NEW SOVIET METHOD OF TREATING TUBERCULOSIS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00809A000600330837-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 26, 2011
• Sequence Number: 837
• Publication Date: August 18, 1950
• Content Type: REPORT

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/31: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600330837-6
"' ~~~~
CLASSIFICATION CONFIDENTI
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY REPOR 50X1-HUM
INFORMATION FROM
FOREIGN DOCUMENTS OR RADIO BROADCASTS CD NO.
COUNTRY USSR
SUBJECT Scientific - Medicine, tuberculosis
HOW
PUBLISHED Bimonthly periodical
WHERE
PUBLISHED Moscow
DATE
PUBLISHED Apr 1950
LANGUAGE
OF TN[ ONITIO /TATIS WITHIN TNR Naww.n. ... -- ----
V. H. C.. 31 AND ![? A/ ANLRDL O. ITS TMR/RI!lIOR ON TON R[Y[LA710R
OF TO
IRON OITID? Il PRO
NI Dt IT TLAW. ' ! - ODV C710R OP THIN /0 Y 1:1Z9D
%
DATE OF
INFORMATION 1950
DATE DIST. /' Aug 1950
NO. OF PAGES 3
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
NEW SOVIET METHOD OF TREATING TUBERCULOSIS
At the combined meeting of the Moscow Societies of Therapeutists and
Phthisiotherapeutists which took place on 8 July 1949, and was presided over
by Prof V.-L. Eynis, Prof N. A. Al'bov presented a paper on the treatment of
tuberculous peritonitis and lymphadenitis by acting on the nerve receptor ap-
paratus of the lungs. According to Prof es5or A1'bov's report, this method of
treating-nonpulmonaryr tuberculosis is based on A. D. Speranskiy's conception
of the part which nonspecific irritation of the nerve receptor apparatus of the
lungs plays in increasing the resistance of the organism to tuberculosis.
The treatment consists in introducing bismuth carbonate into blood vessels
of the pulmonary circulation cycle. The experimental basis )i the mecnuu to Os-
tryy's observation to the effect that addition of bismuth acetate to an embolus
which contains Koch's bacilli and is introduced into the organism of animals
prevents development of generalized tuberculosis in those animals. Al'bov's
clinical observations were carried out on 100 patients suffering from tubercu-
lous peritonitis (polyserositis) and ],ymphadenitis. Bismuth carbonate was in-
jected' intravenously in the form of a dilute suspension containing 0.1 Cgramsi
of bismuth in 100 cubic centimeters of a physiological solution prepared with
twice-distilled water and cooled to 40 degrees. Ten to 20 cubic centimeters
were injected intravenously. The course of treatment consisted of 20 such in-
jections.
In 52 out of 65 cases of tuberculous peritonitis and in 30 out of 41 cases
of tuberculous lymphadenitis clinical recovery was obtained. Remote aftereffects
were watched for during a subsequent period of 3 years. A gradual increase-of
the quantity of the injected suspension. increased the therapeutic effect. Prior
irradiation with ultraviolet light impaired the therapeutic effect. In cases of
meningitis or pulmonary and miliary tuberculosis the treatment was ineffective.
This method of treatment is absolutely harmless, according to A1'bov. Com-
plications in the form of fever and headaches may arise when the physiological
solution has not been properly purified.
cafmaTIA
STATE
ARMY
NAVY
AIR
CLASSIFICATION CONFIDENTIAL
NSRB DISTRIBUTION
X FBI
ti.
anitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/31 : CIA-RDP80-00809A000600330837-6
Terapevticheskiy Arkhiv, Vol ]0CII, No 2, 1950.
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/31: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600330837-6
is. ... At
L. A. Knyazeva reported on the same method of treatment. According to her
paper, 80 percent clinical recovery was obtained in the treatment of 100 cases
of organic tuberculosis (polyserositis and lymphadenitis). The best effect was
obtained in the exudative form of peritonitis while the effect was less pronoun-
ced in the adhesive form. No therapeutic effect was observed in the caseous
form. In cases of positive action the temperature was lowered, the rate of ery-
throcyte sedimentation diminised., diruesis increased, swelling of the abdomen
subsided, the general seise of well-being improved, Pirke's reaction tapered
off, and menstruation was restored in female patients. Results of the treatment
were apparent after 5-7 injections. The course of treatment took 1.5-2 months.
The treatment also helped when there was recurrence of the infection. Knyazeva
concluded her report by citing several case histories.
;,In the discussion which followed the reports by Al'bov and Knyazeva, Doctor
Arkhipova of the Resorte Institute mentioned successful treatment of 43 cases of
tuberculous polyserositie and lymphadeni.ti.s by the bismuth carbonate method. Ac-
cording to Arkhipova, secondary pathogenic conditions (colitis, eczema, renal
complications) disappear together with the principal infection as a result of
the treatment, proving that the treatment brings about a general immuno-biolog-
ical reorientation of the organism. Doctor Romanovskaya reported on 40 cases
of tuberculosis of the female genital organs which were treated by injecting
intravenously bismuth carbonate. According to Romanovskaya, complete clinical
recovery was achieved in 13 cases while in 17 cases there was considerable im-
provement and restoration of the ability to work. She expressed the opinion
that the new method represents an extremely valuable addition to gynecological
therapy and that it is preferable to X-ray treatment in cases involving young
patients.
Prof N. A. Shmelev referred to the fact that in Ostryy's experiments de-
pendence of the development of the infection of the location of the microbe cul-
ture rather than its dosis has been observed. This, in Shmelev's opinion, throws
a new light on the role which the nervous system plays in the development of tu-
berculous infections. When the embolus containing bismuth carbonate is intro-
duced, a clinical picture of embolism in vessels of the lesser circulation does
not arise. There is apparently impregnation of the walls of blood vessels by
the remedy and consequent irritation of nerve receptor mechanisms imbedded in
those walls. The treatment is ineffective in pulmonary tuberculosis because the
nerve receptor apparatus of the lungs has presumably been damaged. The diuretic
effect is due to a general improvement in the c:Lrj i.Utiun vi ptLL11_1iL6 rather than
some specific action of the drug. Professor Shmelev concluded by saying that
the new method is one of the best known at present.
Doctor Ostryy commented on Shmelev's remarks by saying that in animal ex-
periments tuberculous alterations occur in the vicinity of the arrested embolus
while they are totally absent elsewhere. This leads to the conclusion that bis-
muth has no direct effect in stopping tuberculosis. This conclusion is confirmed
by the fact that even an increased dose of bismuth is ineffective in stopping the
general spread of infection caused by an embolus introduced as before if the bis-
muth has been injected into some other part of the body, for instance, the abdomi-
nal cavity. 'When the embolus has been introduced together with the bismuth-into
a blood vessel of the lesser circulation cycle, tuberculosis bacilli are not killed
by the bismuth, yet development of the infection ceases. In conclusion, Ostryy
expressed the opinion that work done by USSR physiologists has changed entirely
the current views on the nature of tuberculous infection.
Thereupon, Academician A. D. Speranskiy remarked that Ostryy's.experiments
induce one to revise not only the current views on tuberculosis, but the theory
of infectious diseases in general. The effects of the quantity and virulence of
the microbes introduced into the organism must be negated and a predominant im-
portance ascribed to the condition of the tissues at the monent of encounter with
the microorganism. Tale decisive role in determining the reaction of the tissues
is played by'the nervous system, Speranskiy stated.
50X1-HUM
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/31 : CIA-RDP80-00809A000600330837-6
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/31: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600330837-6
CONFIDENTIAL
Prof V. L. Eynis closed the discussion by saving that any new method re-
quires extensive clinical checking before definite conclusions can be made. The
clinical information which is available in this case seems to be important and
will stimulate further work. Further results are necessary in order to clarify
the theoretical basis.
fit
CONFIDENTIAL
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/31 : CIA-RDP80-00809A000600330837-6