The morning call., 1890-11-16
DIR. KOCH's DISCOVERY.

DR.. Koch keeps the secret of his discovery.
He does not tell us what are the ingredients
of the lymph which is TO cure consumption;
he furnishes no clew to the composition of
the brown, Gdorless fluid which produces in
the healthy patient SYMPTOMS OF initial
phthisis and destroys tubercular tissue in
persons who are diseased. But as he OBJ
serves that persons who are anxious to ex-
pertinent with his remedy can procure 1t
from Dr. a. Libberts, rs Lunenberger
strasse, Berlin, it will not be long before
chemists furnish the world with an analysis
of its chemical constituents.
His method aims at arresting the course
of the disease by simultaneous injections of
his lymph. at first in inGnitesimal and grad
ually in increasing doses. The effect OF the
injection Is 10 produce necrosis, or mortifica-
ton, of the tuhercular tissue, in other words,
TO kill the bacilli in tie lungs or in whatever
organ is attacked. Once killed, nature tries
to expel the corpses, as it does with all dead
tissues; and here the aid of the physician or
surgeon may be required to complete its
purpose. When the necrotic matter is ex-
PEELED from the system the patient is cured;
though the treatment should be continued
for while in order to prevent flesh settle
ments of bacilli DR.. Koch is careful TO say
that his system is only likely 10 succeed in
the early stages of tuberculosis; where there
are large cavities in the lungs, in which
bacilh are lodged in great numbers, he doubts
the power of the lymph to expel them. But
in the earlier stages of the disease he is in
clined to be confident of the efficacy Of his
remedy.
In very short time the world will be pre-
pared to pass judgment on the new cure.
Throughout Cbrstendom medical men will
try the lymph as soon as they can get it. If
it fails to do what DR.. Koch undertakes for
it no more will be heard of the matter. and
the search for cure for consumption will
be resumed. II it answers its purpose it
will soon be in use everywhere, and DR..
Koch will become the most famous man of
his day and generation.
Not the least useful portion of DR.. Koch's
paper is the exhortation he addresses to
physicians to be more thorough than they
are in their diagnosis of cases of suspected
tuberculosis. He ascribes the large prevail
ing mortality from consumption to the head
way which the disease often attains before
the attending physician awakes to the nature
of his patients disease. Consumption is
durable, either by the Koch method or by
change of air and habits of life, if it be de-
tected while it IS still in its earliest stage.
That it is Eot so detected is often owing to
the careless manner in which the symptoms
are observed. DR.. Koch well says that the
first thing to be done by the physician of
patient who is suffering from an inyeterate
cough is to examine the sputum for tuber-
cular bacilli. If they are present, the case is
one of tuberculosis, no matter how many of
the usual symptoms of the disease are want
ing. If they are not present. the case is as
yet merely local ailment of the air pass
ages. and may be cured by change of climate
or may wear itself out in time. The key to
the situation is the sputum.
For this excellent advice, if for nothing
more, the doctor is entitled to the gratitude
of the world at large.