Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1894-09-21
THE NEW REMEDY FOR DIPHTHE
RIA,
From Harper's Weekly.l

vestigating a new German remedy that
Is SAID to be almost certain cure for
diphtheria. His report is 50 enthusias-
tic that our authorities are to be asked
to establish laboratory for the develop.
ment of the remedy here. The outcome
will be awaited with anxious interest by
every one who fully understands II, W
much Is at stake.
Diphtheria is the most malignant
member of small group of contagious
diseases (the other members being
scarlet fever, measles and whooping-
cough, whose virulence is in measure
masked by their very familiarity. 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
lSS2-'9l this quartet of diseases claimed
3G,Ol2 victims in that city. During the
same period those dreaded diseases
small pox, typhus fever, and cholera
killed but GG3, Two years ago there
was much ado because typhus fever
seemed to have gained a foothold in
the city. That much-heralded disea
caused 40 deaths diphtheria, unheraded.
caused 1896 Thanks to sanitary
science. typhus may be held at bay.
Thanks to Jenner, the terrors of small
/ poX are only traditional. But the TEL
rors of diphtheria are still real and ever
present.
For some years, however, medical
science has looked forward hopefully to
the conquest of diphtheria. Ten years
ago the bacillus that causes the disease
was discovered. The bacilli-odged in
the throat, as a rule-produced pto-
maines or other toXines, that enter the
circulation and poison the system.
These toXines may be developed in media
other than the human body, and lat
tenuated' by cultivation. Experiments
of some years standing prove that at
tenuated virus, injected into the cil cula-
ton of animals in varying strengths,
produces diphtheria of varying degrees
of virulence, and that such virus may
even cure dphtheria previously estab-
lished. 1t remained to make the appl-
cation to the human subject. Appar-
emily this has now been done, and if the
reports are TO be credited, diphtheria
will soon take its place beside smallpox
and hydrophobia behind the victorious
chariot of preventive medicine.
Meantime word of caution NAV not
be amiss. In their laudable anxiety to
benefit the race. workers in this. as in
other fields. sometimes let their imagi-
nation outstep their actual achievements.
1t was so a few years ago when the
public was led to believe that a sure
cure for tuberculosis has been discover
ed. whereas in reality only an impor-
tant, not final, step toward such
discovery had been made. The origina-
tor of the new diphtherla remedy is the
same DR.. Koch who developed tubercu-
lin. DR.. Koch is scientist of scien-
lists. Tuberculin was disappointment
not because its dscOverer claimed too
much for it, 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 keep
ing step with the originator of the rem
edy, and that they are not making Us eX-
pect too much of it AT first. There can
flaaf in
Koch and Others with the toxnes of
germ diseases is along right lines. In
the end its results are sure. But we
must be patient with tentative efforts.
Should the diphtheria remedy do but
half what is hoped for it. its value will
still be inestimable. Even falling short
of this. if it has any potency whatever,
1t will be. like tubercuin. an Inspiring
token of the time to come when prevrn-
tive medicine will cope successfully
with every contagious disease. van
gushing each one in turn by means of
preventive inocuiatioRs, as il has al
ready vanquished smallpox. But the
public cannot be expected to realize this.
and the remedy which accomplishes
less than Is promised will he accounted a
failure. 1t is far better that little should
be promised if there is the slightest
question as to what can he performed.
In view of the lesson in self-restraint
that was taught the enthusiaasts by tu-
berculin, however, we are justified in
hoping that nothing has been claimed
for the diphtheria remedy that trial of
the remedy itself will not Immediately
Justify. In that event the originaton
of this remedy will easily take rank
among the most important discoveries of
this generation.