Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-05-31

The NEW THEORY OF CONSUMPTION
Professor Koch's germ theory of disease
promises to create almost a revolution in
medical science. His latest investigation
deals with the dreadful disease OF consump
tion which he proves beyond a doubtto be
communicable. It is caused by little rod .
the diseased tubercle; and this germ is
transplated from ono human body TO an.
other, just as the germs of any contagious
disease are transplanted. tuberculosis.
the professor says. is not caused by cold
and exposure, as is usually supposed The
disease may indeed, be aggravated thereby,
but the original germs must be in the sys-
TEN, or tuberculosis will not be developed.
lie subjected the diseased organs of "A
great number of men and animals to the
microscopic examination, and found. in
all cases, the luhercles infested with !
minute parasite. Transferred directly V
incubation to the organs of healthy aul
mails, these bacilli in every instance repro
duced the same disease. To meet Il G
objection that it was not the parasite itsel
but some virus in which it was embeddt
in the diseased organ, that was the re;
contagiom, lie cultivated his bacilli art
ficially, for long periods of time an
through many successive generation.
With speck of mater for example, frOLi
II tuberculous human lung. he infected =
substance prepared, after much trial, br
himself with the view of ufTording nutrl
ment to the parasite. Here he pcrmittec
it to grow aud multiply From this new
generation he took u minute sample an
infected Herewith fresh nutritive matter
thus producing another brood. Generatio
after generation of bacili were develope,
in this way, without the Intervention
disease At the end of the process. whic
sometimes embraced successive cnllivs
lions extending over halfa year, the purl
fed bacllll were introduced into the circu
la!ion of healthy animals of various kinds
In every case incubation was followed b
the reproduction and spread OF the para
site and tie generation of the orgine
disease
Professor Koch determined the iini,
of temperature between which the lubercl
bacillus can develop and multiply II
found it to be Sc" F. minimum and 10t
maximum. The professor is OF the Opinion
that animal warmth is necessary for tn.
propagation of these parasites. In grea
number of cases he has examined th'
matter expectorated from the lungs c
persons afflicted with tuberculosis, an
found 1t infested with baciIi. whereas ex
perforated matter from the lungs OF heal
thy persons was free from them He foun
the expectorated matter in the former
case highly infective. and not less virulen
when dry. The professor points to th,
grave danger of inhaling air in whict
particles of the dry sputs Of consumptiv'
patients mingled with dust of other kinds
Professor Tyndal, in letter to th'
London Times. maintains the genuinenes
of these observations of Professor Koch
and says:
"In the facts laid before our reader
may be the solution of the problem s,
long regarded as insoluble-the cure O
tuberculosis. If Pasteur's culture expert
ments have led to the discovery of a meth
cd by which the poison of splenic fever il
rendered harmless, and the disease pre-
vented by the timely incubation of tn
modified virus, may we not hope that tn
time is not distant when the ravages o
consumption will be prevented by tn
inoculation of bacillus? The medica
profession Of the whole civilized worl,
will now await with the kcenest interest
the developments which may be expecte'
from further study of the bacillus tuber
IculosiS."