The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-11-15
THROW PHYSIC TO THE DOGS.
Prof Koch Has Found the Remedy Of she
Century. tg

BKRLM, Nov. A.-Prof Koch publishes
an article in the Deutsche Nedisinieche
Wochenschrift for the cureof tuberculosis.
Prof. Koch says he 10 yet unprepared TO
indicate the source from which the cur
ative matter is derived and the method Of
preparation, for the reason that exneri.
mental work is still in progress. He states
that the curative lymph itself can be OBJ
tanned from DIR. Libbertx, 28 Lueneburuer
Strasss, Berlin. The lymph is described q
consisting of a br0wnish transparent liquid
so prepared az to be proof against deteriora-
tion when diluted With water for uss,
Twenty-Five hundredths Of cubic cent?
meter intensely affected 4 healthy man who
was subjected TO tho experiment., while two
cubic centimeters applied to guinea pin
had little effect. Prof. Koch injected
twenty-five hundredths Of cubic Centiuonter
under the akin Of his own arm and witkt6' q
few hours experienced 4 contraction os
limbs and marked feeling Of lassitude.
At the same time he felt desire to cough,
together with difficulty Of breathing.
These symptoms increased rapidly, and In
ave hours 10 experienced unusually violent
riGor, accompanied with nausea and the
twelve hours the symptoms began to abate
and next day his body resumed normal de-
gree. The heRviness Of limbs and lanQuid
feeling continued for several days, however.
The Same reselts follow when the fluid is
applied TO diseased persons suffering
fections, but in persons affected
with tuberculosis the same quantity pro-
duces strong, general and local reaction.
The reaction can best be observed on those
whose affection is visible, do for instance,
persons suffering from lupus. Within
few hours after injection lupun sores begin
to swell and finally assume y dark brown
tint. After the fever subsidies the swelling
decreases and generally disappears, scabs
of matter falling of later. Portions of tho
akin not clearly recognized a. lupus are
not affected. It is asserted with confidence
that the remedy may be considered an in
dispensihle auxiliary. to diagnosis. and in
doubtful casss incipient consumption can
positively be diagnosed by its use. Prof.
Koch expressed the opinion that his remedy
will certainly prove cure for incipient
consumption. Whether, however, the cure
will be final and definite ID not clearly
proved. Further experiments will be nee
essary to determine. The remedy can only
influence living tuberculous tissue. It has
no effect whatever upon tissues which al
ready have been killed by the application
OF q remedy. It is quite possible that such
dead tissue may still contain living tuber-
jacent living tissue. It'foiiows, therefore,
that tuberculous tissue that is still living
must be made first to decay. When this
has been accomplished every effort must be
made to remove the dead matter by sur
gerry. Where this is impossible and score
tion can only slowly proceed living tissue
must be protected by continued application
Of the remedy. The remedy is applied in
cumulative doses. A small quantity at first
sufiices to produce strong reaction, but as
each succeeding injection causes
the disappearance of q certain
quantity Of tissue that Is capable
Of reaction increased doses are necessary
until the patient experiences az little reac- |
tion as non-tuberculous people.
The patients who have been treated in |
early stages Of fphthisis have all been freed
from morbid sympt0ms within from four !
to six weeks, when thcy may b. regarded |
as healed. Consumptives with large cavi- |
ties in their lunas will probably experience
benefit from the new remedy only in excep-
tional cases. In all cases Prof. Koch en-
ghasizes the necessity Of early treatment.
Only in the incipient stages Of the disease,
he declares, can the remedy fully develop
its efficiency. He deprecates the mechani-
cal and indiscriminate application Of the
remedy, holding it preferable that treat
ment should be applied in suitable institu-
tions where careful observation is possible.