Bronze medal commemorating the introduction of Tuberculin, Berlin, Germany, 1890

Circular bronze medal, commemorates Dr. Robert Koch, and his introduction of tuberculin in 1890, obverse and reverse designed by two different sets of people, German, 1890

When tuberculin was introduced by the German bacteriologist Robert Koch (1843-1910) in 1890, it was hoped that a cure for one of the biggest killers of the 1800s, tuberculosis, had been found. Unfortunately this was not the case but tuberculin was, and is, used in diagnostic tests to see whether a person has been exposed, or has immunity, to tuberculosis-causing bacteria. This medal commemorates Koch's achievement and was designed by a group of German artists and medallists.