Evening star., 1952-02-23
TB-ondMon at His Best

Even though 1t may sometimes seem that
man is perversely dedicated to tormenting him.
self and devising instruments for his own de.
struction, the truth Is that he has been devoting
at least little bit Of his thought and energy to
the constructive tasks Of life. dramatic case In
point-a development full Of extraordinarily
bright possinilities--is the announcement that
ne has fashioned formidable new weapons that
may enable him, OF long last, TO win decisive
victory In his age-old fasht against the dread
scourge Of tuberculosis.
The weapons are chemicals that have been
Syrtheslzed BY researchers associated with two
Of the Nations great pharmaceutical companies
Hoffman.La Roche, Inc, OF Nutley, N. j., and
ID. r. squibb q Sons OF New York. Growing out
OF work done In Germany as Ear back Oh 1919
the new compounds are technically described 90
isomers OF nlaen--the anti-pellagra Vltamir-
but they have been given the trade names of
Rimifon and Nydrazld, and IN the near future
they probably will be available In quantity, at
relatively low cost for the treatment Of tubercular
cases In addition they are expected TO lead TO
the development OF very large family Of deriva.
tive drugs OF potentially wondrouS nature,
In themselves, although the National Tuber.
oulo1lS Association has warned that II would be
much too premature TO regard them 90 "Cures,"
Rlmlfon and NydrAsd have already worked won.
der. Thus. by way Of illustration. they have
brought about swift and apparently lasting fe.
ooveFleS In almost 200 TB victims In the New
York area, Before having started 10 take the new
drugs-by ffiouth-these individuals had failed
10 respond 20 any OF the usual methods OF treat
meht ana their cases were regarded % hopeless,
with death waiting 10 take them at on early date,
The experimental drugs, however, changed oil
that, restoring appetite, weight, vgeF and nor.
mai temperature In O way that makes the WeFd
miraculous" seem quite fitting,
With proper professional prudence, the au.
theFltles most closely associated with this deVels
epment have been at pains TO caution the public
against jumping TO eVeF-optimistie conclusions,
Pointing out that there may yet DO Felapaes In
the recovered cases and that the extremely tough
TB bacillus may build up an immunity to Rimi.
Ton and NydFasid, they have declared that judg-
ment must be reserved pending further clinical
trials, Even 90, the results achieved to date
plainly indicate the possibility, II not the proba-
bility, Of conquering the deadliest of all the
infectious diseases disease that kills about
$4,000 Americans every year and invalids scores
of thousands Of others throughout the country,
not to mention the world.
Indeed, so promising are the new drugs that
New YorkS Commissioner of Hospitals, while
emphasizing the "ifs" involved has suggested
that he may be able to suspend plans to build
additional tubercular institutions and that it may
be possible to devise effective home treatment
procedures putting an end to the citys annual
expenditure Of about $18 million on some 5000
hospitalized TB PATIENTS prospect that holds
true for cities everywhere. Thus though over
shadowed by headlines about war, the story of
Rimifon and Nydrazid may well take its place in
history as one Of the most significant of the
century. Man, after all, is still capable OF en-
ploying his God-given genius to great and good
ends.