DR. KOCH'S CURE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 2876, 18 December 1890, Page 3

DR. KOCH'S CURE.

(UY KLKCintC TKLKGK.U'H.—-COPVHIGHT.) Loxpox, December I*3. I>H. Covn,, of Paris, who lias buen investigating Dr. Kocli'a consumptive cure, cdusiclors it produces t'evw, and that its potency is twribli , . Dr. Gerliiu-df, of Berlin, instances a case where the patient's lungs and luryux became so iuflanttd that tracheotomy had to be resorted to. The innr,hort. ho thinks, is cupvioioiis in its ;«;tioi), and yours '"'ill fJapse before u t'iidiutil cure of patients is effected. The reports of medical gentlemen from London, Nn\v York and Koine, who have been inquiring into the cure, nre favourable to Dv. Koch's treatment.. The Berlin correspondent of the Times, under date of October 30th, writes :— "I hn'f hud a convcrsatiou with l)r. Kuch on the subject of his new discovery for the cure of consumption. He prefers at present not to givti any information beyond what has already been published. The only fresh particulars" obtainable are that metallic salts are used in the preparati»n of tbo 'jiiipli. The lymph, having killed the bacillus, acts aa a means of re-establishing the pati(?lit's health by its inherent healing power?, ui'd, moreover, fortifies him mriiinst further invasions of the bacillus. I'he lymph has been obtained by a long and oxtreinely difficult process, involving great ooat, and will therefore bo available only by tho wealthy, unless, indeed, the remedy is bought by the Governments of different countries for the genoral benefit. Dr. Koch does not expect that longstanding cases of consumption of the lungs can be cured by his invention, as in such cases other parasites besides the tuberculosis bacillus eat their way into the lungs, while Dr. Koch's lymph kills only the bacillus proper. Tina it kills, however, immediately, stopping without question the progress of the consumption. Dr. Koch refused to answer any further questions, as his doing so might interfere with the progress of his experiments. He said that entire seclusion was necessary for him ; he was working for the wholo world and could not be bothered by individual interests. The invention is declared by medical men here to be of greater importance than the discovery ot chloroform or of Lister's anti-septic. From further inquiries made this afternoon, I learn that Dr. Koch is carrying on his experiments at the present time in Professor Senator s ward at the Cbaritl- Hospital in this city on eight slight cases of consumption. The patient?- whom he hae selected as subjects have signed papors in which they declare that they are undergoing his treatment voluntarily, and that they do not hold Dr. Koch responsible, even if the results of the treatment should prove fatal. Dr. Koch only employs one assistant, who is bound by oath not to breathe the slightest information with regard to anything he sues or hears of the course of treatment pursued. I further learn that there is a great difference between the lymph used to combat smallpox and thnt used in this case. l)r Koch inoculates only persons who havealready been striken with consumption, which proves that his system is not a proventivu, like vaccination against smallpox. The WBll-known f rnius.wr Loyden, who is tho only pei'Min in Dr. Koch's confidence, lias the gruakst faith in the discovery. He says that Dr. Koch would have remained silent; if ho were not sure of »ncce«. Ho will lir-it publicly make known tlie nature and effect of hia discovery by an illustrated lecture, which ho will deliver baforo the Modic.il Society within six weeks of the present d»te."