The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-09-21
Is
by Doctors
Use Of New Drug, Heralded
as Diabetes Remedy; Dem
onstrated at Medical
Meeting Here.
Omaha Children Aided

Astonishing results produced in
Omaha by the use of insulin. the
widely heralded new remedy for dia-
betes, were featured at clinics this
morning in connection with the Mis-
souri, Valley Medical association at
Lord Lister and st. Joseph hospitals.
Two children-Marjorie, IL, and
Raymond, 14-who would have been
doomed before the discovery Of the
new remedy year ago, were among
seven cases presented at the Lord
Lister hospital. A number of cases
were also brought in at st. Joseph
hospital.
Not Permanent Cure.
Although injections of insulin pro-
duce almost immediate relief from the
blood poisoning, which is the most
alarming feature Of diabetes. 1t does
not make cure, emphasized DR..
Adolph Sachs of the latter institution.
1t is considered by physicians as an
invaluable aid to the dietary treat
ment already in use, but does not
replace the diet, and is advisable only
in the most severe cases. he said.
Many diabetes, declared DIR. Sachs.
come to the hospital expecting to re-
ceive single dose of insulin and be
cured for all time. In reality q
course of hospital treatment is before
them II they are to reach point
where they can exist without daily
hypodermic injections Of this expen-
sive and dangerous substance.
Danger OF Misuse.
The danger of a misuse of the Sc
cretion was among the points raised by
DR.. Frank Conlin at the Lord Lister
hospital. A little too much OF the
substance will reduce the sugar In
the blood below the normal level and
may send the patient into convulsions.
Diabetic patients who are kept on in
sulin for a long time can be trained
to administer their own injections and
remedies, said DIR. Conlin, but they
cannot do so without liberal educa-
ton In the handling of the secretion.
OF the two children who appeared
at the Lord Lister hospital, Marjorie.
IL, was on the point Of sinking into
coma when brought to the hospital.
milligrams of sugar in the blood.
whereas, the normal is from 80 to 14o
milligrams. After month and three
days In the hospital. receiving both
insulin and dietary treatment, Mar
jorie's blood supply Is normal. she
has gained 10 pounds and is able
to play about. Gradually her system
is building up a tolerance which will
make 1t possible for her to do with
out insulin.
Boy Gains Weight.
Raymond. IA, Is building a radio
set for the hospital and talks about
diabetes like a specialist. When he
came he weighed 5S pounds and was
so severely Ill that he would have
been given up as hopeless without
the new secretion. With very small
doses of insulin and with low main
tenance diet, he IL now a lively speci-
men of boy and is gaining weight
In spite of severe diet restrictions.
In two cases Of diabetic coma OBJ
served near Omaha. continued DIR.
Conlin. the diabetic poisons which
produced the coma were destroyed In
few hours by insulin. In both
cases, however. the patient died be-
cause the patient had been so weak
ened by long poisoning that some.
thing else gave way, even after the
blood was normal. Formerly a pa
tient in diabetic coma had no chance
of recovery: now he has a chance II
lnsuin is administered early enough.
Sources Of Supply.
Insulin was given to the world
about a year ago by DIR. Banning OF
Philadelphia. At first It could only
be manufactured from the pancreas
glands OF oxen. but now is obtained
also from the pancreas of sharks and
even manufactured from vegetables
Forty physicians crowded the tiny
clinic room at the Lord Lister hos
pital to hear the l,cture. and nearly
as many more were at st. Joseph
hospital. Clinics on other subjects
were held simultaneously at the, uni
versity of Nebraska hospital and the
Methodist hospital.