Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1890-11-22
HIS METHOD.
Prof Kochs Promised Article on
the Cure of tuberculosis.
He Docs Not Indicate Whence the Mat
ter is Derived Nor How II Is Pre-
pared, But Tells You Where
IL Can BE Purchased,

| ttr Is Derived Nor HOW IL Is ITe-
pared, But Tells You Where
1t Can BE Purchased.
The article by Prof. Koch in the Deutsche
| Medlzinisch Wochons chrift, Berlin, is entitled:
| "Furlhcr communications on the cure OF tuber-
culosis and experiments which Dr. Libbcrtz and
STAFF Surgeon Pruhl performed relating there
TO, under Prof Koch's direction"
In this article Prof Koch says that he is, as
yet unprepared to indicate the source from
which the curative matter is derived. Neither
| is he ready to explain the method OF prepaTa-
ton. The reason he gives is, that the expert.
| mental work has not yet been brought to com.
| plction. He states, however that the curative
| lymph itself can now be obtained from DR. Lib
bcrlz, whose address is no. 2S Lucnenberger
srasse, Berlin.
The lymph is described as consisting OF
brownsh, transparent liquid It's so prepared
| as to be proof against deterioration. When,
however it is diluted with water 10 the neces-
Sary degree for use the matter is liable 10 de-
cay. 1t is necessary, therefore, that the attenu-
ations should be perfectly sterilized by heat and
preserved in wadding covering or prepared
with solution OF phenolt fifty percentage
strong.
When taken into the stomach the curative
matter proves to have no effect 1t must be ap-
syringe, The kiEd OF syringe recommended by
| Prof. Koch is one furnished with small hollow
rubber ball. This syringe approved itself 10
/ him during his meteorological experiments. Its
merit IS that it can lie easily and surely rinsed
with absolute alcohol, and kept in n perfectly
antisep,ic condition. In thousands of cases, he
sQys where il has recn used for sub.cutancous
injections not single abscess resulted.
When the curative matter is applied to pa.
tlcnt tho useful course is to inject it under the
skin OF the back, between the shoulder blade
md in proximity TO the loins. The experiments
show that human beings are much more suscept-
ible to the effect OF the new substance than are
guinea pigs, which have been largely used in
the course Of the investigations.
Two cubic contimeters Of the fluid applied to
o guinea pig produced little, if any, apparent
effect Twenty five hundredths OF a cubit cent?
meter however intensely affected q healthy
fu-grown man who was subjected 10 expert.
ment. Prof. Koch experimental with the fluid
upon his own body, ana describes the effect
He injected twenty-five hundredths of a cubic
ccntimcter OF the fluid under the skin
of his upper arm. Three or four hours
offer this injection was made he expert
enced contraction OF the limbs and
a marked feeling of lassitude. At the same
time he felt a desire to cough, together with
|
creased rapidly and in the fifth hour he ex-
pcrenccd an unusually violent rigor. The shiv.
trng lasted for nearly an hour and was accom-
panied with nausea and vomiting. The temper
aure OF his body rose TO 500 cCntigrade. After
period of twelve hours the symptoms began to
pbate, the temperature OF the body declined,
and on the following day resumed its normal de-
gree. The hcayiness of the limbs and the feel.
in; of lassitudc, however, continued for some
days during which time the point on his arm at
which the injection was made continued to be
painful, and remained red
Prof Koch dcprecatcs the mechanical and
ndscriminalc application OF the remedy. He
holds that it would be preferable that the
treatment should be applied in suitable instl'
tutions where careful observation would be
possible.
Prof Koch says that sufficient experience has
not yet been collected regarding tuberculosis OF
| the bone and larynx and military tuberculosis to
justify the expression of any opinion in regard
to the efficacy of the remedy
The experiments so far conducted show that
the lowest limit of effective strength of the
fluid in healthy human body is one-hun
dredth OF a cubic centimcter. When this amount
| is applied to q healthy human subject II pro-
duccs little or no reaction. The same result
follows when the fluid of this strength is APP
|
from other than tuberculosis affections, but in
persons affected with tuberculosis the same
quantity produces q strong general and local
reaction. The general reaction consists of an
attack OF fever, which usually begins with
Shiverlng The temperature OF the body rises
10 over thirty'nine and in some instances even
To fory.one ceutgrade At the same time
pains in the limbs are noticeable. The pa
ticnt coughs, experiences much irritation
and great exhaustion. Some patients also
suffer nausea and vomiting. In some
cases there is noticed slight ictric jaundice
like Cooring or cxanthcm resembling measles
on the chest and neck. The symptoms just de-
scrbod begin TO manifest themselves four or
five hours after the injection of the curative
substance They last from twelve to fourteen
hours The patient is not much affected by the
attack induced by the fluid, and, after it is
over feels conn Gratvcly well, even better in
fact than before the injection.
The second, or local reaction produced by the
injection of the fluid in patient suffering from
tubcrcu oss can best be observed in persons
whose tuhcrculous affections are visible, as, for
instance in The ease Of person suffering from
lupus. The changes which cnsue in these cases
showed in n surprising manner the specifically
auti-tuherculous effect of the remedy.
Tuberculous affections OF the glands latent
| IOntfCulbSlS hl lNc uOlltS, NOubllul shin luDtG~
cuosis, etc, can by the use of this fluid be
easily and certainly diagnosed. Moreover in
cases Of lung or JOINT tuberculosis, which have
apparently passed of it will be possible by the
use of the new substance, to ascertain with Ger.
tainty whether the morbid process is really and
absolutely ended.
Prof. Koch expresses the belief that his rem.
cdy will certainly prove cure for incipicnt
phthsis. Whether however, the cure will be
final and definite has not he says been clearly
proved Further experiments and continued
use OF the remedy will be necessary to deter.
mine this question.
In the cases experimental upon under the
direction of Prof Koch the expectoratons
gradually lost their purulent property and
assumed mucous character. The number OF
baccil expelled fully decreases only when the
expcctoratons begin TO assume the mucous
appearance. The baccill then disappear entire.
ly for time but ON occasions again appear
until cxpcctoration totally ceases. At the
same time the night swcats cease, the patients
begin TO look better and they increase in weight.
Patients who have been treated In the early
stages OF phthisis have all been freed from
morbid symptoms within from four to six weeks,
when they may be regarded as healed Con
: sumptivcs with large cavities in their lungs
, will probably only experience benefit from tn,
new remedy in exceptional cases, though most
cases show temporary improvement.
In all cases Prof Koch emphasizes the neces
sity of early treatment, Only in incpicnt
, stages Of disease, he declares, can the remedy
fully develope its efficacy.
There is a regular exodus from the Mcditer
ranoan shores of consumptiycs to Berlin, ant
ie hotels are rapidly iilling Many AmericaS
doctors have given notice that they are coming
10 Near Prof. Koch's lecture on November 90. A
host OF foreign doctors arc arriving The Italian
Government has sent three phy,iciaus.
BOOKS OLD AND NEW.