The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-03-24
ANNIVERSARY OF DISCOVERY OF BACILLUS TUBERCULOSIS

This is one of the most memorable dates in human history. for it was on March 24. 1882. that Dr. Robert Koch announced the discovery Of the bacillus tubercuios before the Phys iolog1ca1 Society of Berlin. Believ- ing that tuberculous diseases the white plague Of civilized humanity. were due to the existence of bacilIi. the immortal German bacterfologist devoted years to patient study. until at length he was able to announce to the world his discovery of a specific germ. Thenceforth he devoted much of his time to an attempt to find some rival nicrobe or chemical antidotes powerful enough to neutraifze the op- erations of the baoiHi tuberculosis.
 In 1890 pr. Koch believed that his researches had been crowned with success. and he startled the whole world by the announeement that he had found ren1edy that would de- stroy the baciIli tuberculosis and ex- pei it from the human body without injury to the tissues in which the germ had found Iodgement.
 The world broke forth into paean Of joy and triumph. Victims of the terrible scourge hocked by thousands to Berlin in order to be the first to re- ceive the elixir of renewed life. Few doubted that tuberculosis was con- quered. that the dread white plague sumptives and their relatives and friends mighty host that no man could number-were destined to have their high hopes dashed to the ground. pr, Koch's announce made in all good faith and in pro- found belief in the efI1cacy of the remedy. was found to have been pre- mature. The first administrations of of Koch's tubercu1in in 1891 were dis astrous failures. The remedy, theo- retically correct, was found in prac- tice to be worse than the disease. The hysteria of joy, the songs of deliver ance, changed in moment to gloom and woe, and condemnations and curs- [es were heaped upon the scientist who had thus aroused false hopes Dn Koch, undismayed by failure, contfn- ued his experiments with his lymph, until his death in 191O-
 Since then many investigators have continued the researches, and several remedies designed to stop the ravages of the baci11i tuberculosis have been announced, only, to be tested and found wanting. The most recent and the most 1amentable was the turtle serum''s of pr. Friedman, which re- suited in a duplication on a smaller scale. owing to the lesser fame and reputation of the discoverer, of the Koch hysteria of 1891.
 E As sequel to this sad history of shattered hopes, it has lately been an nounced that pr. Koch,s remedy may. after all, prove eficacious. For eigh- teen months past the PoIyclinic Hospi- tai in New York, which is headed by pr. ofn A. wyeth. former president of the American Medical Association. has been experimenting with Koch tubercuIin, and it is declared that it has had an unbroken record of sue cess. The explanation given of the former failure of the remedy is that the dosage was too great. The large dose, which was from a million to ten
 million times as great as that now first administered, produced a reac- ton which made the disease more vi- rulent
 Humanity, made credulous by past failures. will and should in this case assume the Missouri attitude ard de rnand to be shown There is hope in the statement of reputable and competent physicians that the new method of administration of tubercu- lin has erected cures in practically all