Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-11-18
MILLIONS IN THEM.
DR.. Billings Shows = Star Reporter
Specimens of Bacilli tuberculosis.


HE HAS PATH IN DR. KocH's cAREFuLNEss As
AN ISyEsrfGAroR-THK COMPLETION OF TIE
GREAT GERAAS's WORK INTERPRETED WITH
BY THE PREMATURE ANNOUNCEMENT.
They are not pretty, but are energetic to the
highest degree. They are specimens Of bacillus
tuberculosis and are confined in little glass
test tube in the Army Medical Museum. DR..
John s. Billings kindly introduced a STAR re-
porter to this specimen Of lively life which ID
creating SO much talk just now through the
remedy which DR.. Koch, the famous German
investigator, is supposed to have discovered for
tuberculosis The specimen in the test tube,
DR.. Billings said was sufficient to give every man,
woman and child in Washington good case OF
consumption. The STAR reporter moved sud-
denly back from the case. He did not Jump.
but he moved backward and respectfully looked
at Mr.. Tuberculosis. The gentleman consisted
OF several little round dark spots growing on q
gelatine film. DIR. Billings said tho spots con-
sisted of millions and millions Of microscopic
threads, and the reporter took his word for II
and waived going near enough to count them.
Ia the same case were a large number of speci-
mems OF different portions Of the human
anatomy which had been attacked by
this insiduous bacillus In another
case were a Tot OF specimens OF hog cholera,
diPhtheria and other pleasant and pretty little
germs. but they were altogether different from
tuberculosis. They were far more pretty but
did not have his business like air.
DIR. BILLINGS VIEW OF IT.
DR.. Billings is known as one OF the mos.
careful and thorough students and investiga.
tors in the country, and his opinion on DIR.
koch's new discovery is exceedingly important.
The fact that it is DR.. Koch who has made
this investigation and claim" said DR.. Billings.
'sdds tremendous weight to tho affair. DR..
Koch is known all over the word as a brilliant.
but, at the same time, a careful and
entirely thorough investigation: He seldom
or never makes mistakes. His invcstiga-
ton and discovery of the cholera germ
and the bacillus tuberculosis itself were first re-
ceived with considerable skepticism, but later
researches and Developments prove DR.. koch's
first announcements rs regards these matters to
have been accurate IN nearly every particular
Had any other Investigator announced the dis
covery Of a cure for tuberculosis the medical
world would have received it with scepticism
and disbelief. With DR.. Koch it il entirely
different and believe that undoubtedly the
great German has added another and still
greater discovery to his already long list. /
judge this not only from the character of the
nlan, but also from tho fact that from
the few eminent physicians to whom
his remedy come assurances of their
eulEe Dtilei III IT'S eElcacy. IN INV opinion IL 10
rather unfortunate that DR.. Koch was practi-
cally forced into q premature announcement of
his discovery. 1t would have been better if
the matter could have been kept secret until
the investigation had been entirely finished
and the result with the constituents in full
could be announced. As it is. DR.. Koch's work
has, am sure, been seriously impeded by the
general excitement which his announcement
has caused The medical profession has flocked
to Berlin, and DR.. Koch has been bcsieged on
all sides. Fabulous sums of money have been
offered him by interested parties Of all kinds.
and no doubt the clamor and excite
ment has interfered with the pro-
gress Of his work. Then, again, take this
country alone. In the United States there are
probably SOC, 900 or 100000 persons suffering
from consumption. The announcement OF Dr.
kochs discovery has placed Dearly every one
OF these sufferers on the hooks OF excitement.
They are hoping and fearing. Their hopes
nourish them and their fears torture.
'Dr. hoch's remedy for tuberculosis will prove
greater boon to humanity than is even gen.
prove cure for consumption when the attack
is on the lung. but will open up wide and gen.
eral law. When DIR. Koch discovered ard
showed to the world what consumption con-
sisted OF 1t was found that the bacillus tubercu-
losis was the cause Of disease in all portions Of
the body. As you saw from the specimens in
the museum it attacks the spleen, the bones of
the body, &c. The discovery Of a remedy for
these various ills arising from tho same insidi-
Gus bacillus 1T will be plainly seen will prove one
OF the greatest &C achievements of modern science
In my opinion 1t is now only matter OF O very
short time before DIR. Koch will make a full
announcement of his remedy, giving q full
history of his course and detailed explanation
OF the remedy's composition