Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1890-11-22
CONSERVATIVE CURE.
Professor Koch's Curative Lymph for Pre-
vaient Diseases.

hhOSth - ~ ~
valent Diseases.
BERLIN, Nov. 1.-THE article
by Professor Koch in this weeks
German Medical Weekly, on his
new consumption cure, Is a lengthy and
exhaustive one. The professor says no
is as yet unprepared to indicate the
source from which the curative matter
is obtained or to explain the method Of
preparation, the experimental work not
yet being complete. The curative lymph
can, however, be obtained from DR..
Libbertsz, % ~Lueneburgen s~trasse, Der.
lin. The lymph is described as con.
sisting of a brownish transparent
liquid. When taken into the stomach
1t has no effect. 1t must be applied
simultaneously by means Of a valveless
syringe. When diluted with water to
the necessary degree for use, the lymph
Is liable to decay and then the attenu.
ations should be sterilized by heat.
Twenty-Five one-hundredths Of a GU
bic centemeter intensely affected a
healthy man who vas subjected to the
experiment, while two cubic centeme-
tiers applied to a guinea pig had little
effect. Professor Koch injected twenty
five one-hundredths OF a cubic centeme-
ter under the skin OF his own arm and
within a few hours experienced a con-
traction of the limbs and a marked feel
ing of lassitude. At the same time he
felt a desire to cough, together with a
difficulty in breathing. These symp-
toms increased rapidly and in five hours
he experienced unusually violent rigor.
accompanied with nausea, and the tenn
perature of the body rose rapidly. After
twelve hours the symptoms began to
abate and the next day the body re-
sumed its normal degree. Heaviness of
the limbs and u languid feeling con-
tinued several days, however. The
same results follow when the fluid is
applied to diseased persons suffering
from other than tuberculosis affections,
but in persons affected with tubercul-
osis the same quantity produces a strong
general and local reaction. The re-
action can best be observed in those
whose affection is visible, as, for In
stance, persons suffering from lupus.
Within a few hours after injection the
lupus sores begin TO swell and finally
assume a dark brown tint. After
the fever subsidies the swelling de-
creases and generally disappears, the
scabs Of matter falling off later. Por-
tions of the skin not clearly recognized
as lupus arc not affected.
1t is asserted with confidence that the
remedy may be considered an indis-
pensible auxiliary to diagnosis and in
doubtful cases incipient consumption
can be positively diagnosed by its use.
Professor Koch expresses the belief that
his remedy will certainly prove a cure
for incipient consumption. Whether,
however, the cure will be final and def
mite is not clearly proved, and further
experiments will be necessary TO de-
termine. The remedy can only infiu-
ence the living tuberculous tissue.
1t has no effect whatever mpon dead
tissue and produces no effect upon
tissues which have already been killed
by the application OF the remedy. 1t is
quite possible such dead tissue may still
contain living tuberculos bacilli, which
may again invade adjacentliving tissue.
1t follows. therefore. that the tuber
culos 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
surgery. When this is impossible and
secretion car only slowly proceed, the
living tissue must be protected by con-
tinued applications OF the remedy. The
remedy is applied in cumulative doses
A small quantity at first %suifices to pro-
duce strong reaction, but as each sue
ceeding injection causes the disappear
ance of a certain quantity OF tissue
capable Of reaction, increased doses are
until the patient experiences
as little reaction as non-tuberculos
people.
The patients who have been treated
in the early stages Of phthisis have all
freed from tho morbid symptoms
within from four TO six weeks, when
they may be regarded as healed. Con-
sumptives, with large cavities in their
lungs, will probably experience benefit
from the new remedy only in excep-
tional cases. In all cases Professor
Roch emphasizes the necessity Of early
treatment. Only in incipient stages OF
the disease, he declares, can the remedy
develop its efficacy. lie depre-
Gates mechanical and indiscriminate
application OF the remedy, holding it
preferable that treatment should be APP
piled in suitable institutions where
observation is possible.