Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 January 1902 — GIRL RISKS HER LIFE. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

GIRL RISKS HER LIFE.

EXTRAORDINARY ACT OF MISB EMMA H. KING. Inoculated with Deadly Germs to Disprove the Theories of Koyh—She Now Has Tuberculosis and May Fall a Victim to Science.

By an act of martyrdom in the cause, of science, Miss Emma H. King, a New York trained nurse, has drawn upon her-

self the gaze of the world. The medical fraternity is particularly interested in her case, because it is to demonstrate whether tuberculosis can tie transmitted from a cow to a human itoiug. Dr. Koch, the eminent German admitted to be an 1 authority on dis- I eases of the lungs, created something of a sensation last summer by the? announcement that bovine tuberculosis is incommunicable to human beings. This assertion was contrary to the generally accepted bell es. So we I t grounded was the

idea that tubercular germs in a cow could affect a person, that by order of the government. thousands of heads of cattle thus affected have from time to’ time been killed, in order that tho disease might not be transmitted to persons drinking their milk. According to Koch's theories, these precautions were unnecessary and a waste of really valuable cow flesh.

Among those who doubted the truth of the German scientist’s assertion was Dr. George D. Barney of Brooklyn. He set out to demonstrate its accuracy or falsity, as the case might prove to be. Purchasing a healthy cow, he injected a brotli containing tubercle from a human being info the animal. The cow is now in tlie advanced stages of the disease. Having proved Dr. Koch's theory would not work backward, his next thought was to demonstrate that it was not tenrlde as originally stated. At this time lie was treating Miss King for tonsilitis and. on one occasion, mentioned the fact that he was looking for a subject upon whom to make the experiment. Miss King was much interested and when assured by the doctor that there was really no danger attached to the experiment she offered herself for the test. For the injection Dr. Barney used the germs taken from a mammary gland of the infected row, which he prepared in a solution. Before the operation Dr. Barney requested Miss King to make a formal declaration of her entire acquiescence, and the young woman did so. and insisted upon -adding a clause exonerating the physician in the event of au unexpected development. Miss King said: “I have contracted tuberculosis, and that was exactly what I expected to get when I first undertook to help Dr. Barney with the experiment. At first I thought I would not get consumption. I felt cheerful, although I did not feel well. I can't put into words all the feelings I had, except to say that after the burning sensation and tingling passed away from the places where the poison was injected it seemed just as if a big icicle was gradually growing, growing aud spreading and aching down iuto my lungs. I am sure that I will be cured. but for the benefit of any one else who may ever essay a like experiment I want to say that they should l>e very sure of their nerves before they undertake it.”

MISS KING.