The Washington times., 1901-08-02
DIR. KOCH'S USEFUL CAREER.

Although DIR. Koch has been before the
public but few years. he has created
more discussion among scientists than
any other man of his time. Even the
shortest of memories will hardly have
forgotten the commotion excited no less
In the medical profession than In the gen
eral public by the announcement made at
the beginning of 1890 that DIT. Koch had
discovered a cure for consumption. Up
to then the name of the German bacteriol-
ogist had been known only to savants
But he had held for some years an i'm
portant Government post and had been
employed in hygienic Investigations He
published in 1852 tho result of his re-
searches upon tuberculosis. which. fol-
lowing upon the discovery of Vilsmin.
French army surgeon. he proved to be
due to microbe. seen under the micro
scope to be a tiny rod (bacillus) or thread.
The microbe becomes implanted in the tbs
sues of the body. which. in consequence.
becomes unhealthy, and tuberculosis is
set up.
1t was claimed for DIR. Koch that he
had discovered not only the bacillus OF
phthisis, but also a specific agent which
could arrest the action and cure tubercu-
losis DIR Koch kept strict silence on the
origin and composition OF his remedy
until its efficacy could be substantiated
by experiments. but without awaiting
this veritieatiJn. consumptives hocked TO
his laboratory from all parts OF Europe.
The German Government threw the CLOAK
OF official authority over the discovery,
and the greatest curiosity was aroused
for obtaining the precious iyinph auu
testing its curative powers. The result
was al first disappointing. and. though II
was defended by Virchow and others a
commission of doctors from the ParIs
hospitals reported in far from favorable
terms In America q strong controversy
was aroused. Several patients, after in
ocuiation with the lymph. died. and prom
inent medical men, after observing its
operation, advised against its use or
urged great caution in its application.
Like the University of Bonn. Philadelphia
abandoned its use.
DR. Koch was, moreover, severely at
tackled for the restrictions put upon the
supply of the lymph and its exploitation
as an article of commerce, and he was
compelled to defend himself, which ne
did in paper on tubercuiine pubiished IN
October, 1881, when he defined its scope
and treatment In general practice the
use of tuberculine has been gradually ex-
tending of late years, and recent statis-
tics appear to show that the curative
properties of the remedy are greater than
was concluded Immediately after its in
PRODUCTION.
Since then, DIR. Koch, who Is profess
sor in and director of-the Institute OF
Hygiene in Berlin, has made other i'm
portant discoveries. AS far back as 1854
ne had received special honors in Ger
many in connection with his investiga-
ton of the cholera germ, upon which he
made a memorable report to Bismarck.
He was sent to South Africa in 1896 and
signalized his visit by insttuting a treat
ment by which cattle may be rendered
immune from rinderpest by means of a
mixture of serum and rtnderpest blood :.
Later he was despatched to Bombay to
study the plague. and an expedition to
New Guinea followed During the latter
he claimed that he made a discovery for
the treatment of malaria. His official re-
port upon this was made known last Oc-
tOber