The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1882-05-19
THE TUBERCULAR PARASITE,
EAle Remarkable Discovery OF a fser-
man Physician.
IRON tho Chicago Tribune.l

(From the Chicago Tribunel
1 That monster, consumption which the poets
have described as horsed on the east winds and
shooting his fatal arrows broadcast, it would
now seem has at last been brought to bay by
science. The great discovery Of the splenetic
fever producing bacilli by the eminent French
physician, Pasteur and his cure by incubation,
which produces a mild disease instead Oh
severe one, has been followed by discovery
that promises to be more important IN Its re-
sults by DR.. Koch, of Berlin. DR.. Pasteur is
saving the lives of sheep and cattle by lnoeula-
ton with the bacillus after it has been mo ltle1
in its character by cultivation in the bodies q
hnuinoa--- nr- Knnh may yet save the lives or
human beings from the results of diseases
hitherto considered lncurable by very similar
process.
Prof. Tyndall. who has carefully studied DR.
Koch's experiments, and who, it will be remenl-
bered was the original discoverer of the bacteria
and their insidious danger to man, has written
to the London Times his impressions of Koch's
discovery. In the course of his examinations
he found in every case that the tuberclcs con-
tanned parasite, the bacillus, and that it was
this inmate organism that produced the tu-
bercle, and, transferring by inoculation the
tuberculous matter from diseased to healthy
animals, he never failed to produce the disease.
He developed several generations of the bacilli
without the Intervention OF disease, and these
purified parasites in every case also generated
the disease.
These experiments were SO many times re-
peated 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
of other diseases like pneumonia and phthisis.
This is great step gained. The cause discov-
cred, it now remains for science to find the
remedy that will destroy these parasites and
prevent their recurrence by incubation OF some
other form of cure. Pasteurs remedy, in cases
of splenic fever, as we have already said, is in
oculatlon with the bacillus after it has been
modified in character by cultivation. DR.. Koch
has attempted similar modification with the
tubercle parasite, but after repeated cultiva-
ton the virulence remains. Prof. Tynd9ll and
those competent to pronounce All opinion, how
ever, believe that the intensity of vlruence will
be greatly diminished by future experiments i'll
cultivation. tftt+
Meanwhile it is not secret in the medical
world, or at least among some of the more emil
nent physicians, that DR.. Pasteur himself has
made experiments of highly interesting char
acter in the destruction of these parasites. It
is well known to all surgeons that carbol C acid
is very effcacious in destroying bacteria in gum
shot wounds, sword-cuts or other injuries of
this kind, and that the proper use of its agency
has been hindered by its impurity. DR. Pasteur
found it upon analysis to contain traces of
poison and foreign substances that were harnl-
full enough to prevent its perfect operation,
and succeeded In removing them and produc-
ing perfectly pure acid, with which ne has
been experimenting by hypodermic injections
with remarkable success in cases of consump-
ton and its kindred diseases, as well as cancer.
Where the diseases were long-seated and the
patient too weak and too far gone to resist the
disease he has prolonged life, and in the in
cipient stages he has cured in almost every
case.
Consumption is the ghastliest and most
deadly foe that confronts the human race. 1t
is almost universal 1t is no respecter Of per-
sons or of nations. DIR. Koch himself says
that eff the seriousness of malady be meas
ured by the number of victims, then the most
dreaded pests which have hitherto ravaged the
world-plague and cholera included must
stand far behind the one (consumption) now
under considerations" and that one-seventh of
the deaths of the human race are due TO tu-
bercuar disease, while fully one third of those
who die in active middle age are carried off by
the same cause. Important as DIR. Koch's DIS
coVery is, the greater one remains namely: the
remedy. Having gained one vantage in the
combat with the destroyer, it is to be hoped
science will press on until the victory is COM
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