Virchow and Koch.

Evening Star, Issue 8565, 11 July 1891, Page 4

Virchow and Koch.

Io the debate on the Sanitary Budget in the Prussian House of Deputies, the eminent pathologist, Professor Virchow, taid it was premature to speak of Dr Koch's remedy as nothing more thau a dangerous poison. He oortiuued: "It would also be going to far to :>ay at this Btago that all the hopes built upon it have been annihilated. Still, to spcas strictly, there has not been a single dir.o proved of tuberculosis having been cured by the remedy. All statements to the contrary are ill founded. Moreover, the application of the remedy is attended by numerous dangers, though it would be wrong to regard any physician who wishes to use it as administering poison or as a murderer. My statements written a*; the beginning of January, however, still hold good. The first hopes have not been fulfilled, but I do not fed called upon to predict to day what the remedy may becune in the future, Experience will show " In reference to the foregoing, the London 'Standard' writes: —The theory of the cure of tuberculosis rests upon the assumption that tuberculosis is caused by a bacillus. This, we admit, is almost demonstrated, though by no means universally held, The dectrine was that the lymph acted on the diseased tissues, and so killed the septic agent. But a? it ia impousible to watch the stite of the lungs, this was only an inference from Its action on lupus. And if it cured lupus, which is a tubercle of the akin, trgo—so ran the links of logic—it must cure thesis, w>iich is tuberculosis of the lungs. But we ht,ve the authority of Professor Virchow—and his reputation is so great that no suspicion of professional jealousy on his part can be entertained—for saying that all tho cc Delusions to that effect were premature. Hence we are, as regards " Eochin, exactly wnere we were at the start.