Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1913-03-28
GOVERNMENT WARY IN NEW
CURE TRGT

The Public Health Service, through Sur
seon General Blue, issued last Friday its
first statement relative to the Government
Investigation Of DR.. F. F. Friedmann's al
legged tuberculosis cure. The statement,
which emphasizes the Governments policy
TO proceed cautiously. is as follows:
"On March 8. the Secretary Of the Treas
ury. on the recommendation Of the Surgeon
General Of the Public Health Service,
caused a board Of medical officers to be
detailed to make thorough investigation
OF Dr.. Fhedmann's alleged cure for tuber-
culOsis.
These officers proceeded Immediately to
New York and arranged with DR.. Fried
mann for demonstrations of his remedy
upon persons suffering from tuberculosis.
These demonstrations are being carried on
in certain New York hospitals through the
courtesy Of their respective authorities,
and will be continued until sufficient in
formation has been obtained for the form
ing Of an opinion as to the merits Of the
treatment.
Or. Friedman has submitted to the
board a culture Of the bacteria which he
states are used in his method of treatment
In addition to the observation of persons
under treatment by DR.. friedman. the
board Of officers will make experiments tt
ascertain whether this culture is. as Dr.
friedman claims. harmless to warm
blooded animals.
Considerable time will necessarily b,
required to carry out these investigations
The work will be carried out as rapidly a
possible.
IN the meantime the public is informe,
Of the inadvisability in the great majorit,
Of cases, Of travelling long distances in thu
hope Of receiving treatment. as those sc
lected for demonstration purposes consti
tute only small proportion OF applicants
Certain statements purporting to b.
expressions Of the opinion Of the board o
officers of the Public Health Service carry
ing on the investigations have appearet
in newspapers. These officers have ex
pressed no opinion and will not be il
position to do 50 until the work has ad
vanced sufficiently far to warrant som
conclusion in regard to DR.. friedman
treatment"
Ii was further stated by Government
officials that il would be at least month
and probably longer. before any conclu
sions could be reached relating to tn
efficiency Of the treatment upon the pa
tents who are being watched by the boar,
OF officers authorized to make the investi
cation.
Dr.. John F. Anderson and DR.. A. N
Stimson. who compose the board, ar
keeping a daily clinical record Of case
treated by DR.. friedman in the Ne,
York hospitals. These records will furnis
the basis for final reports when sufiicien
information has accumulated to warran
them.
Though developments from day to day
such as lowering Of temperature. disap
pearance Of night sweats, cessation O
coughing and the like, might mean some
thing Of importance in one case. in other
Il would not.
For this reason the public health official
regard it as dangerous to make any report
whatever, until they are ready to repor
finally.
Thav alao mint o.,s tha, IL Il ,,oon..o-
to keep a record in many cases, as two o
three cases would not be sufficient upol
which to base just report as to the eff
cacy OF the treatment.
Thus far DR.. Friedmanns tuberculosis
culture has been demonstrated to be
"live bug" according TO tests made in tn,
Government hygienic laboratory in Wash
ington. sub-cultures having been grow
from the original culture submitted to III,
public health service by the Berlin docto
several weeks ago.
The tests conducted by DR.. Andersen
proved that new baccilli would propagat,
from the prime culture and experiment.
have been begun with warm-blooded labo
ratory animals. The sub-cultures also
have proved to be acid-proof and the,
have been propaeated on various chemical
media. such as beef bouillon. eelatine
bread and other subjects. Enough Of the
baccilli has been developed for the carry
ing out. through monkeys and guinea pigs,
Of further tests Of the anti-tubencular bac-
cilli which Dr.. Fhedmann claims to have
derived from sea turtles