The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-05-14
.FREIDMAN'S CURE DOUBTFUL.
GOVERNMENT PHYSICIANS RE-
FUSE TO RECOMMEND 1T.
Official Investigators Warn Prospec-
tive Patients To View Chances With
out Excitement.

federal governments investigation of
the Friedman tuberculosis vaccine
made public here today declared the
result of the public health service
that confidence in the remedy which
has been inspired by widespread pub
licity."
The National Association for the
study and Prevention of Tuberculo-
sis, before the report was presented,
Immediately and unanimously passed
a resolution, declaring it's belief that
no specific cure for tuberculosis
has been discovered that deserves the
confidence of the medical profession
and the public" and declaring it to
be the duty Of the public ito con-
tinue all the present we'll tried agen-
cies"
Although couched in the diploma
tic terms Of a governmental scienti-
fic document the report on the Fried
mann "cure" expresses the disap-
pointment of the public health SER
vice at the conditions imposed by
Friedman; and says his declination
to furnish complete information re-
garding his vaccine was not "satis-
factory from a scientific standpoint"
The public health service, however,
the report says, accepted his condi-
tions because of the great Importance
to sufferers and the hope that a cure
might be found.
The report made made by DR.. John
S. Anderson, director of the hygienic
laboratory. and DR.. A. Nj. Stimson,
another public health service officer,
who were designated by Surgeon Gen.
eral Blue to make laboratory tests
OF the Friedman vaccine and OBJ
serve the 80 odd tuberculosis pa
tients inoculated in New York.
The investigation pointed out that
while DR.. Friedman in his prelimi-
nary correspondence offered to lay
full and impartial information before
this government, he declined to do
so after coming here. Observations
by the public health service will be
continued, however. and the invcsti-
gators expressed the opinion that the
patients already inoculated must
look forward TO long period of
treatment.
I'VE believe that at the present
time" says the report, I'VE are not
yet in position to express an opinion
based on the present condition of
patients under observation. The dis
ease for which the remedy is used
is prolonged and is characterized by
periods of advancement and retro
gression. 1t is also one in which
psychic influences are a powerful
factor. Time is, therefore, necessary
to properly evaluate the effects of
therapeutic measures.
We do not lose sight OF the pos
slble therapeutic value of this prepa-
ration and on the other hand it is
necessary to guard against too great
an optimism in respect to it's merits.
Without presenting in detail the con-
ditions of patients under observation,
we are in a position to state that
the facts thus far observed do not
Justify that confidence in the remedy
which has been inspired by wide
spread publicity.
In our opinion, harm may have
been done by this undue publicity,
in so far as it has lessened the con-
hdence of tuberculosis persons in well
recognized methods Of treatment or
interrupted their use. We are con-
strained to advise against any lessen
ing of those well known measures
which not only had effected cures.
but which have reduced the Incl
dence of the disease. We are aware
that DR.. Friedman does not wish
to be judged scientifically on news
paper statements and he would un-
doubtedly disclaim responsibility for
certain of thcsc which have appear
ed Nevertheless, it is on those that
tho public bases it's opinion until re-
placed by reliable and unbiased scien-
tilic pronouncements, supported by
convincing data.
In our series of patients DR..
Friedman has almost exclusively
made use of the intramuscular method
alone in pulmonary cases and a very
considerable proportion of them have
either developed no considerable in
Nitrate at all. or have suffered from
abscess formations. 1t is evident
therefore. that very considerable
Of