The sun., 1890-11-16
CAN HE CURE CONSUMPTION'
NEW TORK OPINION AB0Ur PROF..
KoCH's REMEDH

Physicians Generally Csnvinesa that tho
Famous 6eru~n Rpcterislogist Has
Made Aaothew Iuportans Discovery -Dr.
Kneh's career-Diseeverero OF the Baeiih
OF fCho,ern aud Tubercuiosis.
somewhat over a year aeo mild thrill OF ew
citement rippled through the medical pro-
fession In all parts Of the world at the IN
nounoement that French rhysican had DIS
covered LIQUID which possessed come Of tho
wonderful powers commonly aseribed To the
mythical elixir of life The announcsI,snt
was supported by tho endorse nent Of FIenoh
physicians Of acknowledged reputation. The
new liquid was sent all over the world ond soi-
entists had an Opportunity 10 tsst II. merits
for themselves For several weeks tho air OF
mystery and romance which surrouAded the
discovery gave 1t great popularity. But calm
ami nromantic bcientists stuck ths pin OF In
vesttgation through the glitterinR babbe and
II burst. and Dr.. Brown -Sequnrds elixir 10
hoard OF no more.
To-day the physicians OF the world are agi,
tated by . similarly startling announcement
and their excitement is nil the greater for their
unbounded admiration for and great cOnil-
dence in the man from whom 1t comes Dr.
Robert Koch. the director OF the Imperial Hy.
Gienic Institute at Berlin. the dlscoverer OF the
germs which cause tuberculosis and thoae
which cause Asiatic cholera two Of the great
est discoveries In medical science OF the nine
tesnth century,, and the foremost bncteriolo.
Rfet OF the age. ann ounces that he hns found q
cure for tuberculosis In its incipiont stage
That is all he has said. aud physicians know
no moro about IT, yet there is q prevailing i'm
preston among them that tho world is on the
eve OF learning ono OF tho greatest seorots
which nature has concealed from man.
DR.. Koch was the son Of Q high official Of
Clausthal and was born In that town on
Dec. II. 1S4S. After graduating from the
gymnasium thore. he studied medicine
at Goettingen for four years, ls82-l866.
He was attached for timo to the
general hospital In Hamburg. and then
practised his profession in lack kwitz. Possn.
From 1879 to 1880 he was chemist 10 Woii-
stein. In the Bornst district. During this time
hs devoted himself almost exclusively to the
study OF bacterioogy. 10 such good purpose
that he was appointed member OF the ini-
periul Health Board. In 1882 he pub.
iished an article conveying the results
of his Investigations into tho nature aud
causes of tuberculosis TIE article
made a profound impression in the medical
world. although it was rublishoi without an.
nouncom, nj or flourish IN n comparatively un-
known technical journal 1t was the l:st
announcement that tu: erculOsis IL caused hy
the presence in the body OF u minute germ.
which Dr. Koch called the bacillus tuberculosis.
ard that It Ia never caused in any other way or
by any other thing. This article was
followed by Others in which tho manner
OF his experiments was explained, md tho
matter attracted such general attention and
respect that the Emperor apo in, cd DR.. Koch
q privy counsellor and sent him gs The head Of
nm eHpedhi n TO Egypt and India for the pur-
pose of studying cholera. The result OF this
expedition was the establishment OF the fact
that srec. al kind OF bacillus is tho henrer of
cholera poison. Upon hi, return TO Germany,
in 1881, he was not only appointed the
Cholera Commissioner to France. but was
also rewarded substantially by gift
OF 100000 marks from the Cove. n,nent.
At one time also tho directo,ship OF tho Impe.
rial Hygienio Institute Of Berlin was offered
him. II is in this institutions that Prot Koch
has boon conducting his experiments with ref
erence to the cure OF consumption. During his
investigations he has found time to deliver
medical lectures. and many w2l-established
physic ians In various countries ovor Europe
a9d in Anefiea di also ~ hayS ,b been is D
this city. was associated witt him at two diilsr-
ert pfrIo IS the lsss a1oq, Te years ago
mens We H. s's stnasats
and ultimate friends knew the general course
Investigations mann OF them hayo followed the
ilnts that he marked out at tina! time. ierson-
yr' Is nI t bSs modest man
cd with the overwhelming Importance Of his
o own work and the results obtn ned. Whether
eocia;ions with him were confined to the iabo-
rhtory and lecture, room. He was, however.
en- inentIy approachabs although absorbed IN
thought and few words. Ho never expressed IN
opinion unless his investigate had brought
maud on " hich 10 base it, His method and
! hat OF Pasteur are identical in prinoipe and,
i and n9
The pioneer, Koch has been the developer. and
he certainly has pr 2gressed wonderfully. lam
for consumption is. but Judge thai It consists
IN strengthening the tissues against the at
Of the
ter to the system which gives them insufficient
nourishment
from como OF the leading nhyeicians in this
city their opinions o. Dr. hochs discovery
The answer we ~ every @ case n Wa mat b 1t was TOO
no one knows what the discovery Is.
Dr. A. L. Looinis OF 10 West Thirty-four
the ws known specialist In diseases Of
Et efyihnE j. ss yet . mere matter Of oon-
Who'll he Snts w az a.
Ee dossn' say what it is, but simply that be
has experimented enough with II. to know
that 1t will stop tn bcrcui iosis In animals and
some forms of tuberculosis In the human
body. That is about as lar rs you can 20 at
present. DR.. Koch Is without doubt the most
reliable experimentef this century has seen, |
ard from what he Snys about his discovery l |
have tho e eatest hopes OF it's ultimate -uccess. |
y on must remcmbe however that he olnins
nothing. Ilo is work ing 10 line where We may |
We shall probably know a. about his discovery. |
Prof. Koch Is very moderate In whatever he |
snys on this subject. Whether consumption. |
la its milder forms. can be cured or not. l. yet |
uncertain. In Its advanced stage. / can hardly |
ree how 1t is possible TO find u cure. As un- |
ierstRnd It. DR.. Koch has experimental only |
on hone tuberculosis so far. tut II be can kin |
hacilli in bone developmeuts hs
would undoubteliy lie able to arrest their |
gro Nth in other tissues"
DIR. Fordyce Barker OF "a East Thirty-eighth |
street based his faith IN tho discovery on his |
great confidence in DR.. Koch. He snid:
His character and reputation ore such that
eveIy physician pays attention 10 what he
says. but he has no, carried his experiments
far enough himself to airNe mt any satisfac-
Tory result. There are, however. the most san
guine expectations throughout the profess
slona world OF q revolution In the trsatnen mt Of
DR.. Koch . expariments have not
been numerous enough to settle tho Guestion
Df how DR. ractic abb his diRco oyery will be. When