Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-16
NO LONGER SECRET.
Koch TeIISAl! About His Remark
able Lymph and Of What
1t Is Composed.
A GLYCERINE EXTRACT,
Derived From Pure Cultivation of
the Tubercle Bacilli.
EFFECTS LEARNEDLY DESCRIBED.
How the Troublesome Organisms Are Grad
uaIly Destroyed.
A GLYCERINE EXTRACT,
EFFECTS LEARNEDLY DESCRIBED.
GOOD READING FOR TIE PHYSICIANS

the Doctor himself IN a communication to a
medical paper. He says it consists of a
glycerine extract derived from the pure cul-
rivation of the tubercle bac;lli. Prof. Koch
SAYS;
since publishing, two months ago the re-
suits Of my experiments with the new remedy
for tuberculosis, many physicians who received
the preparation have been enabled to become
acquainted with its properties through their
own experiments. So far as l have been able
to review the statements published and the
communications received By letter, my indica-
tions have been fully and completely confirmed.
The Effects of the Lymph Treatment.
The general concenSus of opinion is that the
remedy has specific effect upon tupercular
tissues. and is therefore applicable as a very
delicate and sure agent for discovering latent
and diagnosing doubtful tuberculosis processes.
Regarding the curative effects of the remedy,
most reports agree that. despite the compare
lively short duration of its application, many
patients have shown moro or less pronounced
improvement. 1t has been affirmed that in not
few cases even cure has been established.
'Staudng by itself is the assertion that the
remedy may not only be dangerous in cases
which have advanced too tara fact which may
forthwith be conceded-but also that it actually
promotes the tu0erculous process, being there
Iore injurious. During the past six weeks 1
have had opportunity TO bring together further
experiences touching the curative effects and
dlasnostic application of the remedy in the
cases of about ] 90 sufferers from tuberculosis,
o1 the most varied types in this city and the
hospitals. l can only say that everything ]
have latterly seen accords with my previous
observations. There has been nothing to mod
Ify in what l before reported"
The Story of the Discovery Told.
Anything intended to exercise 4 healing
effect on the tuberculous process must be
soluble substance which would be lixivated to
certain extent by the fluids of the body float
ing around the tubercle bacilli and be trans
fsrred in a fairly rapid manner to the Juices of
the eody, while the substance producing sup
puration apparently remains behind in the
tuberCu!ar bacili or dissolves but very slowly.
The OILY Important point, therefore, was to In-
uuce outside the body the process going On
inside, II possible, and to extract from
The tubercular bacilli alone the curative SUBJ
stance. This demanded time and toll. until
finally succeeded. with the aid OF 40 or 80 per
cent solution of glycerine. in obtaining an
effective substance from the tubercular bacilli
With the fluid SO obtained made further ex-
pernentS on animals and finally on human be-
lngs. These fluids were gwen to other phys-
clans to enable them to repeat the experiments
The remedy which is used in the new treatment
consists of glycerine extract derived from the |
pure cultivation of tuDercle baciln
II contains 4 certain quantity of mineral salts |
ColoTng substances and other unknown ex-
IractIve matters. Some of these substances
effective substance is insoluble in absolute al
cOboL 1t can be precipitated by it, though not
indeed, III pure condition, but still, com bined
with the other extractive matter, which is like
wise lnsoluble in alcohol, the coloring matter
may also be removed.
The Power of the Drug.
Regarding the constituents of the more |
effective substances. only surmises may for |
the present, be expressed. 1t appears to me to |
be derivatiye from albuminous bodies, having |
a close affinity to them. 1t does not belong to |
the group of so-called toXalbumens because !
i; bears high temperatures, and goes easily and /
quickly through the gangrene. The proper !
tlun of the substance in the extract. to all ap-
paarauce, Is very small 1t is estimated at frac-
1icns OF per cent which. if correct, we should !
have TO do with matter whose effect upon |
organisms attacked with tuberculosis goes TAR |
hyuud what is known to Us of the strongest |
druos.
Regarding the matter in which tie specific |
action OF the remedy on tubercuous tissue is |
to be represented various hypothesis may be |
naturally put forward. Without wishing to !
affirm that my view affords tine best expIana- |
ton, represent the process myself in the fol- |
lowing manner: The tuOercle bacilli produced
when growing in living tissues. the same as in
artiticia! CIVILIZATIONS. contain certain sub
stances which variousiy and
UnfavorabIy Influence Living Elements
in their vicinity. Among these is a substance I
which, in a certain degree of concentration,
kills. or so alters living protoplasm that it
passes into condition that Wegert describes |
as eoagulation necrosis. in tissue thus become |
Tccrotic. tile bacillus finds such unfavorable |
conditions OF nourishment that it eau grow no |
1nOre, ard sometimes dies. This explains the |
rcmaIk kable phenomenon that in organs newly I
attacked with tuberculosis-for instance, in |
guinea pigs spleen and liver which then are
covered with gray bOdies-a number of bacIIli |
are found, whereas they are rare or wholly (
absent when the enormously enlarged spleen /
consists almost entirely of %hitish substance in
condition OF coagulatlve necrosis. such as is /
often found in cases of natural death in tuber- |
cGlosis of guinea pigs The single bacillus |
cannot. therefore. induce necrosis at 4 great |
distance. Tor as soon as necrosis attains GER +
tain extension the growth of the bacillus sub. /
sides, ana Herewith the production of the 1
necrOtisng substance A kind of reciprocal |
compensation thus occurs, causing the vegeta- /
lion of isolated bacilli to remain so extraordi- /
nsriiy restricted, as, for instance in lupus and
scrofulOus glands.
How the Lymph Destroys BaciIIi
In such cases the necrosis generally extends |
TO part of the cells. which then, with |
further growth. assumes the peculiar form of |
eyeseu zelle. OF giant cell Thus. IN this inter- |
probation, follow first the explanation Weigert |
gives of the production of giant cells
II. now. Que increased artiticially in the vicin-
it, Of the bacillus the amount of necrotiZinp |
spread greater distance. The conditions of /
for the bacillus would thereby
become more unfavorable than usual In the |
first place, the tissue, which had become |
necrotlc over large extent, would decay and /
detach ITSELF and, where such were possible
would carry off the enclosed bacilli and eject |
them outwardly, SO far disturbing their yege.a- |
JiOn that they would much more speedily he 4
killed than under ordinary circumstance
1t is just in looking at such changes that the |
effect of the remedy appears to consist, 1t |
contains certain quantity OF necrotizlng SUBJ
stance. correspondingly large dose of which |
injuries certain tissue elements, even in a |
healthy person, and perhaps the white blood |
corpuscles or adjacent cells thereby
Producing Fever and Complication
of symptoms; whereas. with tuberculous M.
tients, much smaller quantity suffices to in
duce at certain places. namely, where tubercIe
lsaciili are negotiating and have already i'm
preCnated the adjacent region with the same
matter more or less extensive
necrosis of the cells. with the phenomena in
the whole organism which result from and are
with it, Thus, for the present. at
least 1t is impossible to explain the specific in
Aucuce which the remedy, in accurately de-
ilEeG Goses, exercises upon tuberculous tissue
and The possibility of increasing the doses
,sith such remarkable rapidity and the reme-
dial effects which have unquestionab,v been |
produced cnder Lot too favorable circum-
stances,
Piof. Koch concludes with o reference to
nc duration Of the remedy. OF the con-
sum nptive patients whom he described as
cured, two have returned to the
Noablt Hospital tor further observation.
No bacilh have appeared in their sputum
or the psst three months, and their phtbisi-
oal sy2nptoms have gradually and CON-
plctsly disappeared.
pyramids Appeal Eejeotcd.
lBY DUNLAP's CABLE coNPASr.I
PARTS. Jan. 15.-The appeal of Michael