The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-01-20

plete success. Besides this, he claims
that he has found the origin or primal
'.cause of the Infection"
But it is now dawning upon the medi-
cal world that it is well to doubt these
discoveries; that even the discoveries Of
Koch himself have not proved the claims
made for them. The scientific circles of
Germany, England, France and America
are widely divided upon the question as
to whether Koch's researches are really
going to prove of any practical value in
the arrest of tuberculosis. Pasteur's dis
covery of the bacillus of hydrophobia no
longer attracts wide attention, and only
the minority of physicians to-day pin
faith to it.
is. we fear. true that, despite the in
tellectual balance their training should
insure them, medical men, and notably
the German faculty, are prone to fads;
they fall upon new things and allow their
judgment to be run by their enthusiasm.
When the latter is expended their fad is
exhausted, and we hear no more Of it. If
Koch's lymph were all that is claimed
for it, or one-half, it would be found in
the hands of seven-tenths of the best
physicians, and being used by them. As
it is, but here and there one reposes faith
enough in it to even possess it for expert
ment. Here and there we have the record
in this country OF cases where the use Of
the lymph has proven efficacious and
one of these, it happens, is a Sacramento
case.
Not that even a few successes do not re-
pay for all the researches of the distin-
guished physician and justify all COM
mendation that has been showered upon
the modest German scientist, but the dis
position to have and run medical fads
we cannot but think harmful to the true
advance of medical science. 1t tends TO
divert rather than direct scientific energy,
to cause a great deal of untimely expert
menting, and to raise hopes in the hearts
of millions that must be wrecked by dis
appointment. We must think that the
scientific and medical searchers, and
the leading faculties of the great schools
of medicine, would do the world infin-
itely greater service if they would with
hold knowledge Of new discoveries until
absolute and repeated demonstration has
proved them to be impregnable in their
| truth.
THERE was a funeral in New York the
other day-not an uncommon affair-but
a toady was present; one of the order that
unfortunately finds a position here and
there upon the press, such of the press as
is given to man worship, and which finds
in wealth personified an idol. To this fu-
| neral came young man who is very rich.
He has to commend him, however, de-
cent life, good manners and native mod
esty-but he is rich, and that such a one
worthy person who was not rich in
worldly goods appears to have struck this
newspaper man-worshiper as something
so remarkable that he must needs get
down in the dust about it. Ho1pe1'S
Weekly best tells how he did it, and so
wittily and with such two-edged sarcasm,
that we cannot do better than quote in
full what the paper says of this Jeames
Yellowplush:
1.-THE young man" says Jeames, with bated
breath, whose wealth is computed at over
fifty millions, stood-an attentive, deyout,
and sad participant in the obsequies,' his
''pale face, fringed Just beneath the ears with
expression. He was attired IN n neat-ftting
suit of black, black gloves and tie. He stood
when the congregation rose knelt when IL
knelt, and sat when it sat- Thu oughout the
! long service he remained with set, saddened
! face, and most OF the time with Bowed head.
! Never once did he glance around to see who
! was there, and not once did he exchange
words with his pew companion"
JelmeS was overcome. 4 gentleman be-
! haved like a gentleman, and yet, strange to
! say, he IS computed to be worth fifty millions
! of dollars Evidently the awe-stricken
/ JeameS suppoSeS that man so rich might
| be naturally expected TO wear Il red coat and
yellow brooches at a funeral TO rise when the
congregation sat down to sit down when it
/ rose, and to dance a jig when it lnelt. That
rich man should condescend TO be gentle
man evidently amaZes Jeames, and with
! trembling fingers he records the wondrOus
! fact, which is then placed within the posses
sion of every friend of humanity for the in
! significant sum Of two cents. These are the
| things that inspire respect and admiration
! for free and independent press.