Prof. Koch's Method to Cure Tuberculosis Popularly Treated — John Shaqi
Prof. Koch's Method to Cure Tuberculosis Popularly TreatedBirnbaum, Max
Science
Prof. Koch's Method to Cure Tuberculosis Popularly Treated
Birnbaum, Max
Tuberculin; Tuberculosis
Now particularly painful points appear on the joint, especially on the
inner or outer side or in the bend of the knee; on one of these points a
soft portion distinctly developes, the skin becomes reddened and finally
suppurates from the internal parts outward and breaks after a few
months; thin purulent matter mixed with flakes is discharged. The pains
now cease, and the condition is improved; but this improvement does not
last; soon another abscess is formed and thus it continues.
Meanwhile perhaps two or three years may have elapsed; the general
condition becomes greatly reduced. The child, formerly strong and
healthy, has now become lean, the discharges of matter have often been
attended by acute febrile attacks; the patient becomes exhausted, loses
his appetite and digestion becomes more impaired from week to week. Even
now a spontaneous change for the better is possible, though this happens
very rarely; more frequently the disease progresses and leads to death
from exhaustion resulting from severe suppuration and continual attacks
of fever.
Restoration to health is indicated by decreased suppurative discharges;
the openings of the fistulae contract, the general condition is
improved, the appetite is restored, etc. Finally the fistulae heal, the
joint becomes fixed at an angle or bent or otherwise crippled, but
painfulness disappears and the patient escapes with his life and a stiff
leg. This is the most favorable result known to have been obtained in
severe cases. The joint may become a solid bony immovable mass or may
admit of slight movements. The whole process may last from two to four
years.
The former treatment of tuberculous inflammation of the knee-joint was
either of a general or a local nature. The general treatment was
designed to strengthen and nourish, and will continue to be applied in
the future.
The local treatment consisted in the application of salves, brushing
with tincture of iodine, spanish fly plasters, wet and dry bandages. As
with inflamed hip-joint absolute rest by lying in bed is of the greatest
importance.
If after a certain period of rest and application of the above-named
remedies no improvement in the state of health could be noticed, the
diseased joint was laid in plaster or confined with splints.
If even then, after such treatment for months, no improvement could be
noticed but rather that the general state of health was reduced, nothing
remained to be done excepting an operation, by which all the diseased
parts of the knee-joint were removed, or amputation, that is, the taking
off of the diseased limb. The latter method was generally adopted in the
case of feeble and emaciated individuals and those who had passed the
age of early manhood, as with these the removal of the diseased parts
did not, as a rule, result in an improvement of the general condition,
which was especially intended.
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