VIRCHOW AND KOCH.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 1814, 22 July 1891, Page 6

VIRCHOW AND KOCH.

In the debate on the Sanitary Budget in the Prussian House of Deputies, the eminent pathologist, Professor Virchow, said it was premature to speak of Dr Koch's remedy as nothing more than a dangerous poison. He continued : "It would also be going to far to say at this stage that all the hopes built upon it have been annihilated. Still, to speas strictly, there has not been a single case proved of tuberculosis having been cured by the remedy. All statements to the contrary »re 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 at the beginning of January, however, still hold good. The first hopes have not been fulfilled, but I do not feel called upon to predict to-day what the remedy may become 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 doctrine was that the lymph acted on the diseased tissues, and so killed the septic agent. But as it is impossible to watch the state of the lungs, this was only an inference from its action on lupus. And if it cured lupus, which is a tubercle of the'skin, ergo— so ran the links of logic— it must cure thesis, which is tuberculosis of the lungs. But we have the authority of Professor Virchow—

and his reputation is so great that no suspicion of professional jealousy on hie part can be entertained — for saying that all the conclusions to that effect were premature. Hence we are, as regards " Kochin, exactly where we wore at the start.