Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-05-09
Federal Health Service
Passes on Claims of
DR.. friedman.
HIS SPATIENTS WATCHED
Confidence in Remedy Inspired
by Widespread Publicity
Not Justified.

Washington, D. c., May 9.-Public
health service observations, so far, in
to the condition of patients inoculat-
ed by DR.. Friedman with his tuber-
Culosis vaccine. do not Justify that
confidence in the remedy which has
been inspired by widespread publici-
ty,' in the opinion of the surgeons
who conducted the governments in.
vestigation.
This is the first authentic official
conclusion from the tests announced
here today before the National Associ.
alton for the Study and Prevention of
Tuberculosis by DR.. John F. Anderson,
director of the governments hygienic
laboratory, and DR.. A. NJ. Stimson, an
other public health surgeon who was
detailed to observe the progress of
Friedmann's patients in New York.
MORE TIMTo Required.
I'VE believe that at the present
time" says the report, I'VE are not
yet in position to express an opinion
based on present conditions under OBJ
servation. The disease for which the
remedy is used is characterized by
periods of advancement and retro
gression. 1t is also one in which psy-
chic influences are a powerful factor.
Time, therefore, is necessary to prop
erly value the effects of thera-
| peutic measures.
without presenting in detail the
condition of patients under observa-
ton, we are in position to state
trat facts thus far observed do not
justify that confidence in the remedy
which has been inspired by wide
spread publicity.
POSSIBLE HARM SEEN.
''In our opinion harm may be done
| by undue publicity in so far as it has
lessened confidence of tuberculosis
persons in well recognized methods of
treatment, or interrupted their use,
and we are constrained TO advise
against any lessening of these well
known measures, which not only had
effected cures. but which reduced the
incidence of the disease. DIR. Fried
man would undoubtedly disclaim any
responsibility for certain newspaper
statements which have appeared. New
ertheless it is on those that the pub
lie bases its opinion until replaced by
reliable, unbiased, scientific pro-
nouncements supported by convinc-
ing data"
WHOLE HISTORY COVERED.
The report covers exhaustively the
history of the Friedman "cure" as
far as facts have been available to
the public health service from the
time of its announcement in Berlin,
November, 1912, and reveals the eff
forts Of the public health service to
gather material from DR.. friedman
for its investigation.
On the whole Friedmann's reluct-
ance to furnish certain details were
not satisfactory from a scientific
! standpoint" but the report says, "in
view of the great Importance of the
matter to tuberculosis patients in the
country, and in the hope a valuable
remedy might at last have been found
= to not only cure patients but to pre-
| vent the disease, the conditions i'm
} posed by friedman were accepted.
An additional reason for taking ad-
vantage of opportunities to make
} every study possible was the assur.
, ance by friedman of it's harmless
ness when it attacked human beings"
INVESTIGATION GOES on.
The report goes on to say that
Friedmann's reti"ence in no way
would be allowed to interfere with the
judgment of the board OF its effects
which it has observed
After presentation OF the public
health service report a resolution was
, unanimously adopted declaring it the
, Judgment of the association that mo
specific cure for tuberculosis has been
discovered 10 warrant the confidence
of the public or the medical profes-
sion" The resolution recommended
that present methods OF treatment be
continued. DR.. Friedman was not
mentioned by name in the resolution
The government investigations have
not Deen finished, as tests are being
conducted at the hygenic laboratory
here, and the observations of persons
inoculated will be continued.
"