination of sulphurous
acid with eucalyptus and carbon has a pc
cuiarly effective potency in attacking the
bacillus of tuberculosis. On account Of its
extreme volatility sanoSin is put up IN
sealed glass tubes, each containing a dose
Of about two grams. When used the tube
is broken and its contents poured on an
earthenware plate heated by spirit lamp;
the volatile eucalyptus quickly evaporates.
and in combination with the small quantity
of sulphurous-acid fumes generated medi-
Gates with an aromatic penetrating odor the
air of closed room, in which the tubercu-
lous patient lives and inhales the curative
influence in an easy natural way.
The new remedy was brought to Berlin
in September last, where. after due consid-
Grafton, it was taken in hand for elaborate
scientific and practical experiments. Prof.
Theodor Sommertield and DIR. Danelius, ex-
perts in pulmonary diseases, took charge of
the experiments and a hospital ward was
opened for that purpose. The patients were
taken from the poorest class of sufferers,
many of whom live at Berlin in damp in
sanitary dwellings, and throng the public
hospitals at all seasons of the year. SO
prevalent and fatal is tubercular disease
among that class that Notwithstanding all
that science has hitherto done to restrain
it's ravages the death rate in Berlin alone
from that disease averages ten per day.
More Than Half Cured.
Thus far 100 patients have been treated,
of whom more than SO per cent have been
discharged cured Some have been en-
abled, while under treatment, and sleeping
in the hospital at night, to spend portions
of the day engaged at their usual occupa-
lions.
TT is not within the province or purpose
of this report" says Consul General Mason,
Ito venture any opinion as to the effective
ness or permanent value of this rem
'edy. So many sensational cures have been
announced in recent years for phthisis, can
Ger and other widespread human diseases
that the average 1ayman is constrained to
receive the announcement of further dis
coverieS in the same field with q certain
incredulity. At the same time 1T must be
conceded that, in view of the dominating
Importance of the subject the record of
what sanosin has thus far accomplished
is entitled to more than mere passing
recognition. The period of experiment is
of course too brief to form the basis of
any definite conclusion There is a general
unwillingness among physicians to accept
the arrest of tubercular disease for so short
a period as six months as proof of perma-
nent cure. Others doubt whether any pro-
cess of Inhalation alone can reach the ulti-
mate seat of the disease.
What It Accomplishes.
ut will probably be safe to accept for the
present the conservative but positive state
ment of DIR. Engel the expert charged dur
ing the recent experiments with the exam
fnation of the sputum, in which he has had
long experience under other forms of treat
ment. His statement is that under no
other treatment has he seen the character
of the sputum change rapidly and uni
formly, through the diminution and disap-
pearance of bacilli and the elastic fibers
peculiar to tubercular disease, as under the
treatment with sanosn. To which may be
added the deliberate testimony of DR.. Dam
elius and Prof. SOmmerfield that the in
halations act with greater certainty in re-
moving the catarrh which accompanies pull
monary phthisis than any other medicinal
or physical measures directed to the same
end This is shown especially by the fact
that the expectoration on the one hand
decreases entirely disappears on the
other hand-in acute cases-changes its
character The fact that the patient gen.
orally is quickly relieved from the trouble
some and irritating cough is of the greatest
Importance, especially as the sleep which
is absolutely requisite for a recovery from
fundamental disease can then be obtained.
The appetite in almost every case increases
under the influence of the inhaled vapors
and through increased consumption Of
food the second preliminary condition for
the cure is furnished
Building.