DIABETES AND INSULIN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18498, 7 September 1923, Page 9

DIABETES AND INSULIN.

TRIAL IN AUCKLAND.

,SUPPLY FOR THE HOSPITAL.

CONFLICTING OPINIONS.

The treatment of patients suffering from diabetes by rfteans of Dr. F. A. Bunting's insulin treatment, which has late,y been a subject of discussion in medical circles throughout the world, will shortly be given a trial in the Auckland . District Hospital. A supply of the insulin preparation has been ordered by cablegram by the Hospital Board,' and it is expected to arrive within a few weeks.

Insulin has. already been used in the Wellington Hospital, and the reports from that institution are to the effect' that- tho treatment has been attended with satisfactory results. Dr. H. B. Ewcn/ actingmedical superintendent, in an interview this week, stated that two cases; were being treated, and that thev were proving amenable,. each reacting to insulin. They have been'in., the hospital since thii beginning of August, and one has;gainod. 101b. in weight in a fortnight. Both had been able to treble their diet, showing that, they are benefiting by the treatment. I'oth are bad, and. one of them, who had lost. 6st. in weight, is now putting on weight rapidly. They are gaining strength from the food' they are taking. ■■■■■~ Dr. Eweh stated that insulin could Dot be. called a cure, for th© patients) would have to go on taking it for a very long while, probably for life. In every case th"? treatment is controlled by delicate •laboratory tests, which have to be _ repeated from time to time, and patients have to be carefully watched to ne'e that they: diet does not cause a return of symptoms. Possibly home treatment wou.d come in time, but the quantity required would vary according; to the condition of the 'patient. " A point which should be emphasised, said Dr. Ewen, was that . the dietary -control of the disease could , not be done away with, and all patientir must continue .on a.' strict diet, but t'ns treatment will enable them to eat mora and have a little more variety than hitherto. This means that they _ will get more strength to earn their living.

. Auckland Doctor's Statement. Although insulin has not yet; been used in the Auckland • Hospital, -it his been used to a limited extent by medical practitioners in the city. One doctor, in speaking on the matter yesterday, remaned that insulin was not a cure, but it enabled people suffering from 1 diabetes to live under more comfortable conditions than previously. They were enabled to take more liberal diet, their lives wore prolonged, and, generally, their lot was made more tolerable. It was necessary, ■ however, that they should.be kept constantly under observation, and that bicod anil other tests should. be made at :frequent intervals. . ' . ~ There was nothing wonderful in insulin, he said, but it certainly relieved patients of a portion of their sufferings. v 4. An addition to the already conflicting mass of. opinion regarding insulin is: contained in the last issue of the Australian Medical Journal. " .. , e The • journal asserts that hundreds •01 diabetics will be hastened to their graves by -Insulin' before the full therapeatic significance of the preparation can lie ascertained. It considers that the public has been misled by the many articles, on the sub ject in a' section of the daily press, and sufficient is not yet known about the preparation to justify the extravagant claims made for it. But, though public propaganda has been employed to create a demand oh' the part of patients; for this form of- treatment, the public, the . journal, remarks, ;■ has - been": 'told much concerning tl\e; remedy which is not - true, anil in consequence is . convinced that diafcetes •• can be cured by this means. i . Experience with Tuberculin. In support of this assertion, t'ne Medical • Journal . quotes a similar tragedy o1 blind-faith which occurred at tha time 0 t,h«i .introduction of ' tuberculin, whet ghsistly results attended the' wholesale mis use of this pptent remedy, following upoi the demand of the public. > ; The article,' in emphasising tin? unenvi able position in which the medical/ profeif sional is placed when patients c.eunand 1 certain form of treatment, advises prao titimers. to refuse to bear the response bility for the insulin treatmei'/t unless facilities for \ continuous observation aij possessed. -. • ...- >. ' ; : ! i . ■ J It is- not yet known under • 'ffhat <g. cumstanceai the insulin preparrftion y a safely be - used, and • it is considered /.hi the treatment should not be applied .' an thorough . investigations and . arflings' have been made for its control., -j W' ,at tl Medical Journal ; possesses v fen' / decide views on the matter is evide' AceJ in the concluding opinion that th* : sooner tl public \ can be persuaded tf> /forget tl: word insulin the better it v.friV be for th unfortunate: victims» of the , Vji canny di eAsjle of diabetes. ' * ' « ( : . ;U Favourable American / Reports. ■•''A' '■ quite recent case treaty d with insuli is 'Mr.' Robert Lansing,; fa rmer; America Secretary of State,, Vi.reported to I rapidly recovering from/ a ; comparative! advanced • state of dialer ea, through bein treated with insulin V jn/ one of the hosp tals at the American \cf ij>ital. • - An American' report j» a tes: "Inscilin is s successful that Dr. Jf .slm, of lOaton, hj lost only seven of 15? i diabetes patients 1 whom he gave the y jsulin treatment sine lasit August. It 1c oks as if Dr. Bantiii has opened the gatrea to, a permanent cui for diabetes, whicV 1 kills ope in every hui ' ,dred," ' / -f -■, ...