140 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY [June, 



EDITORIAL. 



General Biology. — In this number we commence a series of ar- 

 ticles on the elementary principles of general biology, the various chap- 

 ters of which will contain constant reference to microscopical work and 

 methods. The articles are by Prof. H. L. Osborn, our former editor, 

 who is at present a professor of biology in Hamline University, and one 

 of the rising men of the day. 



The second chapter will be upon the animal and vegetable cell ; later 

 ones will be upon tissues as the result of reproduction with specializa- 

 tion of function . The whole matter is likely to appear later in a text-book, 

 and we are allowed to print it thus in advance under copyright, which 

 enables the author to retain ownership of the matter. Our exchanges 

 are not to make use of it in any way except with his consent. 



Koch's Treatment. — The provisional opinions hitherto expressed 

 in this Journal in regard to the value of tuberculin in the treatment or 

 tuberculosis have been confirmed by lapse of time and additional expe- 

 rience. 



From the inass of literature upon the subject it is difficult to sift the 

 truth, but we suspect that the truth is something like this : — In lupus 

 and laryngeal phthisis, and surgical tuberculosis generally, the agent 

 promises to be of some value, though it must be confessed that many 

 cases of lupus in which a cure was hoped for or announced still re- 

 main uncured. In cases of pulmonary tuberculosis, and in all cases 

 where the tubercular deposit is by its location out of reach of surgical 

 treatment, the new remedy is of doubtful value. Indeed, we fail to see 

 how it could be otherwise, since it is not claimed that tuberculin de- 

 stroys the bacilli, but only that it produces necrosis of the abnormal 

 tissues in the vicinity of tubercular lesions. 



We still insist that all testimony must be taken with the greatest cau- 

 tion. The difficulty of diagnosis in the incipient stage of pulmonary 

 tuberculosis is very great. It is only in this class of cases that benefit 

 is claimed. Therefore even Strieker's eight cases reported cured do not 

 constitute absolute proof. 



Koch's own patients are subjected to systematic over-feeding while 

 undergoing the specific treatment. It is more than possible that the 

 improvement in symptoms and the increase of weight and strength are 

 due to pabulum more than to parataloid. 



Surgical treatment by resection of ribs seems to us to promise better 

 results than any other method yet practised. Sonnenburg, at Koch's 

 hospital, has treated several cases by this method with apparent success. 



Certainly it seems of little profit to produce necrosis of the altered 

 tissues that encapsule a tubercular deposit and are in a measure con- 

 servative, .unless some means are taken to get rid of the necrotic mass. 

 The bacilli are not killed by tuberculin, and they would simply be left 

 to do their work over a'gain. 



On this side of the Atlantic there is a general feeling of disappoint- 

 ment in the result of experiments. It is fair to suppose that some of 

 the " lymph " that has been used hei'e was manufactured outside of 

 Koch's laboratory. 



The more belligerent homoeopathic journals have been quite jubilant 



