Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-05-16
THE KOCH LYMPH ExPERIMENrs.

Latest Conclusions ~ 20 the Emcacy OF ths
Supposed Cure for Consumption
To the Editor Of The Evening Star
observations on the treatment Of pulmo-
nary tuberculosis with this lymph" was the
subject before the stated meeting Of the New
York Academy OF Medicine last week DIR. y.
r. kinnicutt told about the experiment. AT 81
Luke's Hospital The result has led him 10
decide that the benefits from the lymph are
limited to the early stages Of tuberculosis. He
believed that il was capable Of doing more
good in primary phthisis than anything that
has yet been tried. But its use, he said, en-
tailed the greatest anxiety on the part Of the
physician. At Mt Sinai Hospital an account
OF the experiments was given BY DIR. X. n.
Heineman- Some Of the patients had been
cured, on some the lymph had had no effect
and IN cases of others the treatment had 90 lie
abandoned. At the Adirondack Sanitarium DIR.
Trudean reported that out of eight patients
one was cured, four improved, two were not
affected and one was injured. DIR. Truaean
thought that the lymph could not be used for
da kinds OF phthisis. and In certain forms it had
an injurious effect
On the other side Of the water the same con-
eiusions have been reached, as witness the fol-
lowing cablegram:
"BERLTS, May 9.-The deprecated esteem in
which the Koch method is held was plainly ex-
pressed during the course of today's debate in
the lower house Of the Prussian diet on the
vote for the Koch Institute. The supporters
OF tie vote spoke in an apologize manner.
Herr Graf, a member of the center party,
said that II had been widely acknowledged that
the lymph was Of value an aid in diagnosis.
but the chief interest Of the public lay in its
curative power as a remedy for tuberculosis
In this respect there had arisen general difap-
pointment following the high hopes at first en-
tertalned regarding the discoyery-not only
disappointment, but Tears also that the use of
the lymph endangered life"
In brief communication 20 your valued
paper few weeks ago 1 pointed out whv any
manufactured lymph could be Of no service in
hereditary consumption. and maryeled at the
Willingness of some distinguished physicians TO
experiment with II, In view of the simplest
pathological and physiological principles The
following IL summary of the experiments de-
duced from close observation OF all obtain-
able reports: IL seems 20 be established that in
the primary stage of phthisis ''de novo" or
without heredity, the lymph may be OF service
because the bacilli are localized, but. inferen-
TALLY, II Is just as well established that at any
Stage OF inherited consumption its use would
be injurious, the danger lying in the dispersion
OF the bacllli into sound tissues or lung Tissues
comparatively sound, but marked with the
latent germs Of hereditary disease, and that
this dispersion hastens the fatal ending. But
all this only shows the potency Of pr. Koch's
now celebrated lymph or ptomains. II prop
erly used II may prove q valuable adjurant an
checking all cases of incipient phthisis origi-
mating de noyo, but the physician, a. Dr.
hinnicutt Of st. Luke's Hospital New York, re-
marks, must remain anxious as he watches re-
suits
But men like DR.. Koch are great boons to
humanity. Although their Investigations may
not turn out as successful as fondly anticipated,
Yet their efforts continually stimulate and
engage the attention Of others who follow in
the footsteps and at last wiring from nature
some of her secrets.
The germ theory Of disease is now well es-
tablished, thanks 20 our distinguished micro
scopists and bacteriologists in this country
anu IN Europe, and has made true the ssgpO-
sitlOR only OF past years-that there exists az
much invisible life the visible and in as
many types, each family OF species of this in
visible creation having specific qualities ms
relates TO the connection with the visible AMI
NAL world But this invisible world of organic
life Is always subject to the natural laws of pro-
ductlon and existence In given environment
At the head Of all animal life, both visible
and invisible. man stands pre-eminent ms the
possessor only Of the attribute of mind given
hun TO control matter within certain limits for
his benefit. And while he can conquer within
given lines he cannot destroy any natural law
governing matter. Hhe changes for a time being
natural law there arises a supplemental con-
dltlon that Is IN turn obedient TO another law
of nature. There can be no chaos in nature as
relates TO both health and disease. Changing
one natural Law into another for good or evil
TO himself is mans limited phere of dominion
over matter. IL the spartan system Of govern
ment were established, and only the sound in
mind and body permitted TO marry. a gener-
alton Of time would suffice 10 eliminate the
scourge OF consumption, scrofulR, &c, and
the people would become a race of stalwarts
in both mind and body. Then il the correct
laws of sanitation were observed blooming
health would be the boon of the healthy born
and human life in the ideal would be realized
Yet man, starting in life % perfect as Adam
and Eve, would meet on every hand the ele-
ments of disease unless the activity of his mind
continuously asserted itself for the benefit q
himself and fellows JR HAYES. MD.
Medical Division, Pension Once.