The Stratford Evening Post. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 1913. CONSUMPTION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 15, 16 January 1913, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 1913. CONSUMPTION.

Tlie Conference of Medical Men recently held in Wellington to discuss the treatment of consumption is making certain recommendations to the Government which the Minister in charge of that Department states will 1)0 made public very shortly. Ho also stated at Auckland the other day th/tt there will bo no delay m giving effect to the advice of the Conference. The methods adopted include the establishment of public dispensaries for combating the disease. Mr. Rhodes added that upon 'the announcement of Professor Friedmann’s treatment he had cabled to the High Commissioner asking for full information. If the treatment was as effective as had been reported, a supply of vaccine would bo secured without delay. The dreadful ravages of tubercular disease in almost every country are such that any method of treatment professing to effect a euro is warmly welcomed. With regard to Dr. Friedmann’s treatment, to which the Minister referred, an authoritative statement was issued in Berlin at a meeting of the Berlin Medical Society on November Gth. Certain misconceptions as to the nature and scope of the remedy have obtained publicity, says the statement, and it is desirable to correct them in view of the immense importance of the subject. It should be clearly understood that Dr. Friedmann and the authorities who support him assert that they have an absolute specific against all forms of tuberculosis, and not only, as has been stated

abroad against tuberculosis of the bones. Sweeping as this statement may appear, Dr. Friedmann takes full responsibility for it. The cure consists in the injection of a serum containing living tubercle bacilli, which he says he has made non-virulent and incapable of producing the disease, while at the same time they retain the curative element (antigens) which since the discoveries of Robert Koch has been shown to exist in these bacteria. As Professor Klcmpener, quoting Koch’s words at a recent meeting of the Berlin Medical Society, said: “That is the right way. Wo have only to find a tubercle bacillus innocuous for human beings which can ho injected living into the human system. Then we shall he able to cure tuberculosis and to confer immunity from it.” This bacillus Dr. Friedmann declares he lias developed by a proces • known only to himself from virulent human tubercle bacilli. So far Dr. Friedmann has not disclosed the nature of tin 1 serum, and iu medical quarters there is a general demand that he should p’acs it at the disposal of the

medical profession as a v. hole. Until tliis lias been done, it is argued, Dr. Friedmann cannot expect the profes-

sion to accept his discovery as final. tVldle, hoping that the discovery may prove to bo as wonderfully beneficial as claimed, a medical correspondent of a leading Home journal says the

reports of complete cures were to be received with all reserve. The cure of tuberculosis by inoculation was something very different from the prevention or arrest of the disease by the

same method, 'vaccination was not the means of curing smallpox. As for tbo uso of vaccines, be remarked that many serums, both bovine and human, were already often employed. Sometimes the two kinds wore mixed. When used with care they did not have dangerous results. In all cases the bacilli were dead. Or. Friedmann, on the other band, announces that be uses living bacilli, although he makes no statement about bis method of obtaining Ids cultures. Tbo reported result was a more certain preventive effect, and also a complete cure even in advanced cases. Concerning such cures the gravest doubts must bo entertained for a long time to come.

PRUSSIAN POLAND Tbo strongest condemnation of the Polish policy of the Prussian Government is being expressed in Bavaria, such policy being held to be both harmful and unjust. The Germans ol Prussian Poland are also making loud protest against tbo expropriation oi Polish estates by the Prussian Government. In order to help the Government in tbo work of Germanising the province of Posen, where sixt\ per cent, of the population are Polish. r Bill was passed by the Prussia! Landtag empowerng the Government to force Polish landowners to sell then estates. Many Conservative Germans were opposed to the measure, on tin ground that it provided the Socialists with an excellent argument for the cx propriation of German estates, am they believed that the Government would realise that they bad made t mistake and make no use of the nev law. Polish estates have recently beer expropriated by the Government, ii order to place German ' colonists or them. In consequence the Poles art boycotting the German 'merchants and tradespeople of the province. Tin injury to German trade is so great tba : the German traders are sending a pe tition, signed by thousands of merchants and tradesmen, pointing on that in order to settle a few colonists on Polish lands the Government ha: cealt a deadly blow at German trade “A political measure,” they state, “has turned the Polish customer out of our shops. Our business is ruined, and our wares remain in onr shops. We German traders do not combine business with politics. We now find ourselves obliged to touch politics on account of the terrible economic con sequences of the application of the Expropriation Law.” ' ' v "’ NEW ZEALAND’S EXPORTS. The value of the principal’ exports ol the Dominion for the year ended 31s December last show nearly 2f mijlioi sterling increase when compared wifi the twelve months of 1911. The Department of Agriculture, Industries, and Commerce circular gives the following details, subject, as to Decern her, 1912, to correction.

Many interesting jjfacts are disclosed h the figures above set out, which are fo. the calendar year—not the Government year ending on 31st March. First there is the substantial increase ii wool values, which speak for them selves, but the quantity of wool ex ported is also larger than in 1911 In 19,000,0001b5., the exact figures being —l9ll, weight 169,461,181 lbs., as against 188,461,083ib5., in 1912. Napier was the biggest wool exporter during the month of December last, with 3,3GG,0001b5. of wool. Meat, which is confined to the British market, shows a substantial increase, and beef, which was a diminishing export, is more this year than last. Mutton increased by half a million stealing, and lamb was about the same.

1911. 1912. £ £ Butter ... 1,569,315 2,094,789 Cheese ... 1,184,032 1,683,592 Beef ... 296,112 331,448 Mutton ... 1,155,390 1,573,260 Lamb ... 1,934,663 1,925,741. Wheat ... 219,182 95,702 Oats ... 484,546 9,249 Potatoes 6,339 150,202 Hemp and Fow 3)0,595 412.171 Rabbits 80,112 55,571 Kauri Gum 395,707 101,307 Grain and Pulse 106,598 173 0) Hops 11,214 21,10' Hides 165,757 221.696 Skins ... 716,097 836.761 Tallow 608,760 688,129 Timber 440,270 491,842 Wool ... 6,548,509 7,092,932 Gold .. 1816,989 1,344,754 £17,694,965 £20,078^602