Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-11-29

WASHINGTON, D. c., Nov. 23.-Chaul-
moogra, which has brought hope to lepers
all over the world, may also prove boon to
sufferers rom tuberculosis. The germs OF
the two diseases are so similar that 1T Oc-
Cured to doctors that injections of the lep-
rosy remedy might possibly have beneficial
effect on tuberculosis.
Accordingly, experiments with this oil are
now being made on laboratory animals by
Government doctors. 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 so-called cures in use which
are regarded by experts as Valueless, but
which, nevertheless, draw $15,OO0,OOO from
credulOus sufferers every, year.
Despite this ever-growing flood of useless
cures, the medical profession watches hope
fully every intelligent experiment. The es-
tablished treatment for consumption is the
rest ere, which consists mainly of sufficient
sleep in the fres,1 air, nourishing food, mod
crate exercise, and mastery of the art OF re-
taxation.
This rest cure builds up the body. The
cells are strengthened so that the poison of
the germ no longer is able to destroy them
Scars form over the diseased area, and as
the body continues to improve IL 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 always be-
ing studied and investigated, however, In
the hopo of finding some artificial way OF
destroying tic germ Of tuberculosis without
injury to the patient.
Doctors have long speculated as to whether
tuberculin containing live germs of the
disease cou immuniZe human being. AMI
mails have been so immunlzed, but the dan
ger of injecting virulent bacilli of tuberculo-
sis into patients at this experimental stage is
of "a thnOrU regarded. great.
Scientists are still working on this problem
and one specialist says that it offers at pres
ent the only real hope of a specific based
on scientific facts.
Compressed Air Cure
The latest treatment to be widely accept
ed by specialists is use of compressed air,
or in medical terms artificial pneumothoraX.
In cases where only one lung is affected,
compressed air is being success fully used at
sanatoria in this country and in Europe.
For diagnosis and for observation OF
diseased part, the X-ray has proved valuable.
1t has never been successful as means OF
treating lung cases, ut i has proved bene-
fetal in treating tuberculosis of glands in
any part of the body, where the disease is
near the surface.
Heliotherapy, or light treatment, has its
supporters among well-known tuberculosis
experts. Sunlight is powerful agent In
building up the body, and besides, lying in
the warmth and glow of the lights puts the
4
is an asset in any rest treatment.
Application of light, X-rays, tubercullns,
compressed air, and few other forms OF
treatment are given in sanatoria and by
competent DOCTORS Because these experts
use other treatments in addition to the all
| important rest cure, many tuberculosis pa
| tients are persuaded to try out on themselves
| all sorts of advertised "cures."
| So far no drug combination of drugs
| has been accepted as a specific remedy for
! tuberculosis by the medical profession.
member of the National Association for the
| Study and Prr~ention of Tuberculosis has
said:
''It is not too much to state emnhatically
| that you can not buy from any druggist
! in the United States a medicine CT mixture
that will cure tuberculosis"
| The Journal of the Medical Association at
one time urged people to write tC it before
| trying advertised or recommended cures
These organizations have a number of times
pointed out that some of the remedies that
promise absolute cure in few months con-
tain drugs which deaden pain and give the
patient. false sense of improvement for a
while. When the drug loses it's first strong
effect, the patient is no better than before,
and often worse.
Don't Trust Testimonials
The tuberculosis association shows that