Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-05-29
Alisftllaneoms.
Consumption and its Cause.

| 10 KNOW the cause OF an dilIueut u n0iI
its cure. II appears that now. at length,
the proximate, the Immediate cause of
pulmonary consumption has been discov-
cred This discovery was announced
March %. in an address delivered before
the Physiological society of Berlin by
Prof. Koch. DIR. Tyndail has repubiished
the substance Of that address in the Lon
don Times, and the Times had leader on
| it. This is no marvel, for a more impor-
tant discovery has not occurred during
this century. Prof. Koch says that one
seventh of the human race perish OF this
disease: that onc-third of those who die
| in active middle life a.e its victims. What
waste of energy. talent. wealth Is that
But now the learned professor claims to
have discovered the true etiology OF this
plague, that is. its real cause. Others be-
fore Prof Koch lad ascertained that con-
sumption was communicable. that by IN
oculation and inhalation it could be trans
ferred from one living subject to another
but hitherto the precise character OF tne
contagious principle was not actually
known, although some had guessed at II.
Prof. Koch attributes tito a bacillus, a germ
of organized matter, an animated parasite
living in and on the living lungs of human
beings. capable of living in and on the
living lungs of other lower creatures than
man. The discoverer found this parasite,
separated it from the living tissue in which
| IL was embedded, and then inoculated with
| il healthy animals. In every case con-
sumption was produced by this inocula-
ton. The professor grew these oGc,tt,
| or consumption animalcules, as we
NAV call them: bred them for several
of their short generations; and the arti-
6cially reared and purified creatures,
even half a year after their par
epts had been taken from the living
subject, retained their power to produce
consumption Needless were it to repro
duce the details of Prof. Koch's investiga-
tions with microscope and scalpel, his
experiments in incubation and vivisectiOn.
It suffices to say that the animals expert
mented on were inOculated, some in the
aqueous humor of the eye, some in the
abdomen but in either case consumption
was the result DIR. Koch can tell the very
degree Of heat needed to develop these
mischievous creatures. They are power
less save within the degrees Of sc and LOG
Fahrenheit In the matter which con-
sumptive patients ''raise" they were
found i'm great numbers but not one could
be found in the expectations Of those
free from the disease; and the matter spat
out by consumptive patients was found to
be highly infective.
This is not wholly new. The London
Times says that DR.. Budd, F. r. S., of
Bristol stated 30 years ago a parasitic
germ caused consumption in certain cases
coming under his observation. NJ. Vile
min, in 1865 discovered that the lower an
imals could be inoculated with matter
from diseased human subjects. Prof
Klebs and DIR. SCHILLER, two high authori-
ties in Germany, independently arrived at
this germ theory some time ago. 1t
seems. therefore. as if the parasitic cause
of this disease were fact.
Some practical differences may now be in
order; l. Consumption will be rendered
in many cases preventable. The favora-
bic circumstances for the transfer and de-
velopment of these parasites being under
stood, science may now address itself to
the task of npping them in the bud, so to
speak. killing. them off ere arriving at
mischievous maturity. We look for good
work in this direction. not only from
Prof. Koch, whose young aspiring gen.
ius has placed him IN the foremost rank of
medical eminence, but from nj. Louis
Pasteur and Dr. Tyndall himself We
could forgive this last-named gentleman a
good deal of inferior metaphysics, if he
would help physicians to deal successfully
with this very small but very vicious con-
sumption creator. 2. The expectorated
matter from the lungs of consumptive
patients ought to be disinfected at once, by
some chemical agency killing these germs.
3. Healthy folks should avoid an intimate
acquaintance with these parasites, unless
when every proper scientific precaution
has been taken to prevent infection. 4.
Every civilized government in the world
ought to unite to foster scientific research
in this matter. Prof. Koch and other men
often have to fight this battle singlehanded.
Perhaps it is we'll Thus they acquire
heroic selfreliance-
"The wrestling thews that throw the world"
but it is the privilege, as it is the duty of
the state. to encourage, stimulate. reward
all such workers. relieving their minds
from fear of pecuniary want. enabling
them to devote their entire energies to
such work for the common good, and fur
nish them means for carrying on their in
vestigations and experiments in the most
effective style. Here, however, whether
governments interfere to help or not, good
work has been.is now being done. Science
has taken most decisive step toward re-
moving from medicine long-standing OPP
probrium-the incurability of consump-
ton. the impossibility of preventing its
hereditary transmission. Soon We trust
the means shall be discovered of master
ing this terrible. deadly disease, of ending
its reign and triumph over the afflicted
children of men. This discovery will be
the browning glory of the nineteenth
century.