GREAT MEDICAL SCIENTIST.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11506, 30 September 1915, Page 5

GREAT MEDICAL SCIENTIST.

THE LATE DR EHRLICH DISCOVERER OF BLOOD DISEASE SPECIFIC. Dr Paul Ehrlich, who died suddenly of heart disease at Bad Honiburg, Geimany, was one of the most celebrated , medical scientist's in the world. His most noted discoveries in experimental medicine were Snlvarsan, fi cuvo for «i blood disease, which previously had baffled the world, and an anti-toxin for diphtheria. Dr Ehrlich also made remarkable progress in tho treatment of cancer and several years ago began experiments for a. cure, of til© slopping sickness. Sinco 1899 Dr Ehrlich was director of the Hoy a I Institute for Experimental Therapv, "a. German Government institution at Frankfort, but that was only one of a. score of notable jtositions and titles he had received. At the International Medical t.oug'ess in London in 1913 the physician was introduced j by Sir Malcolm Morris as the greatest exponent of modern pathology. _ Dr I Ehrlich was decorated with the insignia I of the .second class of the Red Eagle by | Emperor William in 1914, and was the recipient with Dr Metchnikoif of the . Nobel prize for immunity research j work. | DIPHTHERIA ANTI-TOXIN. j Dr Ehrlich was born in Strehlen. in ! the province of Silesia, March 14. 1854. He attended school at Breslau and later studied medicine at Breslau, Strass- ; burg, Frieburg and Leipzig. Early in ! life lie carried on much experimental work, and Ids later life was a logical sequence. His first studies were of the cellular elements of the Idood, its constituents, etc., and his experiments in J this work fortified him for his practical triurfiphs over certain blood diseases. It was at about this time that Dr Ehrlich standardised Pus diphtheria anti-toxin, which the German Government adopted and when is used almost everywhere to-day Dr Ehrlich took over the direction of a, Government institution founded at ■Steglit.K soon alter the publication of this method, but its activities grew to such ttu extent that the K rival Institute for Experimental Therapeutics was cst"b!:shcd at Frank fori-on-Main and Dr Ehrlich was transferred to it. Dr Ehrlich continued his experiments in cancer treatment, but it was not until early in li'lL' that he produce*] bis cancer 'specific " tiitrrosin," which ho had used on mire with great success. The most important discovery of Dr Ehriieb, however, was Salvars.au, widely known at fir.st as '' (i(Xi specific for the cure of a idood Dr Elirlich's experiments led to this remedv in 1910. Previously he had tried GO") others, bitt each faded. The specific gained wide lame with remarkable ranidity. and it also involved Dr Ehrlich, public officials in Germany, and at least one. newspaper, in litigation. The demand for ''6o6'' soon exceeded the .supply bv about. 1000 per cent. The treatment prescribed for its uko was one hvpodormic injection bv a physician. in 95 per cent of 6000 eases treated with the Ehrlich specific the results were satisfactory. Professor Ehrlich gave away about 17,000 doses. Strange to -av, bow«?rer, attacks upon the remedy spread, one to some deaths resulting i'rom inn,',,per treatment, and soon after Dr Ehrlich sued Herr \Vassenuau, editor ol ihe " Free Spirit," in I-'rankfurt. ior libel. In ]912 Dr Ehrlich am; .i;i:<cd an improvement in the drug v, h:Vh was said to obviate the disadvantage- ot the first 1 ><Hi. in 1P0! !)r Khrli'-h vb.itcd th" T'nited Si:,-;,-. i*ud delivered leci ure--. in several large Eastern citie-. Me reeeiiod the ,h'e.ree "i i.L.D. i.-mn tin- 1 diversity of ( ji a ai'.o. In IPO7 h<- delivered the Harh'vn ieeiur-"'- in London, receiving the title i.m ''o-t.,- of Si icm e from the Fnirersny of Oxford. Dr Ehrlich also published manv notable works on medical subjects.