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H. F. Formad, 



The consequences of Koch's discoveries are now a matter of im- 

 portant consideration. In Germany, by imperial order, in military 

 hospitals phthisical patients are separated from other cases as care- 

 fully as smallpox patients ; so a gentleman tells me who has just come 

 from Germany. Even here the community begins to regard the dis- 

 ease as eminently contagious. I know of an instance of a young 

 woman suffering from phthisis being locked up and avoided, perhaps 

 neglected, by the members of her own family, for fear of the con- 

 tagium. I have learned of several consumptives who have become 

 worse from the mortification of having their friends avoid them, some 

 even going so far as not to shake hands with them. The moral effects 

 must certainly be most deleterious to these unfortunate creatures and 

 to those who surround them. 



The therapeutics of phthisis also must be governed in a great 

 measure by the view taken of the etiology of the disease. 



In Europe the profession begins to reflect a little on Koch's theory, 

 and wants more certainty. I am delighted to learn that, in England, 

 Austria, Eussia, and elsewhere, commissions have been formed to in- 

 vestigate the etiology of phthisis with special reference to Koch's 

 discovery; and whatever the truth is, it should now soon be decided. 

 Dr. Geo. M. Sternberg, Surg. U. S. A., I am glad also to learn, is sub- 

 jecting Koch's experiments to a careful perusal. 



I also have undertaken a renewed research on the infectiousness 

 of tuberculosis under the auspices of the University of Pennsylvania, 

 and ample means and facilities have been furnished to extend the re- 

 search in a most elaborate manner. 



At present I do not pretend to be able to present positive proofs 

 against the existence of a specific tubercular bacillus, my work not 

 having been long enough continued in this direction. Koch's theory 

 may be correct, but thus far it altogether lacks confirmation. He must 

 do decidedly more work to make his results conclusive. Moreover, I 

 can positively prove that true tuberculosis may be produced without 

 the bacillus in question. 



The fact that many prominent medical men and scientists blindly 

 follow Koch proves nothing, so long as they have not experimented 

 themselves in this matter. 



