NO RELAPSES

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 25, 21 April 1927, Page 3

NO RELAPSES

Sphalinger Treatment CURES PERMAMENT Spahlinger treated 58 cases of tuberculosis in London in 1913-14, and 80 per cent were cured, asserts a writer in the “Cape Times/' In the ‘ Lancet" of July 21, 1923, pr. Colbeck, senior physician of the City of London Chest Hospital, reported on the 17 cases that had been treated under his supervision, and was able to give information as to the subsequent history of ten of these. Three years before that Dr. Colbeck had certified as follows : I have had the opportunity of seeing lately some of the patients who had Sp. ihlinger’s anti-tubercular treatment under my care in 191314. Six years back they were affected with extensive tubercular lesions, some of them with cavities. Since the end of 1914 these patients have had no treatment whatever. Re-examined in 1920, they show fibrotic change in the lungs, and no trace of active tuberculosis. No cough, no sputum. These patients are in perfect health, and able to carry on their daily occupations. In the same year, 1920, three other doctors certified that patients treated in 1913-14 by M. Spahlinger under their care were still fit and well and at work. Of the 14 cured patients out of the 20 treated under his supervision by M. Spahlinger in 1913-14. Dr. Leonard Williams wrote in 1920 in the following terms: Having re-examined in October, 1920, the patients treated in 191314, I am able to state the remarkable efficiency of Spahlinger’s anti-tubercular method. These old patients have received no sort of anti-tubercular treatment since 1914 During the last six years they have continued at their daily occupations, and have overcome all the effects and privations of the war without relapsing.

In December, 1920, Dr. A. H. Croucher wrote — Being the first doctor to apply Spahlinger’s method for the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis in 1913, I desire to state that all the cases I know, treated and vaccinated six years ago, are still alive at the end of 1920, capable of carrying on uninterruptedly their daily occupations in a normal manner. ABSENCE OF RELAPSES Even to-day, 1927, no case of relapse is known of in any case treated and pronounced cured in 1913-14. I myself saw one of these 1913 cases in Geneva. He was a man whom M. Spahlinger had cured of tuberculosis in both lung and hip. After the war, M. Spahlinger came across him again in London, and, learning that he was in verv poor circumstances, offered him a job at his laboratory. He is one of M. Spahlinger’s laboratory assistants -to-day; he has had no treatment of any kind since 1913 and he is in excellent health. From the quotations that I have given, it will be patent that M. Spahlinger has strong supporters among the medical profession. Indeed, 1 know of no doctor who has used his remedies or seen them used who are not enthusiasts for the treatment. And that, after all, is the real test. It may be well, perhaps, to mention a few names of these authoritative and well-quailtied supporters. Among them are Dr. Camille Savoire, secretary of the Tuberculosis Commission in the French Ministry of the Interior; Dr. Stephani, a Swiss specialist, whom Dr. Savoire describes as “one of the highest authorities on tuberculosis in Europe”; Dr. Charles Cosset. the great French surgeon, who is professor at the University of Paris, and senior surgeon of the Salpetriere; Sir Bruce Hruce-Porter, one of the leaders of Harley Street (I met several of his patients undergoing the Spahlinger treatment in Geneva); and pr. Lardy, president of the Board of Examiners in Medicine at Geneva University. These, with the English names already mentioned, show that M. Spahlinger does not lack for encouragement from doctors who come into immediate contact with his treat-

ment. SURGICAL TUBERCULOSIS If the years 1921-24, when there were only a few old partial sera available, and when the percentage of cures fell accordingly to 43 per cent, are omitted, the average pel - centage of recoveries is about 80 in lung cases, and nearly 100 per cent in surgical cases. With regard to surgical cases. Dr. Leonard W illiams. writing in the “Empire Review” of last December, says: Perhaps the most astonishing feature of his (Spahlinger’s) treatment is its complete mastery over surgical tuberculosis. In all the years I have known him and his methods, amounting now to oy er 13, I have never known him to fail in effecting a complete cure in such cases, and I can recall many which seemed at first to be past all praying for. The Lancashire branch of the B.M.A. adopted its committee’s report, and a resolution reiterating its belief in the Spahlinger treatment. In this case it need have little doubt that it is successfully liviryx up to the Lancashire adage that what Manchester thinks to-day England will think to-morrow. THE PARLIAMENTARY MISSION Another striking piece of evidence is to be found in the report of the expedition of six medical members of the House of Commons, which visited Geneva in 1925 to investigate the treatment and observe its results. The members of the expedition were Dr. Thomas Watts, ex-vice-president of the Lancashire branch of the 8.M.A.; Dr J. H. Williams, chairman of the Edward VII. Memorial Hospital: Dr. A. Vernon Davies, an ex-medical officer of health, of high standing; Dr. A. Salter, who, before he took to politics, had been a research worker in pathology, and for four years bacteriologist to the British Institute of Preventive Medicine; and Dr. T. Drummond Shields, expresident of the • Royal Medical Society. I quote a passage from their report which speaks for itself:

We examined with meticulous care about 50 patients, some cured and well, some partially cured and in process of recovery, and some who were just commencing treatment. Among the latter were several of the gravest severity, which by no means of treatment at present known to the science could be expected to recover. The clinical records of certain cases showed that persons who now appear perfectly fit and well were originally suffering from an advanced stage of consumption. When we saw them, the only evidence of their original condition now detectable was some dulness, indicating where the lungs were healed by fibrosis. Some of these people were following unhealthy occupations, in a very bad environment, yet they remained perfectly fit and well. HOW LONG? To all this I would add my own' humble testimony. I. too, have seen the happy faces of the fortunate few whom M. Spahlinger is restoring to health, after sanatorium and all other treatments have failed them. I have talked with them, and learned how bad they once were. I have seen the X-ray plates of their extraordinary progress. I have seen the new patient who arrives miserable and ill, unable to walk more than a few yards without breathlessness, and ccn-

stantly coughing and spitting into a sputum pot. I have seen how rapidly the new arrival feels the benefit of the life-giving serum. I have seen the patient who departs cured. I have seen how fit and well those look who are nearing the end of their treatment. And I have talked with Spahlinger himself, and recognised the genius and the passionate devotion to science and to humanity that his whole personality gives out. And 1 am left wondering how long the world will choose to neglect this man, and ignore a discovery that is capable of banishing all dread of tuberculosis from the face of the globe.