ANOTHER AFFLICTION CONQUERED.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 20 September 1928, Page 5

ANOTHER AFFLICTION CONQUERED.

LIVER TREATMENT FOR ANAEMIA The “Lancet "-r-the conservative English medical journal—states that the overwhelming mass of evidence confirms “what has been the general experience throughout the world since this method of treatment was introduced by G. R. Minot and W. P. Murphy, of Boston, UjS.A'., that in liver, whether taken whole or in the form ,of some suitable extract, there exists a specific remedy for this hitherto incurable disease. The introduction of the Minof-Murphy treatment ranks as one of the most sensational episodes in the history of medicine. “Two years ago there would have been few medical men credulous enough to believe in the possibility of s,o simple and yet so specific a cure for a hopeless condition. To-day the consensus of opinion as to the efficacy of the treatment is complete. “How much a simple and specific treatment for so well-recognised a condition should have escaped detection for so long is amazing. Liver forms an article of diet among the peoples of the world; pernicious anaemia is a widespread disease; is it possible that no one before Drs. Minot and Murphy ever brought the patient and the cure together? Search in the backwaters of medical history may provide an answer. ,r , Dr. Stanley Davidson, Dr. J. G. MeCrio and Dr. G. Lovell Gulland,. in a contribution to the “ Lancet,’ ’ made the following statement which will interest the ordinary layman: “The evidence as to the beneficial action of liver is of two kinds. There is first the fact that no case of pernicious anaemia, treated by Minot and Murphy with a high liver diet, has failed to respond. Moreover, no case, having improved and continuing to take the treatment, has so far relapsed. It is certain that many of these cases during the past three years would have relapsed on any former method of treatment., • “So far, not one of the cases quoted has relapsed, but we are not prepared until further time has passed, to make any definite assertions on this point. Secondly, there is the direct evidence of the. regenerating effect of liver on the bone-marrow, as adduced from the presence of increased numbers of reticulocytes in the circulating blood. “It is important to notice that liver treatment is effectual at any age, and still more that it acts just as well in chronic ■ cases as in acute ones, “It appears to be immaterial to the success of the treatment whether the patient is in his first attack or has suffered several relapses. It seems to be a matter of indifference whether the patient is treated with liver or with the liver extracts which we have tested, All the latter, seem to be efficacious, and it will be a matter of personal liking and convenience whether liver or the extract is chosen for such treatment. * “ Life, ’ * 1/8/28;