1891.] 



MICROSCOPICAL JOURNAL. 



77 



W'\ 



'"Ji\ 



the completion of his medical studies at the University to devote him- 

 self to specialties. He was compelled to enter upon practical life, and 

 after taking his degree he established himself in a village near Hanover 

 and began to practise as a physician. He then migrated to Rackwitz, 

 a little malarious town in Prussian Poland, which he subsequently de- 

 serted for Wollstein. Meanwhile he studied. The microscope was his 

 weapon, and he revealed from his quiet retreat a series of bacteriolog- 

 ical labors which drew to him the attention of learned men. 



It was in iSSo that his name came before the public as an expert in 

 connection with the famous Speichert poisoning case. The conviction 

 of the prisoner in this cause 

 celebre was entirely owing to 

 the remarkable analysis and med- 

 ical testimony of Dr. Koch. 

 His profound erudition attracted 

 wide attention. Later he made 

 some remarkable accurate studies 

 in septicemia. In 1S83 he first 

 made the great discovery that 

 tuberculous diseases are due to 

 the existence of bacilli. In 1S83 

 he was placed at the head of the 

 German Cholera Commission, 

 and was sent into Egypt and 

 India. In Asia he unmasked a 

 second hidden enemy of man- 

 kind — the cause of cholera — the 

 comma-bacillus. He was re- 

 warded by the German Govern- 

 ment with an honorarium of 

 100,000 marks, with the rank of 

 Privy Councillor, and witii the 

 Rectorship of the Imperial In- 

 stitute of Hygiene. 



Thus far the gi'eat public had 

 but one misgiving. Koch had 

 revealed the enemy, but was unable to destroy it. Now he has ac- 

 complished even this ; now he is able to destroy the tubercle-bacillus 

 both within and upon the surface of the animal body. 



The public scarcely asks how Koch made his discovery, but in this 

 method of Koch's lies the great cause of amazement and admiration. 



The bacteria (Fig. i, commonly called germs) appear under the 

 microscope as mere points, lines, and commas ; many are hopelessly 

 similar. How could a distinction, a differentiation, possibly be made 

 in this confusion, or these characteristics be studied.'' 



Koch modestly attributes the result of bacteriology to the perfection 

 of the microscope. But the best microscope would be useless were we 

 not in possession of Koch's methods. He ascertained how to provide 

 fostering soil for the minute beings ; he understood how to regulate the 

 confusion existing in a drop of virus, so that each moment we are able 

 to separate a certain kind and study it in its simple state. 



What Koch has accomplished is now known throughout the civilized 



Fig. 4. — Culture of 

 Cholera Germs. 



wM \ 



Fig. 5. — Culture of Tuber- 

 culosis Germs. 



