New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-11
(FENTGREEK NOTACURE. 4"
Physicians Here Sag Fdttemng
N'ecd bay Prevcat Cousum ption.

According 20 physicians here who talked vestsr-
day on the recent experiments hy the Department
OF Agriculture with a weedlike plant known as
i7ENSreek, as consumption cure. there Is littls
Likelihood that the disease viii be cured by il
Some said tuberculosis it's first stages might 30
cured by it. but others sCofTed at even this idea
All seemed of the opinion. however that the lie
OF victim might b. prolonged by its use
ihe Weed. according to the department. has been
III existence for several thousand years and is ex-
'ehslveN grown In the northern parts OF Africa
ana Eastern Asia II has been used by the natives
as a great flesh producer. The government even
AFTER experimenting with fenusresk VIII not
press an opinion 20 its qualities leaving il 10
the medical experts to conduct further governments
According to several physicians who talked o;
tle weed yesterday, II has been used very little
TINS city. II is generally used in this country IS
the ehief Ingredient OF cattle powder For meti-
email purposes II is very seldom used
Or. Walter @. Cvump, professor az evnscolosy
IN the New York Homepathic College. said yester-
uay that tenngreek had never been scientifically
INesuSated by the medical profession in this city.
IL had the same effect, ne said TO build m the
tenn as phytolHcCa becandra or the pcksberry.
H.i! I reduces The flesh and hardsns the muscles
but IN tne case or both Of them said tho physican
the medical qualities had no direct effect upon ths
tuoercuar germ It might build UP a person SUI
ferln nom the disease in the first stages he said.
and overcome it. but such cases were rare
Or. William II. Guilfoy. of the Health Depart
Inent' said he had heard Of the experiment. but
knew OF no one being entirely cured by it. Every
little while. he said. some one announced that q
new medicine had been found to cure consumption.
AHeSc usually tasted about two months. he Sdit.
ana then were never heard Of again Any msdi-
cine 10 be a success must go directly 90 the germ
and kill 1t. he said or the patient had small chance
of living.
There had been cases. he said but they were
very few. where consumption had been cured IN
the first stage. but If the disease went beyond
that patient would Gle from it,
Fenugreek is a leguminous herb. similar in habit
tat and IN most OF its characteristics the species
OF the genus nledicago. The leaves formed OF
three Obovate leahets the middle one OF which IS
stalked; the flowers solitary In clusters or
two or three, and have a campanGlate. hve-cleft
calyX. and the pods many seeded. cyHndrical
or nattened, and straight slightly curved
The fenugreeks trigonels are widely difused
over the south of Europe. west and central ASIA
and the north of Africa. and are represented also
by several species in Australia Common fenu-
greek so called from the given to il by the
ancients, who used Il fodder Tor cattle, IS IN
dlgeuOTs to the Mediterranean region. and IS cui'l
waited 10 some extent in Thurngia. MOravta ara
other parts OF Europe; IN Morocco. and largely =
Egypt and in India. IL bears a slcke-shaped pod
containing from ten To twenty seeds. from wnleh
a fetid. fatty and bitter oil be distracted ~
ether In India the fresh plant is employed as an
escuent. The seed is ingredient IN cattle pow
ders and Is used for havoring cattle food