Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-25
A Pittsburg Physician Who Is Going
to Confer With Prof. Koch.
THE LIFE STUDY OF DIR. MUNDORFF.
He Thinks the German Scientist Must
Tackle Another Germ,
THE ONE THAT DOES THE FATAL W0Rl


and scientists have settled down to digest
and fathom its merits, the announcement Is
made that DR.. Edgar A. Mundorf, the emf
nent bacteriologist, microscopic and pathol-
ogist of this city, by the cooperation OF
several of his medical friends, will shortly
leave for Berlin to minutely study Koch's
methods and decide the exact limits of their
possibilities.
DIR. Mundorff has since 1881 been at work,
OH lines somewhat similar to Prof. Koch's,
and his experiments have been watched with
great interest by some of the most advanced
men of the profession in the city.
The doctor had planned to leave for Ber-
lin inside the next two weeks, but does not
now knoY just when he can start on his
mission. 1t will not be long, though, before
he is on his way.
1t is understood that the Southside Medi-
cal Society, one OF the most wideawake
scientific bodies in the United States, will
authorize DR.. Mundorf to represent it in
his Berlin researches. When he returns he
will bring back some of the lymph with
him for experiment. and will send some to
his friends while there, unless, indeed, the
exact information is gained which will lead
to the manufacturing of the lymph in this
country, the principles by which it is Sc
cured being already known.
One Little Fellow That Gets Away.
1t is claimed that DR.. Koch's lymph does
not dispose of a bacillus which is as much
the important factor in the later stages of
consumption as the tubercle bacillus is in
the early ravages of the disease
This second little germ is the putre-
factive bacillus, which scientists have
studied and even found remedies
which would in a measure destroy it, but
not effectually, especially when located in
deep-seated cavities. 1t is this second little
destroyer that DR.. Muudorff is cunning
after, and If he has found an effective
lymph for it, the world will not know OF the
fact until he gets ready to divulge the result
of his researches more fully.
DR.. Mundorff was found in his study yes
terday, his ever-present microscopes before
him, and around about him tubes containing
disease germs of various kinds and in dif-
ferent stages of culture, many mysterious
vials, little boxes, instruments, etc., were
strewn about on the tables. The doctor was
asked about the proposed Berlin trip, but
was uncommunicative, saying, II have not
said anything abou: it so that it could
reach the public,
When it was learned that the story was
out, the doctor at last wheeled around in his
chair, carefully set aside a little tube con-
tanning enough of the germs of some disease
to kill hundred men, and "fessed up"
though with great reluctance, as he said he
was not after notoriety. and some of those
interested with him might not wish any
publicity given to the trip.
DR. Mundorff Induced to Talk.
In the course of the interview, DR.. Mum
dorff said: "Prof. Koch has proved him.
self most painstaking and accomplished
worker. His studFo the life, history and
ravages of the tubercle germ in the lung
tissues of human beings and animals is
complete, leaving little to be desired. His
discovery of the so-calle.' lymph, adopted
by him for the cure of consumption, has ap-
parently led to much needed results in the
domain of tubercular disease.
"But, while we welcome the magnificent
results coming from the laboratory IF the
Berlin professor, we cannot help feeling
that the treatment of diseases due to bacteria
is still in its infancy. For instance, con-
slider the present outlook as regards the
treatment of tuberculous diseases. No man
conversant with these serious maladies
will doubt for moment that
the best remedy at hand, Koch's
lymph, has limited field of action, and:that
field of action, of necessity, covers tuber-
culous ard perhaps kindred diseases during
the earlier phases of their development. In
tuberculous disease there are secondary
changes, following the primary ones, which
are not directly due to the bacillus of Koch.
1t is as true that in the later stages of con-
sumption, as it is true in any other pus
forming and disiutegrating structures out
side of the lungs, that the putrefactive
bacteria, or bacilli, fill an important role,
which is only too definite and certain in
determining the lie of the patient.
s'Now, the true bacillus of consumption
invades the tissues, excites by the reaction
that they Set up in the living tissues certain
definite changes, which lead to the forma-
.tion of new tissue known as granulation It's
sue At this point the action of the disease
germ proper of tubercle comes to an end,
and the action of Koch's lymph is to destroy
this tissue, which tissue, it not destroyed by
Koch's lymph, will undergo further con-
secutive changes, as it invades the proper
lung tissue around and about. and is con-
verted into masses of lowlv organized mat
ter that impair the breathing capacity of
the lungs.
Work of the Destructive Agent.
cat this time we find the putrefactive
bacteria in various forms, in all their
glory, turning the masses that are breaking
down into pus, commingled with other
portions of tissue debris, and it will be
readily seen that these serious changes
going on IN the structures of the lungs,
which are due to the presence of the
putreiative bacteria, open up a field so
wide that, before consumption can be cured,
(meaning by the term consumption, a
disease of the lungs associated with struc-
tural changes), it is doubul is we are
wrong when We say that the treatment is
in its infancy, in spite OF the existence of
Koch's lymph.
"These putrefactive bacteria, formidable
in numbers and rapid in their work. have
proved to the medical experimenter difficult
to be gotten rid OF in deep-seated cavities.
With others who pin their faith to the
promises of advancing medical science, ]
do not hesitate to say that in the future We
shall arrive at broadness OF grasp and u
precision in the application OF chosen reme-
dies that will far surpass the present fat
tering results achieved by the bacteriolo-
gist in the German capital.
81 do not wish to ~ more at present, and
wish had not told you so much. But say.
must get down to work. Thatpesky little
scamp bothers me, and the doctor was left
nursing his queer pets. the while studying
how to kill them.
-FOUR hundred and seventy pleased buy
ers went out OF our doors in SINGLE hour
yesterday. This by actual count. Pleased,
hecause each one must have felt satisfied