THE SPAHLINGER CURE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XVIII, Issue 1858, 6 September 1923, Page 7

THE SPAHLINGER CURE.

WHAT NEW ZEALAND IS DOING.

DEVELOPMENTS CLOSELY FOLLOWED.

The following letter has been issued by the Health Department to the various hospital boards in the Dominion:—

"As there appears to be considerable misconception in regard to the Spahlinger treatment for tuberculosis and-lack of knowledge of the efforts made by the Department of Health to obtain these preparations for use in the Dominion it is desirable to recapitulate briefly the facts to date. The Spahlinger treatment was first brought under notice of the department and the New Zealand public in a cablegram from London, dated February 17, 1921. This cablegram, which appeared in the press of the Dominion, stated that the Ministry of Health, England, was despatching a tuberculosis specialist to Geneva to investigate a new form of treatment discovered by M. Spahlinger, of that city. A week later the department cabled to the High Commissioner, London, asking him to make inquiries into the matter, and if reports were favourable to endeavour to obtain supplies for use in New Zealand. As the result of his inquiries the latter found that there were no prospects of supplies being obtainable for some months to come. The general impression amongst the medical men whom he consulted was that the disclosure of the treatment was premature, both on account of the impossibility of providing supplies of the preparation and the fact that the clinical evidence in support of their value was inconclusive. SMALL SUPPLY OBTAINED. "In July, 1921, the High Commissioner inquired from the English Ministry of Health whether the special serum and vaccines were yet procur : able, but was advised that they were not. In September of the same year, whilst in Geneva, he personally visited M. Spahlinger's laboratory, and was promised a supply of the latter's preparations. In September, 1922, the next noteworthy incident occurred, the High Commissioner obtaining from M. Spahlinger a small supply of the long-promised serum and vaccine. These preparations, by the special request of M. Spahlinger, were sent to New Zealand to be used by a New Zealand doctor, who had spent some little time in Geneva and familiarised himself with M. Spahlinger's methods. The quantity supplied was all too small, there being only sufficient partial serum to treat two cases and a small amount of vaccine. The question of New Zealand entering into a contract with M. Spahlinger was considered at this stage, but was decided against. It was thought that New Zealand would be unwise to make an independent agreement, but should rather throw in its lot with England and other parts of the Empire. PREMATURE PUBLICITY. "The attitude of the British Ministry of Health throughout has been most sympathetic, but before pushing the treatment it has deemed it wise to carry out experimental trials of the preparations under satisfactory conditions of study. The insurmountable obstacle has been that M. Spahlinger is unable to furnish any material for this purpose. According to recent advices, it will be some three or four years at the earliest before he will be in a position to supply his complete serum in any quantity. Enough has been said to show that the Government left no stone unturned in its effort to obtain these preparations for New Zealand. The High Commissioner especially has devoted a great deal of time and trouble to the quest. It is a matter for great regret that the premature publication of M. Spahlinger's investigations has aroused false hopes among those suffering from tuberculosis. For this, however, the Department is in no way to blame. The difficulty in obtaining supplies of the serum and vaccine is not confined to Government Departments. In conclusion, it should be added that recent advices have been received of a special vaccine prepared by Professor Dreyer, of Oxford, which had ', been reported upon encouragingly. The Department had cabled for a suppy in order to make extended trials."