The Washington times., 1913-05-02

NEW YORK, May "A London dis
patch to the New York Sun today says:
There have been so many attempts to
find a specific for the scourge OF con-
wonder that the public has grown skep-
prematurely announced that 1t is no
wonder that the public has grown scep-
teal. while responsible people have be-
come chary Of arousing the hope OF
countless white plague sufferers and
their families and friends. 1t Is only
therefore because the information comes
from a source which commands respect
and belief that The Sun now, before the
results of the investigation are given Of
ficially to the whole world, announces
the discovery of a serum which seems
destined to revolutionize the whole
science of serum therapy.
The Sun not long ago drew attention
to DIR. Friedmann's assertion that he
had discovered a cure for tuberculosis.
A storm Of controversy soon sprang
up In regard to this matter. and it is
still raging. In regard to it's value
The sun said nothing, for that had not
been proved, but the serious doubts
of the distinguished scientist, Prof.
Metchnikoff were reported at the same
time.
The discoverer of the new serum is
again a German. He Is a young and ac-
complished bacteriologist named Fred
erick Mehnarto. who worked with Dr.
Koch in Africa on the sleeping sickness.
After that ne pursued his researches
alone in Africa and other tropical coun-
tries.
DIR. Mehnarto reached South Africa
in 1911. He asserted that while he was
QAlO r. III -.
serum. based On theory which Is en-
tirely new to the serum therapy. that
IS, cure for the disease of the sleep-
ing sickness, which renders many parts
Of Africa impossible for human life.
Tor the first half of the year 1872 his
Bay laboratory under the supervision
of DIR. Jolly. the professor of physi-
ology in the South African College The
result was that DR.. Mehnarto was ad-
vtsed to go to England and convince
the British medical profession of the
Importance of his discovery.
Or reaching London. in October. DIR.
Mehnarto quietly advanced the asser-
ton that he had discovered a serum
which was harmless in Application and
of such a character tha assuming that
the patient had any fair amount of
vitality left, it would effectually cure
any disease which was due to the
presence of microorganism in the blood.
The general feeling of the leading Lon
don physicians to whom he spoke was,
not unnaturally perhaps, that 1t was
the assertion either of charlatan or
of a man who was sadly deceiving him
self. DIR. Mehnarto, however, found
some distinguished medical men who
were willing to give hearing to his
theory of serum therapy. AS a result
they agreed to go further into the mat
ter and provide patients for testing the
serum.
It was impossible. of course. to find
In London a number of sufferers from
the sleeping sickness. so the doctors
decided to test the serum on tubercu-
losis patients in advanced stages of
the disease, and afterward on other
serious diseases which were due to the
presence of injurious bacteria in the
blood The tests started almost stimuli
taneously In London and at Bad Soden
In Germany. from which place it Is re-
ported that the use of the serum has
been uniformly and completely success
full.
The London tests have been most
rigid and searching. and on their re-
suits, of course, depends the value of
the announcement of the discovery be-
fore 1t is published to the world. The
tests in England are being conducted
by independent investigators of the
highest standing who entered upon the
investigation in a spirit which. il not
actually hostile. was at least very
strongly critical.
All these tests are for tuberculosis.