The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1882-05-18
THE TUBERCULAR PARASITE.
The Remarkable Discovery q = Ger.
lman Physlcians

Ine h9e1M0Rk0Dl0 Discovery Ok . der
lnan Physician.
(From tho Chicago Tribune1
That monster, consumption, which the poets
have described ~ horscd on the east winds aud
shooting his fatal arrows broadcast, 1t would
now seem has at last been brought to bay Dy
science. The great discovery of the splenetic
fever producing bacilli by the eminent French
physician, Pasteur. and his cure by incubation,
which produces mild disease instead Of ;
severe one, has been followed by . discovery
that promises to be more impol .ant in its re-
suits by DIR. Koch, Of Berlin. DR.. pasteur 10
saving the lives Of sheep and cattle by inocula-
tion with the bacillus after It has been modified
in it's character BY cultivation in the bodies Of
bOvines. DR.. Koch may vet save the lives Of
human beings from the resu..s Of diseases
hitherto considered incurable BY very similar
process.
Prof. Tyndall, Who has carefully studied Dr..
koch's experimente and who, II will be remem-
berod was the original discovcrer Of the bacteria
and their insidious danger to man, has written
to the London Times his impressions OF Koch's
hc found in every casa that the tubercles con-
tanned . parasite, the bacillus, and that It was
this minute organism that produced the tu-
bcrcle, and, transferring BY inoculation the
tuberculous matter from diseased TO healthy
animals. he never failed 70 produce tho disease.
without the Intervention Of disease, and these
purified parasites in every case also generated
the disease.
These experiments were 20 many tines.re-
pcated with different animals and In different
forms that there can remain no doubt that DR..
Koch has discovered what has never been
known before--the origin OF consumption and
~ 0k1 taA
This is great step gained. The cause discov-
cred, 1t now remains for science to find the
remedy thAt will destroy these parasites and
prevent their recurrence By inoculation or some
other form OF cure. PAsteur's remedy, in cases
Of splenic fever, ~ We have already said, is in
ocn!atlon with the bacillus after it has been
modified in character by cultivation. DR.. Koch
has attempted similar modification with the
tnbercle parasite, hut after repeated cultiva-
ton the virulence remains. Prof. Tyndall and
those competent to pronounce IN opinion, how
ever, believe that the intensity OF vlrulence will
b greatly diminished By future experiments in
cultivation.
Meanwhile il is not secret in the medical
world, or at least among some OF the more cmi.
ncnt physicians, that DIR. Pasteur himself has
made experiments Of highly interesting char.
acter in the destruction OF these parasites. II
10 we'll known to all surgeons that carbolic acid
ID very efficacious in destroying bacteria in gum
bnOJ WOUNDS, BWOro-cutS OF Ol0eI injuries Ol
this kind, and that the proper use Of its agency
has been hindered BY its impurity. DR.. Psstenl
found it upon analysis to contain traces oi
poison and foreign substances that we're harr,-
ful enough TO prevent its perfect operation,
and succseded IN removing them and produc'
ing ! perfectly pure acid, with which ne hal
been experimenting by hypodermic injections
with remarkable success in cases OF consump
ton and its kindred diseases, ~ well rs cancer.
Where the diseases were long-seated aud the
patient too weak aud too FAR gone TO resist the
disease, he has prolonged life, and in the In
cipient stages he has ,urcd in almost every
case.
Consumption II the ghastliest and mos
deadly foe that confronts the human race. II
II almoct universal It is no respecter Of per.
sons or OF nations. DIR. Koch himself sayi
that III the seriousness Of malady be meas
nred by the number Of victims, thcn the mOsI
dreaded pests which have hitherto ravagcd tht
world-plague and cholera incsuded-mus
stand far behind the one (consumption) nov
under consideration" and that one-seventh o
the deaths Of the human race arc due To tn
bercuiar disease, while fully one-thirl or thos.
who die In active middle age are carried of b,
the same cause. Important as DR. Kochs dis
covery ID, the greater one remains namely: til,
remedy. Having gained ono vantage in tn,
combat with the destroyer, It is to be hopet
science viii press on until the victory u com
pleta.