PROFESSOR KOCH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8472, 24 January 1891, Page 2 (Supplement)

PROFESSOR KOCH.

Professor Koch, whose discovery of a supposed cure for consumption is exciting so much interest, was born at Klausthal on December 11, 1843. From ISG2 to ISG6 lie studied medicine at the University of Oottingen. On taking his degree he became Assistant-Surgeon in the General Hospital at Hamburg, and afterwards practised privately at Langenhagen, in Hanover, and at Rackewibz, in I'osen. In IST-, having been appointed District-Surgeon at Wallstein, in Bomst, he began his bacteriological investigations, which soon resulted in his being appointed a member of the Impend Board of Health. About this time ho discovered the " method," or colour method of microscopical investigation, by means of which he, in 1882, discovered the tubercle bacillus. This he was able to breed outside the bodies) of animals, and by its means lie produced tuberculosis in animals. In

ISS3 he wag appointed a Privy Councillor, and given the direction of the German C olera Commission, which visited Egypt, and India. He now discovered the so-called "comma" cholera bacillus, and for his services received a gift of 100,000 marks (£5000). Two years later he went to France to make further investigations in regard to the cholera bacillus, and on his return s appointed Professor of the newly-found?-;.. Institute of Hygiene in Berlin, .since then he has devoted himself unceasingly to the study of bacteriology. The discovery of a cure for consumption, which he now claims to have made, has naturally been met with a considerable amount of incredulity, and it is too early to speak with certainty regarding it. Already, however, hundreds of patients have submitted themselves to the new treatment, and on the result of their cases much will depend. Meanwhile there is talk of erecting a Bacteriological Institute in Berlin, to be placed under the discoverer's direction. Dr. Kooh is the author of several important medical works.