Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-09-22
The New Remedy for Diphthcria.
From Harper's Weekly.

From Harper's Weekly.
A representative Of the New York board
of health has just returned from a trip
abroad. made for the purpose of Investigate
ing a new German remedy that is said to
be almost a certain cure for diphtheria.
His report is so enthusiastic that our au-
thorities are to be asked to establish lab
oratory for the development Of the RENE
dy here. The outcome will be awaited
with anxious interest by every one who full
ly understands how much is at stake.
Diphtheria is the most malignant member
Of a small group Of contagious diseases uhe
other members being scarlet fever. measles
and whooping cough whose virulence is in
a measure masked by their very famillari-
ty. These diseases are never altogether
absent from centers of population. Year
by year they cause thousands OF deaths,
yet their presence excites little popular
comment. They are responsible for the
death Of every sixth child under five years
OF age and every twelfth person OF any age
who dies In New York city. In the decade
1ss2-u this quartet OF diseases claimed
36.o42 victims in that city. During the
same period those dreaded diseases small
pox. typhus fever and cholera killed but
G63 Two years ago there was much ado
because typhus fever seemed to have
sersSes Sssease eaus ee aeafss seS.
iberia, unheralded, CAUSED ]. 436. Last year
there was no little apprehension I'm some
quarters because small pox was mildly
epidemic In the city, claiming a few victims
who by their folly or ignorance had in
vited IT. Yet small pox during the decade
1SSS-92 caused only S35 deaths In the city;
diphtheria caused ls.o68. Thanks to sani-
tary science. typhus may be held at bay,
Thanks to Jenner. the terrors of small pox
are only traditional. But the terrors of
diphtheria are still real and ever present.
For some years. however medical science
has al ri ilv IN he
quest OF diphtheria- Ten years ago the
bacillus that causes the disease was dis
covered. The bacilli-lodged in the throat
as a rule-produce ptomaines or other tox-
ines. that enter the circulation and poison
the system. These toxines may be devel-
oped In media other than the human body,
and 'iattenuated" by cultivation. Experi-
ments OF some years standing prove that
attenuated virus injected into the circula-
ton OF animals In varying strengths. pro-
duces diphtheria OF varying degrees OF
vtrulence. and that such virus may even
cure diphtheria previously established. IL
remained TO make the application TO the
human subject. Apparently this has now
been done. and II the reports are to be
credited dtphtheria Will soon take its place
beside small pox and hydrophobia behind
the victorious chariot Of preventive medi-
cine.
Meantime a word OF caution NAV not he
amiss. In their laudable anxiety 10 bene-
fit the race. workers In this. as i'm other
fields, sometimes let their imagination OUT
step their actual achievements. IL was so
a few years ago when the public was led
to believe that a sure cure for tuberculosis
had been discovered. whereas in reality
only an important not a final step toward
such a discovery had been made The
originator of the new diphtheria remedy IS
the same DIR. Koch who developed tubercu.
lin. DIR. Koch is a scientist OF scientists
Tuberculin was a disappointment not be-
cause its discoyerer claimed too much for
IL, but because his followers claimed more
than the master thought OF claiming 1t Is
to be hoped that the same mistake will not
be repeated with the present remedy. Let
enthusiastic followers make sure that they
are keeping step with the originator of the
remedy, and that they are not making US
expect too much Of Il at first.