THE FRIEDMANN CURE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1099, 20 May 1913, Page 4

THE FRIEDMANN CURE.

SALE TO AMERICAN DRUGGISTS.

A recent cable to the Sydney Sun published last week, stated that Dr. Friedmann had completed arrangements for the sale ot the American rights for his tuberculosis serum. He was to receive ,£25,000 cash and ,£360,000 worth of stock in thirty-six Friedmann Institutes that were to be organised. A large wholesale drug house was named as the purchaser. A Commercial Proposition.

The New York Suu of April Ist, published the following particulars of the above transactions, as far as was then known :

A proposal has been made to Dr. Friedrich Franz Friedmann, of Berlin, by the American Druggists’ Syndicate, for the purchase of the exclusive manufacture and sale rights ot his tuberculosis culture. The terms of the proposal are as yet indefinite, and Dr. Friedmann has not given any indication as to whether or not when completed they will be accepted or rejected. The news of the desire of the drug syndicate to acquire the Friedmann remedy lor putting it on the market came as the culmination of many secret conferences which are known to have occupied the attention of the Friedmann party for several days. There have been constant rumours to the effect that large offers had been made to the Berlin specialist for his discovery, but Dr. Friedmann has disposed of them by saying that he was merely considering plans for the instruction of a body of physicians in the secrets of his preparation. That the American Druggists’ Syndicate was trying to obtain the exclusive rights of the culture was confirmed by Dr. J. Jungmann, the third vice-president of the concern and the man through whom negotiations have been made. Dr. Friedmann and his brother, Dr, A. H. Friedmann, said that the overtures of the drug company had been more of a social nature.

According to Dr. Jungmaun, if the deal goes through, Dr. Friedmann will hand over to the syndicate all the secrets of the culture and administration of his tuberculosis remedy. It would mean that men from the drug company would have to take some course of instruction under the Berlin doctor, besides being told exactly how the final injecting fluid is derived from the culture of turtle bacilli. This transformation step and the method of administration are the secrets of the treatment. The method of deriving the primary culture was made public last January in Berlin, and a purported exposure of the secrets printed in a newspaper was said by Dr. Friedmann to be a restatement of what had long ago been published in Germany.

Dr, Jungmann said that Dr, Friedmann is unwilling to consider any offer which will not guarantee that a certain proportion of the preparation manufactured by the company will be turned over in some way to the public gratuitously for the use of dhe ppor. "Dr, Friedmauii is cautious,” said Dr. Jungmauu. ‘‘He has not committed himself one way or the other. IE the transaction goes through the control ol the remedy by us will not only be a source of profit to this .company, but it will also insure the publjc agaipst exploitation that would lose the value of the remedy to mankind. "Free distribution is under con. sideration. But there are many difficulties in the way of final agreement before anything definite can be announced, A plan is t 0 have a certain proportion of sgrum go to certain bodies and public institutions gratuitously for the inoculation of persons who are poor. The sale of the product would be through the regular channels, and would be conducted in an impartial manner.” JU answer to a question, Dr. Jupgmana said that in case the company Ret the remedy it was possible that the manufacture of the product would be under the supervision of the Federal Governmefft, or at least conducted under Government standards. The price which the drug company is to give for the remedy is not stated.

Medical men disapprove the scheme. One doctor said : “If Dr. Friedmann sells out in this way he will gain the lasting antagonism of the American Medical Association as well as the public and the American Government. Such commercialism is against all ethics and would make him merely # patent medicine doctor. It would destroy the effect of his scientific work. ’ ’