Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-01
MARINE IS LIVING EXHIBIT
SAYS MERCURY INFECTIONS
CURED HIM OF CONSUMPTION.
Pays Tribute to the Treatment
Urged by Surgeon Wright
Of the Navy.

In spite Of the oft-repeated assertion
by nearly every scientist connected with
the international Congress on Tubercu-
losis that the mercury cure for consump-
ton as put forward by Lieut.. Wright OF
the navy is without value. there came
to the Museum building yesterday John
Leonard. a sergeant of the Marine Corps.
whose case is detailed In full in one OF
the exhibits booklets and who person
ally says he is cured of consumption.
Surgeon Wright's theory made a stir
few days ago among laymen. but the
doctors seemed to turn their backs on II.
When asked when a public demonstration
or a public lecture on the subject would
be made an officer Of the congress said
he did not know and intimated that there
Vas nothing to 1t. anyhow.
John Leonard had both lungs involved.
He says his illness started In August,
1906, with rheumatism In one shoulder
and in December he was sent to the tu-
berculosis camp Of the Brooklyn hospi-
tai He had night sweats when the cough
developed. and he lost weight and appe-
tite.
Going Down Hill Rapidly.
Leonard says he was going down hill
RAPIDLY. His throat became involved. and
he went to Denver and placed himself
under treatment: After several months
he left there with his throat in worse
shane than ever. He entered the naval
hospital at Las Animas. Cal, July Il;
1907. In November he was put TO oeo
and a dose Of mercury bichloride ana po-
tassium iodide was given him twice
day. A slight improvement was SHOWN m
for a time, but eventually he began TO
fail rapidly.
At that juncture Surgeon Wrights
mercury injection treatment was perfect,
ed to an extent satisfactory to MIN ano
the injections were begun. Just what the
hooks at the naval exhibit. stated in
chemical terms. meaningless to those
without a knowledge of the subject, but
sufficiently well described by the words
mercury injections"
Leonard said yesterday he began taking
the injections February 1 Of this year
and he had slowly improved. He does
not look as If anything had ever been
wrong with him.
Face swarthy and Eyes Clear.
His face has a swarthy tan and his
eyes are clear. He cannot speak above
a whisper however. as his vocal chords
were destroyed before he started on the
upward trend He has gained forty
pounds in less than a year.
Leonard says he is cured. Surgeon
Wright's official statement Is
THE improvement In the condition OF
this patient is as remarkable as that OF
our first case, a yeoman In the navy
when we take into consideration his ad-
vanced age Of forty-four years and the
long period of time during which he has
suffered from the disease"
The first case referred to was that of a
young man who sank rapidly and at one
time was given up. His death was look.
ed for at any time, but since January OF
this year, after having been treated by
Surgeon Wright's mercury injections he
has come back from a dying condition to
one of comparative safety. He gained
twenty-eisht pounds In the f1rst six weeks
Of the treatment.
Whether Surgeon Wright will have the
same chance that some Of the foreigners
have had to demonstrate his theory is not
known at present Surgeon Wright 9
modest statement Is that his treatment
presents some interesting features to the
medical world, but his patient. John
Leonard says that the treatment effected
cure. II 1t is a cure and II 1t cures In
So short a time. 1t is said to be possible
that the world will sit up and take notice.