The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-11-18
Or. Koch's Consumption Cure.

Ors NoCn consumption cure
That there should be some skepticism in
regard to the efficacy of Prof. Koch's diEcov-
cry is natural enough. 1t was only a few
years ago that many physicians believed that
consumption could be cured by the injection
OF sulphuretted hydrogen gas. Some of the
early results obtained by this method seemed
TO be very promising, and the new remedy
obtained wide publicity and quite extensive
use. 1t was soon found, however, that the
good results of the treatment were but tenn
pOrary, and really consisted in but little
more than brief stimulus of the patient.
The sufferer after this treatment appeared
better. but after the stimulating effects of
the remedy;had subsidized he fell back to his
previous condition. The disease had not
been arrested. The patient had simply been
temporarily braced up. After a run of a
few months the new treatment was discarded
as entirely Intellectual. Long continued ex.
periments may show Prof. Koch's method
equally useless.
But there are certain phenomena visible t
the eye which tend strongly to sustain the
claims made for Prof. Koch's discovery
The most that could be said for the Bour-
geon remedy was that after its ap-
plication there appeared to be a general
improvement in the condition of the patient
Ihere was no proof that the remedy had
produced any effect upon the cause of the
disease, which Is generally admitted now to
pe speclhc organism known in science as the
'uDercular bacillus There was no evidence
Whatever that sulphuretted hydrogen had
any effect upon this organism. In fact the
ultimate results showed pretty conclusiyely
that IL had none, and whatever of improve
Mehb IL produced in the condition of the pa.
uent was due to a stimulating effect
upon his nervous system But there
is positive proof that Prof. Koch's rem
edy directly affects in some way these
causatlVe organisms. This has been demon
strated In Way that leaves no room for
doubt. Tubercular affections exist not alone
IN the lungs, where they are out of sight,
put are frequently found near the sur
lace oil the body, where any changes in them
can DC seen by the eye. In cases of this
anu an application of the Professors reme-
uy mas oeen speedily followed by a marked
onahge In these tubercular affections-a
change not the subject of guess work lint
N W Plalnly seen Dy the eye.
cnange has always followed the injection
VI tne Professors lymph and it has always
peen Oh the same kind, thus demonstrating
sUncluSiVely that the lymph did have some
uilect ana positive effect upon the tubercu-
isr anection. Precisely the nature of that
enecs We snail not undertake to describe
Dut that there is one all the eminent men
VINO have used the remedy agree, and thew
all agree, too, that it was curative in its ten
dency. The operation Of the remedy mon
tubercles existing in the lungs cannot of
course be seen, but it is reasonable to sun-
pose that it is similar to that observed in the
case oil the visible tubercular affection, and
also curative.
Ahotner Thing that tends greatly to strength.
en- confidence In the value of Prof. Koch's
discovery is the great eminence of the dis
coverer. Really scientific men, like Prof
Koch, are very slow to proclaim their faitt
in new process or new remedy-especIall,
one like this, which will attract the atten
ton of the whole civilized world-unles,
they have very conclusively demonstrated ii,
efficacy Prof. Koch's researches were, t.