Fergus County Argus

CONSUMPTION CURED.
Prof. Koch of Berlin Has Found the Remedy of the Century.

Berlin, Nov. 14.-Prof. Koch publishes an article in the Deutsche Medizinische Wochenschrift for the cure of tuberculosis. Prof. Koch says he is yet unprepared to indicate the source from which the curative matter is derived and the method of preparation, for the reason that experimental work is still in progress. He states that the curative lymph itself can be obtained from Dr. Libbertz, 28 Lueneburger Strasse, Berlin. The lymph is described as consisting of a brownish transparent liquid, so prepared as to be proof against deterioration when diluted with water for use. Twenty-five-hundredths of a cubic centimeter intensely affected a healthy man who was subjected to the experiment, while two cubic centimeters applied to a guinea pig had little effect. Prof. Koch injected twenty-five-hundredths of a cubic centimeter under the skin of his own arm, and within a few hours experienced a contraction of limbs and a feeling of marked lassitude. At the same time he felt a desire to cough, together with difficulty of breathing. These symptoms increased rapidly, and in five hours he experienced unusually violent rigor, accompanied with nausea, and the temperature of his body rose rapidly. After twelve hours the symptoms began to abate, and next day his body resumed normal degree. The heaviness of limbs and languid feeling continued for several days, however. The same results follow when the fluid is applied to diseased persons suffering from other than tuberculosis affections, but in persons affected with tuberculosis the same quantity produces strong, general and local reaction. The reaction can best be observed on those whose affection is visible, as, for instance, persons suffering from lupus. Within a few hours after injection lupus sores begin to swell and finally assume a dark brown tint. After the fever subsides the swelling decreases and generally disappears, scabs of matter falling off later. Portions of the skin not clearly recognized as lupus are not affected. It is asserted with confidence that the remedy may be considered an indispensable auxiliary to diagnosis, and in doubtful cases incipient consumption can positively be diagnosed by its use. Prof. Koch expressed the opinion that his remedy will certainly prove a cure for incipient consumption. Whether, however, the cure will be final and definite is not clearly proved. Further experiments will be necessary to determine. The remedy can only influence living tuberculous tissue. It has no effect whatever upon tissues which already have been killed by the application of a remedy. It is quite possible that such dead tissue may still contain living tuberculosis bacilli, which may again invade adjacent living tissue. It follows, therefore, that tuberculous tissue that is still living must be made first to decay. When this has been accomplished every effort must be made to remove the dead matter by surgery. Where this is impossible and secretion can only slowly proceed, living tissue must be protected by continued application of the remedy. The remedy is applied in cumulative doses. A small quantity at first suffices to produce strong reaction, but as each succeeding injection causes the disappearance of a certain quantity of tissue that is capable of reaction, increased doses are necessary until the patient experiences as little reaction as non-tuberculous people. The patients who have been treated in early stages of phthisis have all been freed from morbid symptoms within from four to six weeks, when they may be regarded as healed. Consumptives with large cavities in their lungs will probably experience benefit from the new remedy only in exceptional cases. In all cases Prof. Koch emphasizes the necessity of early treatment. Only in the incipient stages of the disease, he declares, can the remedy fully develop its efficiency. He deprecates the mechanical and indiscriminate application of the remedy, holding it preferable that treatment should be applied in suitable institutions where careful observation is possible.