The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1922-01-20
tuberculosis May
Lose Its Terror.
Discovery of Cure, Announced From
Paris. Arouses Interest of
Doctors Here.

Keen interest has been aroused in
medical circles in this city over the
recent announcement from Paris that
a certain cure for tuberculosis has
been discovered in the radializine of
the spleen with small doses of the
X-ray.
The treatment is unknown at the
Henry Phipps Institute for the treat.
ment of tuberculosis, at Seventh and
Lombard streets. Nevertheless, ply
sicians connected with that hospital
said yesterday they believed its pos
sibilities merited the most thorough
investigation.
The method of treatment has been
outlined by DR.. Ivan Manoukhin, a
young Russian pathologist, before the
French society for the Study of Tu-
berculosis. DR.. Manoukhin claimed
to have cured 5000 cases Of tubercu-
losis recently in Petrograd by merely
exposing the area around the spleen,
and losing only sixty-eight in the
same period.
This method is said by the Russian
physician to provide cure, not only
for tuberculosis and pulmonary con-
sumption, but for all infectious dis
eases as well whose removal depends
upon successful campaign against
germs in the blood.
The method itself consists chiefly
of radializing the spleen with small
doses of Roentgen rays in such a way
as to cause it to produce certain
soluble ferments known as leuco-
cytolysins. These ferments may be
developed sufficiently to successfully
counteract the germs Of infectious
diseases, it is claimed.
DIR. Edward Krumbhaar, of the city
laboratories in the Philadelphia Gen.
eral Hospital, an admitted authority
on the spleen, when told Of the treat.
ment, declared that it was not at all
impossible and offered fruitful field
for experimentation for all blood dis
eases.
"The function of the spleen is not
exactly known, and has never been
discovered" DR.. Krimbhaar said. "It
manifestly has function, however,
and DIR. Manoukhin's discovery may
have revealed it."
DIR. F. F. Borzell, president of the
Philadelphia Roentgen Ray Society,
also admitted his unfamiliarity with
the treatment, but announced his in
tention of studying the Paris reports
of the work of the Russian physician.
"The stimulation of the glands of the
body with the X-rays is not at all
new" DR.. Borzell said. "But the use
of the rays on the spleen with the
view of treating tuberculosis sounds
quite interesting.
Dispatches from Paris indicate that
Dr.. Manoukhfn has treated twenty
twespationts-s.x~<s <sSe k'onaT czinic, anoy
according to physicians there, all
have showed marked Improvement.
Fourteen are said to be virtually con-
valescent. The physician is well
known at the Pasteur Institute, where
he completed his studies Immediately
prior to the war.
The young Russian explains his
principle and method as follows:
Between the white corpuscles in
the blood and the disease germs con-
tinual war is being waged. Health is
dependent upon victory for the white
corpuscles. This can be had by re-
leasing into the blood leucytolysins,
or soluble ferments, which find can
be produced by enlarging tho activity
of the spleen. The ferments
strengthen the white corpuscles in
their conflict with disease. This
strengthening may be accomplished
by bringing Roentgen rays to bear
upon the spleen in small quantities."
Public Ledger.