TESTING CURES

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 856, 27 December 1929, Page 8

TESTING CURES

TUBERCULOSIS AND CANCER STATE’S INVESTIGATIONS (From Our Resident Reporter) WELLINGTON, Today. A full year will elapse before com* plete tests can be made with the Rev. J. Ward’s preparation, which it in claimed has cured tuberculosis, according to a Health Department statement today. Tbe mixture used by Mr. Ward consists of a herb which grows in North Auckland, and some mineral salff. The salts are now being analysed, but the herb is not known to possess any qualities other than those of a sedative. It is not even a stimulant. The difficulty in approaching the cure; of tuberculosis has been to obtain a disinfectant strong enough to kill the germs without killing the patient. The herb is not known to own any qualities as a disinfectant. In conjunction with Dr. Gilbert Maclean, superintendent of Pukeora Sanatorium, the Government institution at Waipukurau, the Health Department is now carefully examining the preparation and the evidence which has been collected in support of the claims made for it. Claims of cures are frequently made by various people, but a large majority of the claims made by even medical men are found on investigation to be without proper foundation. Another remarkable cure which has been claimed is that of L. N. White, who was suffering from cancer. This case is also being examined, and a questionnaire has been sent to the*Auckland Hospital for it to fill in one or two points in the chain of evidence. It appears that White undoubtedly suffered from a cancerous growth when originally admitted to the hospital, and that he was readmitted on bis own statement that he was suffering from cancer, but that the case sheet* on his discharge showed that the cancer was undiscovered. Therefore a new light is thrown on the claim that White has been cured of the disease.