The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-11-15
An Article on the Cure Of
Tuberculosis.
The Doctor Unable to Indicate the Source
Of the Curative Matter.
Effects Of the Remedy Upon Healthy and
Affected Persons Who Have Been Sub
jected to Experiments.
Epeeial to THE MORNING CALL.

BERLIN, Nov. 14.-Professor Koch pub
fishes an article in the Deutsche Med
inizsche Wochenschrift on the cure OF
tuberculosis. Professor Koch says be is as
yet unprepared to indicate the source from
which the curative matter is derived and
the method of preparation, for the reason
that experimental work is still in progress
He states the curative lymph itself can be
obtained from DIR. Libbertz, whose address
is 2S Lueneburger strasse, Berlin.
The lymph is described as consisting OF
bruwDish, transparent liquid, so prepared
as to be proof against deterioration. When
diluted with water for use, the matter is
liable to decay 1t is necessary. therefore,
that the attenuations be perfectly sterillzed
by heat and preserved in wadding covering
or prepared with a solution of phenol 90
per cent strong. When taken into the
stomach the curative matter proves to have
no effect. 1t must be applied subcutane-
ously by means of valveless syringe.
which must be rinsed with absolute alcohol
and kept in perfectly asceptic condition.
Twenty-Five hunjredths of a cubic cent?
meter intensely affected healthy man who
was subjected to an experiment while two
cubic centimeters applied to Guinea pig
had little effect Professor Koch injected
twenty-five hundredths of cubic cent?
meter under the skin of his own arm, and,
within a few hours experienced a contrac-
ton of the limbs and marked feeling Of
lassitude, at the same time he felt the de-
sire to cough together with difficulty of
breathing. These symptoms increased
rapidly and in five hours he experienced an
unusually violent rigor, accompanied with
nausea and the temperature of his body
rose rapidly.
After twelve hours the symptoms began
to abate and the next day his body resumed
its normal degree. The heaviness of the
limbs and the laDguid feeling continued sew
eral days, however. The same results fol-
low when the fluid is applied to diseased
persons suffering from other than tuber-
culosis affections, but in persons affected
with tuberculosis the same quantity pro-
duces general and local reaction.
The reaction can best be observed in those
whose affection is visible, as, for instance.
persons suffering IRON lupus. Within few
hours after the injection the lupus sores be-
gan to swell and finally assumed a dark
brown tint. The fever subsidies, the swell
ing decreases and generally disappears, scabs
of matter falling off later. Those portions
of the skin not clearly recognized as lupus
are not affected 1t is asserted with conf
dence that the remedy may be considered an
indispensable auxiliary TO diagnosis, and in
doubtful cases inciDient consumption can be
diagnosed by its use.
Professor Koch expresses the belief that
his remedy will certainly prove cure for
inciplent consumption. Whether, however,
the cure will be final and definite is not def
initely proved. further experiments being
necessary to determine. The remedy can
only influence the living tuberculous tissue.
1t has no effect upon dead tissue and pro-
duces no effect upon tissues which have al
ready been killed by the application of the
remedy. 1t is quite possible that such
remedy may still contain living tubercules
bacilli which may again invade the adjacent
living tissue.
1t follows. therefore, that tuberculous tis-
sue that IS still living must be made first TO
decay When this has been accomplished
every effort must be made to remove the
dead matter by surgery. Where this is i'm
possible and the secretion can only slowly
proceed, the living tissue must be protected
by continued application of the remedy.
The remedy is applied in cumulative doses.
a small quantity at first suffices to produce
a. ShiObS uCtlou, bub do tdCi ouCCttulliB III
lection causes the disappearance of certain
quantity of tissue capable Of reaction. in
creased doses are necessary until the patient
experiences as little reaction as non uber-
culous people.
Patients who have been treated in the
early stages of pbthisis have all been freed
from the morbid symptoms within from
four to six weeks. when they may be re-
garded as healed. Consumptves with large
cavities in their lungs will probably expert
ence a benefit from the new remedy only
in exceptional cases. In all cases
Professor Koch emphasizes the necessity
of early treatment Only in the incipient
stages of the disease, he declares. can the
remedy fully develop its efficacy. He depre-
Gates the mechanical and indiscriminate ap-
plication of the remedy, holding it prefera-
BILE that the treatment should be applied in
suitable institutions where careful observa-
i'm L.