The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1890-12-13
DR. ALBERT KOCH.
The Discoverer Of the Cure for Con-
sumption.


Nothing in the progress of medical
science has excited such a sudden and
worldwide interest as the recent dis
coverv of DIR. Koch of cure for con-
sumption.
DR.. Koch has been seeking a cure
for consumption for several years. He
has conducted his inquiries from the
first on the theory that consumption
was caused by micro-organisms, al
though his medicle confreres were at
first disbelieyers in the germ theory;
but the doctor kept right on in that
line. He began by pure cultivation
of the bacillus, and found ethereal oils,
tar pigments, mercurial vapors, salt of
gold and silver, and especially cyanide
of gold. efficacious in destroying the
germ, but this could not be done in
the body of animals without also
destroying the animal.
81 continued my Search" he said in
a recent address, land at last found
what sought Susceptible rs the
guinea-pig is to tha tubcrcle bac illus,
il proved non-inoculablc when treat
ell with the substance in question.
Even when the disease was far ad
yanced, it could be brought TO stand
still by this means"
This fact may give occasion to
search for similar effective remedies
in other infectious diseases also, and
here lies the field tor an international
contest ofthe highest aud noblest kind.
His preparation for this cure is a
transparent liquid, which is injected
simultaneously Y, at first in intinitesimal,
but gradually increased quantities.
When taken into the stomach, II has
no effect. The effect of the injection
is to produce necrosis, or mortiheaton
of the tubereular tissue, in other
words. to Kill the bacilli in the lungs
or in whatever organ attacked. Once
killed, nature tries to expel the corp
ses, as il does with all dead tissues
and here the aid of the physician or
surgeon may be required to complete
its purposes When the neerotic mat
ter is expelled from the system the
patient is cured. though the treatment
should be continued for awhile IN
order TO prevent fresh settlements OF
bacilIi. DIR. Koch is careful TO say
that his system is only likely to sue
ceed in the early stages of tuberculosis !;
where there are large cavities 10 the
lungs, in which bacilli are lodged in
great numbers, lie doubts The power
of the fluid 10 expell them; but IN the
earlier stages of the disease he is in
clined TO be confident of the efficacy
of his remedy.
The doctor keeps to himself the
secret of his discovery. He has not
revealed the material employed III its
manufacture, or the method of its
preparation.
1t is said that patients who have
been treated in the ea!ly stages of
consumption have been freed from
the morbid symptoms within from
four to six weeks, when they may be
regarded as healed. Consumptiyes
with large cavities in their lungs will
probably experience benefit from
the new remedy only in exceptional
cases. In all cases, Prof. Koch en-
phasizes the necessity OF early treat
ment. Only in the incipient stages of
the disease, he declares, can the
remedy fully develop its efficacy. He
deprecates the mechanical and in
discriminate application ofthe remedy
holding it preferable that the treat
ment should be applied in suitable
institutions where careful observation
is possible.
This cure received its first great
impetus during the Worlds Medical
Congress which recently met at Berlin,
and was attended by physicians from
all parts of Europe and America.
Since that time hundreds of medical
men, not attendant upon the Congress,
have visited Berlin to acquaint them
selves with the treatment. Hospitals
are alse being established in many of
the large cities in Europe and this
country for this special treatment.
It is said that there were some 1900
foreign physicians in Berlin on the
10Th instant.
This treatment has been tried for
lupus of the face--a variety of cancer
but has not proved altogether sue
cessful. In one case, treated by the
doctor himself, it has again reappear-
ed, as it generally does after treat
ment with the knife.