Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-16


now. The evangel of health came IN the
guise of a substantial German physician
named Koch. The recollection OF BroWn-
Sequard's elixir of life tends to hold pack
the public from too ready acceptance
Of all that the new discovery IS
said to promise, but the grounus
for credibilItv are firmer in the present uis-
covery than in the iorner case. Ii fro';
Robert Koch has discovered the germ "a
consumption and the means of DESTROYING IL
without destroying the patient he Will pe the
means of saving more lives than have been
lost by another great discovery-that Oh
gunpowder For ten years this German
physician has labored with true Teutonlc
patience and persistence, trying to nnu
some chemical that would kill TINS
germ which has defiantly carried
of its victims by the hundred thousand
year by year. Prof. Koch has never vet
made statement without proof TO back u;
His discovery if it stands actual tests ana
time, is worthy OF being called the crown
ing scientific glory of this century. En-
peror Williams donation OF S125,0O0 TO
Prof Koch is a prncely acknowledgement
of the doctors great services to humanity,
but money cannot reward such service.
The gratitude of vast throng of sufferers
will be this German doctors well-earned
prize"
FEATURES OF VITAL IMPORTANCE.
When DR.. Frederick Gaertner was ap-
proached on the subject he said: "Proi.
Koch, the greatest bacteriologist in the
world, has not yet revealed to US the secret
of his actual remedy, but from his 0escrip-
ton of the characteristics OF his treatment,
and from what | CLEANED from him while IN
Berlin, think the cure he has discovered
will be found to possess features that are OF
vital importance to the medical fraternity.
Prof. Stilling says that, despite the pervad-
ing theoretic changes which modern bacte-
riologv has wrought In all departments OF
medical science, it has so far accomplished
but little in practice, and all eyes are now
turned to Germany to see how Koch Will
revolutonize the present order of things by
tests. His method of inoculation is de-
signed to cure disease and differs entirely
from the purposes of vaccination which is
intended as a preventive. Koch's remedy
may be somewhat similar to q medicinal
disinfectart charged with killing purulent
processes, and consisting of certain groups
of colorific coal tar derivatives. Almost all
the known pathogenic micro-organlsms-
anthrax baccilii and pyocci foremost among
them-readily accumulate such colorants
within their own bodies, just as larger
plants do, and succumb to their
etc., as may be readily observed by the
microscope, imbibe those coiorants like a
sponge; so that the bacteria NAV be noticed
as being deeply dyed before any of the
coloriic liquid itself becomes discernible in
the field of vision; and the moment the
intensive coloration is accomplished, every
swarming motion ceases: the cell dies!
'Dr. Koch, who is only AZ years old, be-
came famous six years ago as the discoverer
of the comma-shaped microbe, which is be-
lieved to be the cause of cholera Germany
may well be proud of him, and she will
have cause to be proud of herself if she gives
him all possible aid in his researches. 1t is
to be hoped that the plan for the establish
ment of psychological laboratory, to be
under Prof. Koch's direction, will be car
ried out"
ONE OF THE EXPLODED THEORIES.
"Not long ago an elixir of life set the
world on fire." remarked DR.. Seip, "and
Brown-Seq uard was all the rage. Nothing
is heard OF that wonderful discovery now.
There was a time when Pasteur and his
world-renowned treatment created magnif-
cent sensation, but it has died out to-day.
Now something new is sprung on us by a
distinguished German professor. I
am not prepared to say anything
for or against his new-found cure
for consumption, because l have no knowl-
edge OF the nature of his remedy. He hasn't
disclosed the ingredients that compose it,
and we are in the dark. 1t is best to go slow
in a case of this kind and await further de-
yelopments. Of course, if the remedy ac-
complishes what is claimed for it, and its
composition is revealed, it will likely re-
ceive immediate tests in this countrv, al
though some may hasten to apply it even
before possessing a thorough knowledge of
its character, because there are some who
would try any remedy in desperate case"
DR.. Huselton, on the staff of the Allie
gheny General Hospital commented 10 this
strain: SIT was only short time ago that
Koch announced in Berlin the fact that he
believed he was on the eve of great discov-
ery that would prove of incalculable benefit
to mankind, and while in Europe learned
that he had been experimenting on his
remedy for some time. AS it stands now we
cannot employ his cure in practice because
we are not prepared to use it. When he has
consented to break the bond of secrecy then
it is probable that medical science will be
enriched by grand discovery.
AN IDEA OF THE THEORY.
"Koch's injection is intended to DESTROY
the tubercular bacillus, or germs of con-
sumption. After the first injection the
high fever, a chill and frequent coughing,
which may cause him to think that the cure
has made him worse, but, instead, that is de
scribed as merely the action of the medicine.
Other injections follow the first the symp-
toms mentioned before appearing each time
after the application, but in less marked
degree toward the end, till at the last iniec-
tion the chemical substance finally succeeds
in killing the germs, and the patient is
healed"
In an interview Dr. Dickson spoke as fol-
lows: PROF. Koch claims to cure con-
sumption by incubation. This is material
enlargement of the sphere of incubation.
1t has heretofore been confined to the pre-
vention of disease and has not been applied
to its cure Prof. Koch keeps the compost
tion of his healing inoculating remedy to
himself. So far have no faith in it, but
later developments may alter the case.
There is certainly money in it for the man
who has the exclusive knowledge of its
make up. But think of the infnitesimal
proportion of the consumptives of the
world who will be able to go to Berlin to
have the curative operation performed upon
them if Koch chooses to keep his secret.
Possibly. however, the professor may i'm
part his wondrous secret to the necessary
number of disciples and subordinates and
establish consumption inoculating institu-
tions throughout the world. In that event,
if his process should prove effective in
fair proportion of cases, he would in due
time gather in stores of wealth compared to
which the fortunes OF Carnegie and Gould
and Vanderbilt would be out OF sight. So
much would despair pay for that which
would bring hope"
''There seems to be no reason to doubt the
commences of the discovery" said DIR