Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-11-20
DIR. KOCH's GREAT WORK.
The Opinion ola Conservative Investigator
Effect of the Excitement.

WASHINGTON, November l9.-The
discovery made by DIR. Koch has been
an attraction to the leading students OF
medicine in this city, and DIR. John |.
Billings, one OF the most accomplished
investigators in this country, has ex-
pressed some opinions that are inter.
esting as coming from conservative
man.
"The fact that it is Dr. Koch who has
made this investigation and claim"
said DIR. Billings, ''adds tremendous
weight to the affair. DIR. Koch is known
all over the world as a brilliant but al
the same time a careful and entirely
thorough, investigator. He seldom or
never makes mistakes. His investi-
CATION and discovery of the cholera
germ, and Of the bacillus tuberculosis
itself, were first received with
considerable skepticism, but later
researches and developments prove
DR.. koch's first announce
ments as regards these matters TO
have been accurate in nearly every par
ticular. Had any other investigator
announced the discovery of a cure for
tuberculosis the medical world would
have received il with Skepticism and
disbelief. With DIR. Koch it is entirely
different, and believe that undoubtedly
the great German has added another
and still greater discovery to his already
long list. judge this not only from
the character of the man. but also from
the fact that from the few eminent ply
sicianS to whom he has disclosed the
constituents Of his remedy come aSSur-
anceS Of their entire belief In It's e1ca-
cy.
'In my opinion ii is rather unfortun-
ate that DR.. Koch was forced into a
premature announcement Of his discov-
cry. 1t would have been better If the
matter could have kept secret until the
investigation had been entirely finished
and the result, with the constituents in
full, could be announced. As il is, DR..
Koch's work, am sure, has been seri-
ously impeded by the general excite
ment which his announcement has
caused. The medical profession has
flocked TO Berlin, and DR.. Koch has been
besieged on all sides. Fabulous sums
OF money have been offered him by in
terested parties of all kinds, and no
doubt the clamor and excitement have
interfcred with the progress OF his
work. Then again, takc this country
alone. In the United States there are
probably 800, 900 or 900, 600 persons suf-
fering from consumption. The an
nouncement Of DR.. Koch's discovery has
excited nearly every one OF these suf-
ferers. They are hoping and fcaring;
their hopes nourish them, and their
fears torture them.
"Dr. Koch'S remedy for tuberculosis
will prove a greater boon TO humanity
than is even generally supposed. 1t will
not only, | am assured, prove a cure for
consumption when the attack is on the
lung. but will open up wide and gem
eral law. When DR.. Koch discovered
and showed to the world what consump-
tion consisted of. ii was found that the
bacillus tuberculosis was the cause OF
disease In all portions OF the body. As
you may see from the specimens in the
museum, it attacks the spleen, the
bones of the body, etc. Tho discovery
of remedy for these various ills arising
from the same insiduous bacillus, il
will BE- plainly seen, will prove one of
the greatest achievements OF modern
science. In my opinion, it is now only
a matter of very short time before DR..
Koch will make full announcement Of
his remedy, giving full history of his
course and a detailed explanation Of the
remedy's composition.n