CAUTION ADVISED

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 140, 10 December 1926, Page 8

CAUTION ADVISED

SPAHLINGER TREATMENT

VIEWS OF MEDICAL MEN

A CURB NOT YET CLAIMED,

The cable message published yesterday, relating to tho Spahlingcr experiments, was referred by "Tho Tost" to medical authorities, who pointed out that the experiments described referred to only one stage in M. Spahlingcr's endeavour to establish the value of his sera, which ha claimed would euro consumption. All that the experiment amounts to is that M. Spsvilinger has prepared a vaccino which, when inoculated into healthy cattle, prevents their acquiring tuberculosis when experimentally inoculated with the disease.

Other investigators, such, for cxamnle, as Professor A. Calmetto, Associate Director of the Pasteur Institute, Paris, agree that vaccines of this kind can prevent the disease under certain circumstances. Professor Calmotte and other medical scientists have obtained equal results not only in the inoculation of cattle, but also of children. It should be borne in mind, however, that a cur 9 for consumption—that is, of those persons who have already acquired the disease —has noj; yet been produced. BRITISH MEDICAL INQUIRY.

In 1922 Sir George Newman, Chief Medical Officer of the British Ministry of Health, reported on M. Spahlinger'a claims as follows: — "M. Henri Spahlinger, a Swiss bacteriologist, who holds no medical qualifications, has devoted himself to bacteriological research since the year 1907; he first worked at the serology of typhoid, tetanus, and other diseases, but for the past eleven, years he has devoted his attention exclusively to tuberculosis.

"In 1920 special medical inquiry was made aid all the testimony then available was considered; this evidence included clinical reports from physicians practising at Geneva, Montana, Hamburg, and London. "In 1922, through the courtesy of M. Spahlinger, a medical officer of the British Ministry of Health (Dr. MaoNalty) was enabled to visit the Bae-terio-Thcrapeutic Institute, Geneva, and to inquire into the method. Dr. MacNalty submitted a full report upon his investigation, the essential features of which were as follow: — '' (1) M. Spahlinger controls ana directs the work of his large well-equip-ped Bacteriological Institute and experimental farm, and tho staff have all been trained by him in his own personal methods.

"(2) M. Spahlinger claims to have discovered: (a) A complete serum containing 22 different anti-toxins to tuberculosis; to these he adds anti-toxins against mixed infections. This serum is used in the treatment of acute and advanced cases of tuberculosis. According to M. Spahlinger, this serum only combats the toxins of tuberculosis circulating in the body and exerts no bactericidal effect, so that in tho majority of cases the patient relapses when the administration of serum is discontinued. (b) A complete vaccine containing four different antigens. M. Spahlinger states that this has a bactericidal effect and is suitable for early cases and for those advanced cases of tuberculosis which have received a preliminary course of serum treatment.

"At present the details and the technique adopted in the preparation of the serum and vaccine remain undisclosed by M. Spahiinger, and an opinion cannot therefore be expressed of the scientific value of his work from a bacteriological standpoint.''

So far as Dr. MacNalty was in a position to judge, the clinical results of treatment both by the serum and the vaccine had in some cases been striking.

After consideration of this report, it was intimated to M. Spahlinger, through unofficial channels, that with his consent the British MirfTstry of Health, would be prepared to appoint a committee of recognised medical experts who would assess the results of his method in a number of cases to bo selected by a physician nominated by him, and, after due trial, report on the value of the treatment. M. Spahlinger was informed that he would not be required to divulge the technique by which the serum and vaccine are prepared. Unfortunately, at that time M. Spahlinger was unable to accept the offer. In 1914 he had practically exhausted his supply of complete serum and complete vaccine. Since that date he has continued the preparation of partial serum in small quantities, and has used it for the treatment of a few cases. The preparation of the complete serum appears to be a long and complicated process, and M. Spahlinger is at present unable to assign a definite date for the production of the serum in large quantities for gen eral use, or even- for the purposes of an experimental investigation such as that still proposed by the British Ministry of Health.

LATEST MEDICAL COMMENT.

In his last annual report, Sir George Newman said: "During the past year a number of requests for information as to the Health Department'a attitude in relation to the Spahlinger treatment have been received from local authorities. The situation is unchanged from that stated in my annual report for the year 1924; but it may be desirable here to re-state the position. In 1922, a medical officer of tho Health Department visited M. Spahlinger's laboratory at Geneva and examined a number of cases of tuberculosis which had been treated with complete sera and vaccines. He reported that from the clinical aspect a. prima facie case appeared to bo made out for further investigation. Accordingly M. Spahlinger was unofficially approached on the subject of arrangements for an immediate special investigation of the method of treatment by the Ministry of Health. Unfortunately, he was unable at that time to provido material f<jr tho purposes of a scientific investigation, even of a limited character, into the clinical efficacy of his preparations. It is understood that M. Spahlinger is still proceeding with his investigations for the purposo of preparing supplies of the complete sera and vaccines, but at present no fixed date can be assigned at which they will bo available. The Minister has offered to have a trial made of M. Spahlinger's preparations in this country as soon as sufficient material has been prepared for the purpose of an investigation.''