The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-03-22
WILL BE CAUTIOUS.
Government Statement on DIR.
Friedmann's Cure.
Final Judgment Cannot Be
Rendered at This Time.

Washington, March 22.-.The public
health service, through Surgeon Gen
eral Blue, has issued it's first state
ment relative to the government in
mann's alleged tuberculosis cure. The
statement, which emphasizes the gov
ernment's policy to proceed cautious
1y, is as follows:
ION March 8 the secretary of the
treasury, on the recommendation of
surgeon general of the public health
service, caused a board of medical Of
dcers to be detailed to make a thor
ough investigation of DR.. Fried
mannS alleged cure for tuberculosis.
These officers proceeded immedi-
ately to New York and arranged with
DR.. Friedman for demonstrations of
his remedy upon persons suffering
from tuberculosis. These dem onStatiOnS
York hospitals. through the courtesy
of their respective authorities, and
will be continued until sufficient in
formation has been obtained for the
forming of an opinion as to the mer-
its of the treatment
''Dr. friedman has submitted to
the board a culture of the bacteria,
which he states are used in his meth
cd of treatment. In addition to the
observation of persons under treat
ment by DR.. Friedman, the board of
officers will make experiments to as
certain whether this culture is as DR..
Friedman claims, harmless to warm
blooded animals.
be required to carry out these inves-
legations. The work will be carried
cut as rapidly as possible.
"In the meantime the public is in
formed of the inadvisability in the
great majority of cases, of travelling
long distances in the hope of receiv-
ing treatment as those selected for
demonstration purposes constitute
only a small proportion of applicants
Certain statements purpOrting to
be expressions of the opinion of the
board of officers of the public health
service carrying on the investigation
have appeared in newspapers. These
officers have expressed no opinion and
will not be in position to do so until
the work has advanced sufficiently to
warrant some conclusion in regard to
DR.. Friedmann's treatment"
Will Require a Month.
1t was further stated by govern
ment officials that it would be at least
a month and probably longer before
any conclusion could be reached re-
lating to the efficacy of the treatment
upon the patients who are being
watched by the board of officers auth
orized to make the investigation
DR.. John +. Anderson and DR.. A.
NJ. Stimson, who compose the board,
are keeping a daily clinical record or
cases treated by DIR. Friedman IN the
New Y Ork hospitals 1hSSS IOOOA 10
Will furnish the basis for final reports
when sufficient information has aC-
eumulated to warrant them
Though developments from day to
gay, such as lowering of temperature,
disappearance of night sweats, ces-
ration of coughing and the like, might
I:tealf something of Importance in one
case, in others it would not. For this
reason, the public health officials re-
gard it as dangerous to make any re-
ports whatever until they are ready
to report finally. They also point out
that it is necessary to keep a record
would not be sufficient upon which
10 base a lust report as to the efficacy
of the treatment.
Thus far, DR.. Friedmann'S tuber-
culosis culture has been demonstrated
to be q Tive bug" according to tests
made in the government hygienic lab
oratory here, sub-cultures having been
grown from the original culture sub
mitted to the public health service by
the Berlin doctor several weeks ago.
The tests conducted by DR.. Ander-
son proved that new bacili would
propagate from the prime culture and
experiments have been begun with
warm blooded laboratory animals.
The sub-cultures also have proved TO
be acid proof and they have been pro-
pagated on various chemical media,
such as beef boullion, gelatine, bread
and other subjects. Enough of the
bacilli has been developed for the
carrying out through monkeys and
guinea pigs of further tests of the
anti-tubercular bacilli which DR.. Fried
mann claims to have derived from sea
turtles.