Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-07-24
KOCH WAS ALL RIGHT.
The German Doctors Cure for Con-
sumption Correct in Principle
he NOW has IT PERFECTED.
Expert Psychologists Seeking Remedies
for Other Diseases.
PREVENTION THROUGH vACCINAT1Ol

lSPEClAL TELEGhAM IL The DibPATCH.J
WASHINGTON, July 23.-The Govern
ment bacteriologists at Washington, Drs.
De Schweinitz and Kenyon. are actively
engaged at present in following out a line
of experiments now being pursued by
science in all the great centers Of human
knowledge, which are destined soon to
bring forth most astonishing results. All
mankind must needs be interested in the
subject, because it signifies the discovery of
means for preventing and curing many of
the most fatal diseases to which the flesh is
heir.
The investigations are being conducted
very quietly, lest the public mind be pre-
maturely stirred up over the matter, thus
doing more harm than good, as was the case
with Koch's famous Hymph." The trouble
with the lymph was that it was brought out
so afraid that DR.. Koch would anticipate
them in the field of discovery that they ex-
torted his secret from him and forced him
to make his achievement public before it
was fairly accomplished. Immediately
there was cry from all over the world for
the new remedy-a cry of despair freshly
inspired by hope, which could not be re-
fused. Reluctantly the inventor was COM
pelled to set to work and manufacture his
imperfect preparation in quantities for dis
tribution everywhere. That it failed to ac-
complish the wonders expected Of it is not
surprising. s.
Koch Has His Cure Perfected.
Profting by this experience, DR.. Koch
and his assistants have been pursuing their
investigations secretly in the same diree-
tion, publishing nothing on the subject and
saying very little. It can be stated with
authority that they have obtained some
great results. The statement may even be
made that they have found out how to cure
consum ption, if it shall not have progressed
too far, as we'll as other complaints of .
tubercular nature, like lupus. But nothing
about the matter will be made formally
public until evidence that is beyond dis
putting can be pointed to in the shape of
sick persons restored to health, with the
history of each case in detail accompanying.
Experimental researches in this line have
been carried on for more than year past by
many baoteriologists elsewhere than in
Berlin. 1t has been recognized from the
first that the lymph was great discovery,
but it was valuable rather In theory than in
practice, because it was too crude. Besides
the curative agent, it contained a fever
producing poison that was in itself danger
Gus to life, as we'll as other undesirable in
gradients Therefore the experts have
directed their efforts to separating the
actual remedial substance from the other
parts. Injections Of this will destroy the
tubercle bacilli in the lungs or elsewhere
sy,x h. ohov
of fever or otherwise doing any harm to the
patient.
The Germs Kill Themselves.
To make all this perfectly understood it
is only necessary to explain In a few words
the idea which is at the bottom of the
lymph, and also of similar remedies for
other troubles which will soon be embraced
in ordinary medical practice. Why do
people ever recover from such complaints
as pneumonia, typhoid fever and diphthe-
ria? One would think that the disease
germs would always 60 on multiplying in
definitely until they killed the patient.
Luckily, however, in feeding on the tissues
of the body and thus causing various NOR
bid symptoms they secrete incidentally a
poison that is fatal to themselves. When
enough of the poison has been produced it
destroys the germs and the victim gets well,
supposing that death has been kept off long
enough. Each species of "pathogenic"
germs secretes its own peculiar poison.
Now the bacteriologists believe that If
they can isolate these germ-destroying poi
sons they can utilize them to kill the germs
in the human body by injecting them into
the circulation. Precisely that idea is the
basis of Koch's lymph, only that this prep
aration was not properly made, as has been
said. It contained at least one undesirable
poison in addition to the one that was
wanted. When the true anti-tubercular
poison is obtained in pure state by itself,
as has probably been done already by DR..
Koch, a sure remedy for consumption in its
early stages, as we'll as for lupus at any
stage, will have been secured.
Experiments on Rabbits.
Before very long other lymphs, which are
now being experimental with in laborator-
les here and abroad, will be employed in
the treatment of scarlet fever. lockjaw,
dIphtheria, carbuncle, typhoid fever,
typhus, anil pneumonia-all of them COM
all of these it is found that rabbits and
can be rendered immune-that
is, incapable of contracting them-by the
peculiar poisons above described. 1t is
reasonable to suppose that the latter will
operate with equal effectiveness in the case
OF human beings.
Toward the curing of the same diseases
by like means, when they have been ac-
quired, important steps have been taken. |
At lecture delivered in Washington the |
other day, photographs were exhibited Of
rabbits which had been made very sick by |
with tuberculosis of the eye.
To show how sficacious the remedy EN-
pioyed had been, the animals themselves
were displayed in their cages, perfectly re-
stored to health.
How the Poison u Separated.
The method by which these poisons are
obtained separately is too elaborate Tor de- |
here, A bit Of diseased desh from