66 Some Recent Advances in Science — 



As regards the tubercular micro-organism, called tubercle 

 bacillus, which was first clearly demonstrated by Dr. Koch, 

 and by him shown to be the cause of tubercle, we surgeons and 

 physicians are more immediately concerned. 



During the past year Dr. Koch has prepared a fluid called 

 Tuberculin, which he believes will destroy the materials in the 

 animal body on which the tubercle bacilli grow and increase. 



This fluid is very strong, and it has to be largely diluted before 

 using. Of the diluted fluid about two milligrammes are in- 

 jected under the skin by a hypodermic syringe. In about seven 

 hours the patient becomes feverish, and complains of severe 

 headache, pain in the back, and shivering. The part of the 

 skin affected with tubercle (lupus) becomes red, swollen, and 

 painful. Gradually these severe symptoms subside, and in 

 about twenty-four or thirty-six hours the patient feels free from 

 any inconvenience. The hypodermic injection is repeated every 

 third day for about five or six weeks, according to the severity 

 of the case. If the disease is mild, a shorter course of treatment 

 may be suflicient. The patient must keep in bed during the 

 first two days. After about six injections the symptoms caused 

 by the tuberculin become less severe, so that the patient has only 

 to remain in bed for about one day after each injection. At 

 present I am using the remedy in a case of lupus of the skin of 

 the face, and for so far the disease is becoming less, but the 

 feverish symtoms have been rather severe. 



The use of tuberculin is not free from danger, as I find that in 

 Berlin alone, during about two months, 27 deaths have been 

 reported of persons suffering from various forms of consumption 

 who have been treated by tuberculin. It is, therefore, necessary 

 to use this remedy with great care and caution. 



Some physicians have reported cases as having been cured 

 by the use of this remedy, but I do not believe any person is 

 in a position, at least at present, to show clearly a case of cure. 

 Tuberculin is on its trial, and should it become as useful in 

 the cure of consumption as its originator. Dr. Koch, states it 

 to be, the medical profession will hail with pleasure another 



