FIGHTING DISEASE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 312, 26 September 1908, Page 11

FIGHTING DISEASE.

DOCTOR'S OPTIMISTIC FORECAST. • "NATURE'S WAY REVEALED/' A remarkable address was delivered at Sheffield recently in connection with the Congress of the British Medical Association by Dr. James Kingston Fowler, M.A., F.R.C.P., Dean of the' Faculty of Jfcdicino in'tho University of Loudon. The Firth Hall of' Sheffield University, where the members assembled, was crowded. Tho past thirty years, Dr. Fowler said, had been marked by an immense advance in the knowledge of infectious diseases, and it needed 110 great prescienco to foretell that in: the. prevention and treatment of those affections ■ they or their successors would witness even greatfer triumphs. No subject, porliaps, was exciting greater interest in the profession to-day than the treatment of bacterial infections by tho inoculation of vaccines. Whilst faddists and politicians had been, and still wero, endeavouring to prevent the peopleof this country from rendering themselves immuno to smallpox, vacciuaation had gradually acquired a wider and wider meaning, until now the principle underlying its action had becomo tho basis of tho most advanced medicine of to-day. "Thus may science over confound her enemies 1" Dr. Fowler exclaimed. Tho process followed by Nature in the cure of an infectious disease, and in conferring upon the individual immunity to it in tho future, stood now to some extent revealed. The first stage in this march of science ended with the proof that organisms wero the cause of infectious diseases. The second closed with the demonstration that by cultivating tho bacteria under artificial conditions their pathogenic virulence could bo greatly reduccd, and that whilst an animal could be killed with a very small dose of the organism freshly isolated, a similar or larger dose of the attenuated virus would produce only a slight illness.' Tho third stage toward the desired goal was reached when it was shown that tho animal thereafter was protected against repeated doses of tho actively virulent culture of the organism, and that 'the artificial production of immunity had been attained. Up to this point there was 110 difference of opinion; but beyond it rival theories contended for mastery. ■ ONE OF LIFE'S TRAGEDIES.: ? . Dr. Fowler then proceeded to deal with tho treatment of pneumonia and other pneu-' mococal infections by vaccines derived from tho patient's own organism, which had. not so far been attended by .any marked success.; But the results of-Continental and ; American| observers "warranted a serious investigation into, tho method which should, he thought, l 'bo carried 011 simultaneously in the general hospitals; throughout'.the country. '.';The day, if it arrives,'/When pneumonia can be'.succcss-' fully, treated by a vaccine will, indeed, "'said the speaker, " bo memorable in tho history of medicine, and to the man who introduces-tho method mankind will owe' a debt' of gratitude' hardly less than they now owe to' Jenner, Pasteur,-and Lister. Some.of life's,greatest' tragedies centre round: pneumonia, and we must/' all. hope' to 'live to . witness; tho time when we .can', treat it;with.:greater succcss than now attends our. efforts:" ;. . /'Perhaps the greatest degree of interest attending the employment of "a baqterial. vac•cihc," continued Dr. Fowler, '"centres at the present"'.moment; in its uso in cases of pulmonary tuberculosis." Dealing with sanatoriuin treatment and the'-use .of tuberculin. Dr. Fowler said that when in 1899 lie opened tho ..discussion on the sanatorium • or/ openp.ir treatment of ■ pulmonary .tuberculosis- at the Royal Medico-Chirurgical Society it required sohie courage to advocate what' many thought to be only one mo "o addition to .'tho long-list of remedies which had enjoyed; a short vogue and then disappeared' to- tho limbo of tho forgotten.

ADVANTAGES 01? OPEN AIR... . I look forward to a' mere general use of sanatoriums' for a variety of affections other .than tuberculosis. As the advantages of an. open-air. life,, combined ..with careful medical supervision,' lieco'mo bettor-known .the, seavoyage' which*, so • oftenmeans life'/ in; a windy passage on ; ded:^and*a /stuffy-' cabin •below, and ho hotel at a...health .resort on tho _ Continent 'whe«s:!iisyfen'ssa'. perhaps is rife,; will.bo. replaced by' sanatoria imcorivaloscchcb '.from; acute- disease.'/ . JJy belief .'and hopd. is that' sanatorium (ircatment 'and vaccine therapy '.will 1 provo of 'mutual assistance in our warfare against a disease which is now in retreat, and' over which'thoseT who -;como after- us' may- obtain a complete victory.' •j "There' is no drug . known which. is riot limited .iri its effects by conditions of '-' the body and thq extent of the disease, which latter; in cases of pulmonary. tuberculosis, is generally about throe times greater than tho physical signs indicate. Ought not these facts to give pause to thoso irresponsible directors of the lay press who are careless of,tho hopes they exsit?; or the grief which they cause, so long*, as t-liey obtain sensational 'copy''which will increase tho salo, of their papers?"' - y' Dr; Fowler wont on to relate that recently he saw: a robust-looking officer just arrived from abroad who had been placed in a rather curious predicament by a too blind belief 011 the part' of a military surgeon in the infallibility ■of CalmettoV test for tuberculosis. Tho officer, contemplating marriage, and having some fear that he might bo tuberculous, consented to bo tested. He was assured that if tho reaction did : not occur before tho afternoon of a' certain day ho would be proved to be freo'from any taint. That evening ho' went to a dance, and, confident in his soundness, on meeting tho object of his affections, ho proposed, and was accepted. But, alas, 011 tho following morning tho eyo gave a positivo result. Tom with conflicting emotions, 110 determined to como homo at homo and seek advico, but before ho left his anxiety; was somewhat diminished and his confidence in his medical friend a little shaken on learning that tho whole of tho rest of the polo team had reacted to tho test. (Laughter.) The physician of the future would, Dr. Fowler declared, be an "immunisator."