The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1008. A SERUM FOR CONSUMPTION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2371, 11 December 1908, Page 4

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1008. A SERUM FOR CONSUMPTION.

A despatch from Paris to the New York “Times” announces the discovery by Professor Lannelonguc, a member of the Academy of Medicine, of a serum for the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis. Several of his colleagues, according to the story, have experimented with the new treatment, and declare that it marks a “new step in the campaign” against the disease. Of eleven -patients suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis in the first and second degrees, one doctor reports that the new treatment resulted in the euro or betterment of ton ,while the eleventh died suddenly after showing improvement. Three others have reported “considerable success” alter experimenting with the serum over -a period of eighteen months. It will be noted from the particulars published in another column that the discoverer himself is very modest in his claims for the treatment. The statements of his colleague''; arc also becomingly guarded; and it is evident that no positive announcement of the long-sought and anxiousiy-e, waited “euro” is justified as yet. That the serum will be thoroughly tested goes without saying. The discovery oi a specific for tuberculosis is beyond doubt the most important that could he presently made in the field of medical science, but the danger of a mistaken announcement, that might raise false hopes in the breasts of thousands of sufferers, is thoroughly, understood, and we may bo sure that the scientists as a body will endorse no serum or cure until its efficacy has been absolutely proven.

That a premature announcement would be capable of vast harm is readily apparent even to thoughtful laymen. Tho sum of our positive knowledge concerning tuberculosis is now considerable. The possibility of recovery of sufferers from tuberculosis, in the earlier stages, is, wo believe, universally accepted. So far. indeed, lias the anti-tuberculosis campaign progressed that the more optimistic predict a final victory over the disease, even with the weapons at .hand, within a comparatively short time. Blit in order to attain the hoped-for result, an unremitting campaign of education and a world-wide fight for the prevention of contagion by approved sanitary precautions, are tho first necessities. For the treatment of the. .afflicted a long course of “training,” so to jspeak.. is now considered essential to success. Nature lias been enlisted as consulting physician. Abundance of wholesome and nourishing food, plenty of fresh air and sunshine, patient obedience to instructions on. tho part of the sufferer—these are of the first importance: The effect of a- positive announcement that a panacea had been discovered is not difficult to imagine. Thousands of the sick would be tempted to “break training” on the instant, in the hope of a quicker and less inconvenient cure. Far less attention would be popularly paid to prevention. If tho announcement proved premature, and tho claim unfounded, as so many unfortunately have in the past, the patient work of years might be lost and the disease gain a fresh hold .upon humanity. For laymen, the eminently wise course is to diligently co-operate in the campaign already mapped out, putting no faith in reports of new and revolutionary discoveries until the scientific leaders iii tho great fight are ready to accept them. And what is true of tuberculosis is true also of other diseases which have so far baffled the physicians and for which new cures are continually heralded by unduly optimistic investigators. A vaccine treatment for cancer lias recently been announced by

(mother French scientist’, who believes that he lias discovred and isolated the cancer bacillus. Yet liis colleagues are unwilling thus far to accept the discoverer’s conclusions. 'lhex© is always hope that remedies so diligently sought by investigators of proven merit and- admitted skill may some time be found. The marvellous development of medical science in the past clearly furnishes abundant ground lor optimism. But tho effect of a premature and erroneous? announcement upon sufferers over-ready to believe- in the miraculous, and pitifully prone to snatch at the merest straw of hope, in great degree justifies the conservatism of the physicians and demonstrates the wisdom ol awaiting the trial of a new treatment and tho" verdict of the medical scientists, who are tho only competent and qualified jurors, before its confident acceptance by laymen.