The Washington herald., 1913-04-06

BY GEORGE M. STERNBERG,
President of Association for the Pre-.
venttOn of Tuberculosis.

the land. But such demonstration has
not yet been made, although DR.. Fried
mann has shown every disposition to
submit his so-called cure TO a prac-
teal test under the supervision Of COM
petent physicians.
In the present state of science there
is nothing improbable in the suppose
tion that a specific cure for this dis
ease may be found, or even in the claim
that a nonvirulent culture of the tu-
bercle bacillus has a specific curative
effect. But a satisfactory demonstra-
ton that such is the fact can only be
Tmade under the most rigid SCIENTIFIC
control and will require considerable
time. 1t is unfortunate that so much
newspaper notoriety has been given
10 the proposed cure, before the YER
. dict of the profession as to its value
has been received.
The cure does not come to US with
the Endorsement of the German gov
eminent, or Of the medical profession
in that country, although a certain
number of German physicians are dis
posed to think favorably of the Fried
mann treatment. Before DIR. Fried
mann's arrival in this country we had
sensational announcements in the
newspapers with reference to a large
pecuniary reward which he was to re-
ceieve for a satisfactory demonstra-
tion Of the curative value of his serum.
Nothing has been said recently OF the
100000 reward, and ] do not know
whether DR.. Friedmanns visit to this
country was made because of such an
offer. But i venture to call attention
10 the fact that the ethics OF the medi-
cal profession in this country are OPP
posed to the exploiting Of any remedy
for personal gain. We hold that any
discovery of value should be published
n
by the medical profession generally,
eor the benefit of the public. This Is
proper not only from an ethical and
humanitarian point OF view, but as q
matter of justice.
Patent Unlikely.
No discovery is made Independently
of the work of previous investigators.
Koch discovered, the tubercule bacillus,
and innumerable men in various parts
of the world have since pursued palms.
taking laboratory experiments to de-
termine it's biological and pathogenic
properties. The recent publication OF
a report from the German patent OF
flee. denying the application OF DR..
Friedman for a patent seems to show
that the preparation of his serum
does not involve any new principle or
method which would entitle him to
patent in this country.
If DR.. friedman mas discovered d
cure for tuberculosis his name will go
down in history as one of the benefac-
tors of the human race. Whatever in
come he may derive from his personal
practice or from the sale OF his serum
he will be entitled to, provided he does
not attempt to monopolize his cure
by keeping secret his method or prep
aration or of administration. / have
no reason to suppose that such is MS
intention.
AS 10 the method OF administration,
this appears to be a simple matter
which can be carried out by any physi-
clan who has a supply of the serum.
u do not know that DR.. Friedman has
vet publicly stated what this serum
is-whether it is simply culture or
his more virulent turtle bacillus or
some special preparation derived from
this culture. When he freely makes
known the method of preparing his
serum and the dose and conditions re-
lating to it's administration, ii will be
a simple matter for any physician who
can procure a supply Of the remedy to
administer 1t to suitable cases. But IL
is not so simple matter to estimate
; its true value.
Disease Varies.
MANY cases of tuberculosis recover
without the use of any medicine. There
are UPS and downs in the course of
the disease. patient with fever and
night swests today may be without
these symptoms next week. A change
from home conditions to a near-home
sanatorium often results in an i'm
proved appetite, the disappearance of
night sweats and a gain of one to
four pounds in weight within a week.
Therefore, IL some Of the patients
treated by DR.. Friedman in New York
hospitals exhibit such improvement we
are not justified in concluding that the
Improvement is due to the treatment.
We must make a comparative study of
a considerable number of patients in
tho same stage of the disease and I'M
der identical conditions. some Of whom
receive this treatment and others
: C"controls'D who do not.
Even then there is an element OF
uncertainty, for a time, at least, owing
to tine mental effects Of hope and faith.
which alone will often result In tenn
norarv Improvement or at least in the
conviction on the part of the patient
that he is better. So strong is this
conviction in some cases that patients
have been induced to give glowing tes-
timonials fin favor Of worthless medf-
cines. which in some instances have
been published in advertisements set
ting forth the curative value of the
Ills
arv tuberculosis of the poor deluded
victim who had certified to its efficacy.
DIR. Friedmanns evident preference
for a test OF his treatment upon tuber-
culosis of the joints appears to me to
he a favorable indication Of his own
belief in the specific value of his '.se-
rum" But it must be remembered that
many Of these cases also get well
without medical treatment. Rest In
"a clone often ACCOMMODATES much for
these cases.
The final decision as to the value OF
DIR. Friedmann's treatment must rest
-,,pon the careful and protracted obser-
vatfons of competent medical men, and
II is very unfortunate that premature
publicity and the sensational reports
of newspaper correspondents have in
duced many victims of tuberculosis to
subject themselves to the expense and
of long and fr1itless jour-
ey in search of a speedy restoration
-, health