The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1890-11-20
1t Will Only Cure Exceptional
Cases.
Prof. Koch's Discovery Which Is Rails.
ing Intense Excitement Through.
out the Medical World.

W
to discover substance which would
prove to be cure for tubercular con-
sumption. While the American news.
papers have frequently called attention
to the promised discovery Of Prof. Koch,
the medical journals have given it very
little prominence, preferring to wait for
some more substantial grounds for their
comments and criticisms than the wild
sensational rumors which have from
time to time been cabled from Europe.
Many prominent medical men having
been hoaxed two years ago into trying
the discovery which has since made
Brown. Sequard's name by-word and a
scoffing, preferred to await more reliable
accounts from the inventor himself of
the merits of this much desired
remedy.
Prof. Koch is recognized as one of the
most careful and conscientious Of scien-
fists, and is the acknowledged leader of
all investigators in the field of bacteri-
ology or the study of germs. When last
week he announced that hisexperiments
had progressed far enough to warrant
him in announcing to the world the dis
covery OF a substance which would
destroy the bacilli or germs OF consump-
ton in living tissues, the scientists Of
the world threw off their reserve and
Prof. Koch and his laboratory in Berlin
became the points about which centers
the eager curiosity of the scientific
minds OF the age.
In an article published last Thursday
in German medical journal, the Pro-
fessor states that he has at last succeed
ed in producing substance which will
cure the incipient stages OF phthisis or
consumption, although he declines as
yet to make known the secret of it's
preparation. Several American physi.
clans are of the opinion that it is prep
aration of vacciae virus mixed with some
metallic salt. This, however, is mere
supposition. Koch describes it as a
brownish lymph, which very readily
deteriorates if not carefully preserved.
His first experiment consisted in inocu.
lating guinea pigs with germs taken
from tubercuar patients. When the
guinea pigs had developed symptoms of
consumption they were treated with in
jections of the curative matter. The re-
suit of these trials encouraged Koch to
try the experiment upon human sub
jects. Eight persons who were suffer-
ing from different forms of tuberculosis
submitted themselves to his treatment,
each signing written agreement to
abide by the results whatever they
might be. The method of treatment
was to inject the fluid under the skin on
the small of the back. The result in
almost every case was destruction of
the germs and restoration of the
health OF the patient. In persons suf-
fering from lupus, which is condition
OF the skin or membranes corresponding
to consumption of the lungs, the action
OF the treatment upon the bacili was
plainly discernable. Koch and his as
sistants do not promise to cure advanced
cases, but claim that incipient tubercu.
losis can be checked by this specific
treatment.
What gives the scientific world great
in this apparently miraculous
discovery is the high character OF the
discoverer and the modest unpretentious
way in which it has been announced.
In view OF the almost universal prev
alence of tubercular consumption and
The deadly ravages which it makes upon
human life in every climate and under
every condition Of society, the discovery
'f Prof. Koch, If it fulflls the moderate
promises he has made for it, deserves TO
'ank with the greatest achievements Of
human invention. The Germans; as
we'll as the hundreds Of physicians from
America and England who are focking
% Berlin, are enthusiastic. Prof. Moth
nsgel, addressing the students of the
University, said:
"We face one of the greatest intellect
aal achie- sments in the province Of
for centuries past. Poi. Koch's
discovery has q far wider scope than
Jenner's, and is perhaps the grandest
feat in the history ofour science. What
inspires me with admiration is not 80
much the actual discovery as the method
Of archaeological research, which must
serve ~ the basis OF all future discoveries
In that liae. The present moment 10
among the most sublime that humanity
has known"
The only skeptical criticism Of Koch's
comes from France. Prof.
Bronardel, leading French physician,
says: = J3f =
"Unil We know the composition Of
the remedy, history Of the sxpssimsnts
on animals and the PROLONGED thornr.