The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1890-11-22
HIS METHOD.
Prof Koch's Promised Article on
the Cure of Tuberculosis.
Hc Does Not Indicate whence tho Mat
ter Is Derived Nor How 1t Is Pre-
pared, but Tells You Whore
1t Can he Purchased.

1t Can he Purchased.
Tho article by Prof. Koch in the Deutscho
Medizinisch wochenschrift, Berlin, is entitled;
| "Further communications on the cure OF tuber-
culosis and experiments which DR.. Libbertz and
Staff Surgeon Pruhl performed relating there'
| to, under Prof Koch's direction"
In this article Prof. Koch says that he is, MS
| yet unprepared to indicate the source from
| which the curative matter is derived. Neither
| is he ready to explain the method OF propara-
tion. The reason he gives is, that the expert
| mental work has not yet been brought to COM
| pletion. He states, however, that the curative
| lymph itself can now bo obtained from Dr' LID
| bertz, whose address is No. % Luenenbergor
| strasse, Berlin.
| The lymph is described as consisting OF q
| brownish, transparent liquid. tits so prepared
| rs to be proof against deterioration. When,
however, 1t is diluted with water to the neces-
| sary degree for use the matter is liable 10 ue'
cay. 1t is necessary, therefore, that the nttenu.
ntions should be perfectly sterilzed by heat and
| preserved In wadding covering, or prepared
| with solution OF phenolt fifty percentages
strong
When taken into tho stomach the curative
| matter proves to have no effect 1t must be ap-
Piled subcutaneously by means of a valveless
syringe. The kind OF syringe recommended by
Prof. Koch is one furnished with small hollow
rubber ball. This syringe approved itself to
him during his meteorological experiments It's
merit is that 1t oan be easily and surely rinsed
with absolute alcohol, and kept In perfectly
nntiseptic condition. In thousands OF cases, he
says whore 1t has boon used for sub-cutaneous
injections not single absccss resulted
When the curative matter Is applied to pa
tient the useful course is to inject 1t undcr the
skin of tho back, between the shoulder blade
and In proximity TO the loius. The experiments
show that human beings are much moro suscept-
ible to the effect OF the new substance than are
guinea pigs, which have been largely used In
the course Of the Investigations.
Two cubic centimeters of tho fluid applied to
o guinea pig produced little, II any. apparent
effect Twenty-Five hundrodths Of . cubit centf
meter. however, intensely affected q healthy,
full-grown man who was subjected to export
ment. Prof. Koch experimental with the hufd
upon his own body, and describes the eject
He injected twenty-five hundredths Of o cubic
centimster of tho fluid under the skin
OF his upper arm. Three or four hours
after this injection was made he expert
enced contraction of the limbs and
q marked feeling OF lassitude- Az the same
time he felt desire to cough, together with
difficulty Of breathing. These symptoms in
creased rapidly, and in the NTH hour he ex-
perienced an unusually violent rigor. The shiv-
erng lasted for nearly an hour. and was accom-
panied with nausea and vomiting. The temper-
nture Of his body rose to 396 centigrade. After
u period OF twelve hours the symptoms began TO
abate, tho temperature OF the body declined,
and on the following day resumed its normal de-
aree. The heayiness of the limbs and the feel
inJ of lassitude however, continued for some
days, during which time the point on his arm at
which the injection was made continued to be
painful and remained red.
Prof Koch deprecates the mechanical and
indiscrmnate application of the remedy. He
holds that It would be preferable that tho
treatment should be applied in suitable insti-
tstions where careful observation would be
possible.
Prof. Koch says that suficient experience has
not yet been collected regarding tuberculosis OF
the bone and larynx and military tuberculosis to
justify the expression of any opinion in regard
TO the efficacy OF the remedy.
The experiments so far conducted show that
the lowest limit OF effective strength OF the
fluid in q healthy human body is one-hun-
dredth of cubic centimeter. When this amount
is applied to q healthy human subject It pro-
duces little or no reaction. The same result
follows when the fluid of this strength is np-
piled to diseased persons, who are suffering
from other than tuberculosis affections, but in
persons affected with tuberculosis the same
quantity produces a strong general and local
reaction. The general reaction consists of an
attack OF fever, which usually begins with
shivering The temperature Of the body rises
to over thrty-nine and in some instances even
to forty-ono centigrade. At the same time
pains in the limbs are noticeable. The pa
tient coughs, experiences much irritation
and great exhaustion. Some patients also
suffer nausea and vomiting. In some
cases there is noticed a slight ictrc daundice
like) coloring or exanthem resembling measles
on the chest and neck. The symptoms just de-
scribed begin to manifest themselves four or
five hours after the injection OF the curative
substance. They last from twelve to fourteen
hours. The patient is not much affected by the
attack induced by the fluid, and, after it is
over, feels comparatively well, even better, In
fact, than before the injection.
The second or local reaction produced by the
injection OF the fluid In a patient suffering from
tuberculosis can best be observed in persons
whose tuberoulous affections are visible, u.s. for
instance, In the case Of person suffering from
lupus. The changes which ensue in these cases
showed In q surprising manner the specifically
anti-tuberculous effect OF the remedy.
Puberculous affections OF the glands, latent
tuberculosis Of the bones, doubtful skin tuber-
culosis, etc., can by the use OF this fluid be
easily and certainly diagnosed. Moreover, in
cases of lung or Joint tuberculosis. which have
apparently passed of, it will be possible, by the
use OF the new substance, to ascertain with Ger.
tainty whether the morbid process is really and
absolutely ended
Prof Koch expresses the belief that his rem
edy will certainly prove n cure for incipont
phthisis. Whether however, the oure will be
final and definite hns not, he says, been clearly
proved. Further experiments and continued
use Of the remedy will be necessary to deter
mine this question.
In the cases experimental upon under the
direction of Prof. Koch the expectorations
gradually lost their purulent property and
assumed n mucous character. The number of
baccili expelled fully decreases only when the
expectorations begin to assume the mucous
appearance. The baccilli then disappear entire.
ly for time. but on occasions again appear
until expectoration totally ceases. At the
same time the night sweats cease the patients
begin to look better and they increase in weight
Patients who have been treated In the early
stages OF phthsis have all been freed from
morbid symptoms within from four to six weeks,
when they may be regarded as healed. Con-
sumptives with largo cavities in their lungs
will probably only experience benefit from the
new remedy In exceptional cases, though most
cases show temporary Improvement.
In all cases Prot. Koch emphasizes the neces-
sity OF early treatment Only In incipient
stages Of disease, he declares, can the remedy
fully devolope its efficacy.
There is regular exodus from the Mediter-
ranean shores Of consumptives to Berlin, and
the hotels are rapidly hfling. Many American
doctors have givon notice that they are coming
10 hear Pref. Koch's lecture on November go. A
host OF foreign doctors are arriving. The Italian