AGREES TO TEST OF NEW T.B. CURE BY A SPECIALIST.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18939, 9 December 1929, Page 9

AGREES TO TEST OF NEW T.B. CURE BY A SPECIALIST.

Rev Edgar Ward Has Interview With Minister of Health: Secrecy Promised

(Special to the “Star.”) AUCKLAND, December 9. An undertaking to discuss with an expert his formula and treatment, claimed to be a cure for tuberculosis, was given to the Minister of Health, the lion A. J. Stallworthy, this morning by the Rev Edgar Ward, vicar of the Church of the Ascension, Point Chevalier. Since the publication of the article last week, Mr Ward has received numerous requests for supplies of the medicine which he offered to sufferers at a charge of ninepence a week. A cablegram which reached him on Satur day from Buenos Aires asked for liberal supplies, and another cablegram from England contained a large order. Following on a communication from the Director-General of Health, Mr Ward interviewed the Minister this morning and informed him that two and a half years ago he had consulted the Health Department in reference to the treatment. The Department failed to follow up the matter. Indeed it gave him no encouragement whatever, and declined to discuss the matter fur-

ther, till he had offered conclusive proof of the efficacy of the treatment. The Minister expressed surprise on hearing Mr Ward’s statement and asked if he would be prepared to discuss details of formula and treatment with the superintendent of a sanatorium. Mr Ward said that he would be prepared to do that, providing all the proceedings were regarded as strictly confidential. An assurance was given by Mr Stallworthy that secrecy would be observed, and said that the necessary steps would be taken immediately. Mr Ward will probably place the formula and treatment before a specialist next week. Asked whether he intended to supply orders in the meantime, Mr Ward said that the trouble was that he was already inundated, and as news of the cure had been cabled abroad he believed he would be unable to meet the requirements of all those who asked for supplies. It took a week to make up the medicine, inclusive of the time spent in gathering the herb. The herb grows in New Zealand In fair quantities, but if the cure is all that Mr Ward claims it to be, it will be necessary to establish plantations so that it may be gathered in abundance.