KOCH'S CURE.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7869, 21 May 1891, Page 3

KOCH'S CURE.

to the snrroß or thk press. Sir, —Tho tribe of caluminators and mudspatterers are but a relic of barbarism— survival in this nineteenth century of tins earliest uprisings of humanity. Like their congeners the "Hottentots and Australian aborigines, give them but-a hiding place and poisoned arrows and they arc ready, with or without reason, to do to death rmy unfortunate outside their tribe. This hiding place is as easily afforded to one section of the tribe by anonymity (excuse the word) us to tlie other by the plants and rooks of their native wilds. In private life, Sir, these anonymous scribluers are readily met by tlie simple expedient of destroying their communications, when, however, an anonymous communication of a venomous nature has been made to the newspapers, it goes out to a number of people with very little knowledge of the subject, and cidy possibly to accept false views wit ho-, vaestiou. When in addition an absolute falsehood is perpetrated, aeeume restatement of tho fact is necessary. Your correspondent " Thoroughly Alarmed" exhibits the true simplicity of lbs savage in one respect—credulity. Someone has told him this injection ot Koch's thud is an " operation." and he believes it. (He is right; when I lift the Prkss from my breakfast table it is an operation.) But except in the detail of a Pravaie syringe being used the " operation" is precisely that which is effected whenever a poisonous fluid is injected hypodermieally, an everyday experience in most doctors' practices. Again it appears that some one has told him t-i.tfe in some small way good is to be obtained by seeing '• the lymph in question," and again he believes. Oh, worthy savage ? It is evident. Sir, that a number of scientific men watch with interest tho most trifling experiment when first made in public, more especially if that experiment were made under the a»gis of a great scientist—the discoverer. Tho same interest does not, however, attach itself to the hundred thousandth repetition, even when performed at the Christchurch Hospital. In this, as in all other matters, ignorance is always ready to distribute praise and blama according to its sympathies—lacking knowledge. '* Thoroughly Alarmed " states that " tho only doctor in Christchurch who has used the lymph waa not invited to tho meeting." To whom does he refer ? Dr. Prina has frequently been asked to join the Medical Society, and sis frequently refused. Dr. Lomax-Smith was sent tlie usual letter of invitation to bo present at our meetings until such time as tie was eligible to become a member. He attended one meeting last July, since then he has neither been present nor did he make any application for election until the day after tho paper was read. Dr. Harrison, a visitor and locum tenens for a member of our Society, received a special invitation, of which I regret to say he waa unable to avail himself. I believe members of other societies will bear mo out in saying that it i 3 not usual to press invitations ou those who, having a right to join, persistently stand aloof. (Dr. Lomax-Smith tells mc that his delay in applying for election was the result of a misunderstanding. ) We aro next accused of having reserved our condemnation until tho lymph is no longer procurable. This is news, and very welcome news, to mc. That the paper was not read earlier waa partly because our meetings take place only once a month, Eartly becauso we are at least two months ehind Europe, aud the practical summaries contained in the medical papors can scarcely be made use of before these papers come to hand. The distance of time that separates us from Europe is indeed a safeguard that should preserve us from many a scientific snare and pitfall, for by the time we have any new remedy, or apparatus out here we have also the result of the accumulated experience of some months to guide us in its use.

In concluding this letter, lot mc thank you, Mr Editor, for its insertion, assuring you at the same time that it will be the last I shall write on the subject, and lest any* one should misinterpret my initials in the Press of to-day (20th), lam, &c, E. Jennings*!

TO THB EDITOR 07 THE PRESS.

Sib, —One cannot help thinking that it is, not " the ' cock-a-doodle-do' of the Christ* church bantams " that annoys "Ich Dien" so much as the undoubted correctness : c4 their "Koch-a-doodle-don't."—Yours, AcOne OF THE StJCRNEB SbX May 19th.