Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-11-29

WASHINGTON! NOV z5.DCldui-
moogra oil, which has brought hope
to ieperS all over the world, may
also prove a boon to sufferers from
tuberculosis. The germs of the two
diseases are so similar that 1T oc-
Cured to doctors that injections OF
the leprosy remedy might possibly
have a beneficial effect on tubercu-
losiS.
Accordingly, experiments with this
oil are now being made on labora-
tory animals by Government doc
tors. AS yet. they have not reached
a stage at which reports of success
or failure can be given out.
This is the latest promising study
of a tuberculosis remedy. There are
many false alarms OF infallible cures.
There are now more than 500 social
ed cures in use which are regarded
by exports as valueless, but which,
nevertheless, draw SIS, 100000 from
credulous sufferers every year.
Despite this ever growing flood of
useless cures. the medical profession
watches hopefully every intelligent
experiment. The established treat
ment for consumption is the rest
cure, which consists mainly of sufi-
cient sleep in the fresh air, nourish-
ing food, moderate exercise, and
mastery Of the art of relaxation.
The rest cure builds up the body.
The cells are strengthened so that
the poison of the germ no longer is
able to destroy them. Sears form
over the diseased area, and as the
body continues to improve in health
the spread of the germs is arrested.
That IS. this process takes place If
the disease has not gone too far.
Supplementary treatments are al
ways being studied and investigated,
however, in the hope of finding some
artificial way of destroying the germ
of tuberculosis without injury to
the patient.
Doctors have long speculated as
to whether a ~tuberculin containing
live germs of the disease could i'm
munize d m being. Animals
have been so immunized, but the
danger of injecting virulent baccilt
of tuberculosis into patients at this
experimental stage is of the theory
is regarded as too great. Scientists
are still working on this problem,
and one specialist says that it offers
at present the only real hope of a
specific based on scientific facts.
Compressed Air Cure
The latest treatment to be widely
accepted by SPECIALISTS is use of
compressed air, or in medical terms
artificial pn~eumothorax. In cases
where only one lung is affected,
compressed air is being successfully
used at sanatoria in this country and
in Europe.
For diagnosis and for observation
Of a diseased part. the X-Ray a
proved valuable. II has W. been
successful as a c of treating
lung cases. but it has proved bene-
fetal in treating tuberculosis of
glands in any part of the body,
where the disease is near the sur
face.
Heliotherapy, or light treatment.
has its supporters among well known
tuberculosis experts. Sunlight Is a
powerful agent in building up the
body. and besides, lying in the
warmth and glow of the light puts
the patient in a cheerful frame OF
mind, which is an asset in any rest
treatment.
Application of light. X-Rays. tu-
~berculins. compressed air, and a few
other forms of treatment r given
in sanatoria and by competent doc
.. bt&ad21 k1A1R& ~ 49,
other treatments in addition to the
all important rest cure, many tu-
berculosis patients are persuaded TO
try out on themselves all sorts OF
advertised cures"
So far no drug or combination OF
drugs haa been accepted as a speci-
fic remedy for tuberculosis by the
medical profession A number OF
the National Association for the
Study and Prevention of Tubercu-
losis has said:
1T is not 90 much to state en-
phatically that you cannot buy from
any druggist in the United States a
medicine or mixture that will cure
Tuberculosis"
The Journal of the Medical Asso-
citation at one time urged people to
write to II before trying advertised
or recommended "cures." These
organizations have a number or
times pointed out that some of the
remedies that premise absolute cure
in a few months contain drugs that
deaden pain and give the patient a
false sense Of imp ovement for a
while. When the drug loses its first
strong effect, the patient is no better
than before, and often worse.
Don't Trust Testimonials
The tuberculosis association shows
that testimonials announcing abso-
lutte cures by a remedy are often
written a few weeks after taking II