Los Angeles herald., 1891-01-16
DR.. Koch's Contribution to
Medical Lore.
The Ingredients Of His Remedy
Made Known.
A Description of the Way He DiscOv.
cred the Lymph.
Dr.. Dixon of Philadelphia Lays Claim to
Prior iscovery-Interesting
s Experiments.
Associated Press Dispatches.

says it consists of glycerine and an ex-
tract from the pure cultivation of tu-
beiGule bacilli.
Professor Koch says: $50 far as I
have been able to review the statements
published and the communications re-
ceiyed by letter, my indications are
fully and completely confirmed. The
general concensus Of opinion is that the
remedy has specific effect upon tuber-
cular tissues, and is therefore applicable
as very delicate. and sure agent for
discovering latent, and diagnosing doubt
full tuberculosis processes. Regarding
the curative effects of the remedy, most
reports agree that despite the compare
lively short duration of its appli-
cation, many patients have shown
more or less pronounced improve
ment. 1t has been affirmed in
been established. Standing quite by
may not only be dangerous in cases
which have advanced too far. a fact
which may forthwith be conceded,
but also that it actually promotes tuber-
culosis, being therefore injurious. Dur
ing the past six weeks l myself had an
opportunity to bring together further
experiments touching the curative ef-
fects and diagnostic application of the
remedy. In the cases Of about $50 suf-
ferers from tuberculosis, Of the most
varied types in this city and in the
Moabit hospital l can only say that
everything have latterly seen concurs
with my previous observations. Now,
alter sufficient confirmatory testimony,
the Importance OF the remedy is proved.
MY next task is to extend my study be-
You'd to field to which it has not yet
been applied"
Then follows lengthy description OF
IL Ii s;;zs &c arrived at the of
the remedy. He says sIf healthy
guineaspig be inocuiated with a pure
cultivation of German kuIture of tuber-
cule bacilli, the wound caused by the
incubation mostly closes over with a
sticky matter, and appears in its early
days to heal. After ten or fourteen days
a hard nobule presents itself, which
soon breaking, forms an ulcerating sore
which continues until the animal dies.
A quite different Condition of things oc-
ours when guinea pig already suffer-
ing from tuberculosis is inoculated. In
such animal the small indentation as
sumes the same sticky covering at the
but no nobule forms. Onth
day following. or the second day after
tine place where the lymph
was injected becomes hard and as
sumes dark color which is
not confined to the inoculation
spot, but spreads. In few days it be-
comes manifest that the skin thus
is necrotic, finally falling off and
leaving fiat liberation, which usually
heals rapidly and permanently. This
effect is not exclusively produced with
living tuberculosis bacilli, but also oh
served with dead bacilli, the result be-
ing the same whether the bacilli be
killed by a somewhat prolonged applica-
tion OF low temperature or by means of
certain chemicals. tuberculosis guinea
pigs are killed by the injection OF very
small quantities OF diluted civilizations;
in fact within six to forty-eight hours,
according to the strength of the dose
An injection which is not sufficient to
produce the death of the animal may
cause extended necrosis to the skin in
the vicinity OF the place OF injection. II
the dilution be still further diluted, the
animals inoculated remain alive, and
noticeable improvement in their condi-
tiun soon supervenes. If the injection
is continued at intervals of from
one to two days, the ulcerating
incubation wound becomes smaller, and
finally scars over; the size OF the
swollen Emphatic glands are reduced;
the body becomes better nourished, and
n n nrI, = Sc
gone too far, in which case the animal
perishes from exhaustion. By this
means the basis OF the curative process
against the tuberculosis is established.
against the practical application of
there presents itself the fact that the
tubercule bacilli is not absorbed at the
incubation points, nor do they disap-
pear in another way, but for long time
remain unchanged and engender greater
or smaller suppurative foci. The only
important point was to extract from the
tubercular bacilli the curative SUBJ
stance. finally succeeded with the aid
OF q 40 to SO per cent solution Of glycer-
inc, in obtaining an effective substance
from tubercular bacilli. With the fluid
so obtained, | made further experiments
on animals, and finally on human be-
ings.
"The remedy which is used in the new
treatment. consists OF glycerine extract
derived from pure cultivation Of tuber-
cule bacilli. Besides the effective sub
stances, all the other matter is soluble
in SO per cent. glycerine; consequently
it contains certain quantity Of mineral
salts, coloring substances and other un-
known extractive matter. The effective
substance is insoluble in absolute alco-
hol. 1t can be precipitated, though not
indeed in pure condition, but still
combined with other extractive matter,
which is likewise combined and likewise
insoluble in alcohol. The coloring mat
ter may also be removed, rendering it
possible to obtain from the extract
colorless dry substance, containing the
effective principle in much more con-
centrated form than the glycerine solu-
tion. For application in practice, the
puridcation Of the glycerine extract
ofers no advantage, because the sub