The correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller: ¶ [[Dr. Springthorpe, of Melbourne, who has just returned from Berlin] stated that, armed with letters of introduction to Sir Edwin Malet, the British ambassador at the Prussian capital, and also to ...

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90.11.18a

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Ferdinand von Mueller to Robert Koch, 1890-11-18 [90.11.18a]. R.W. Home, Thomas A. Darragh, A.M. Lucas, Sara Maroske, D.M. Sinkora, J.H. Voigt and Monika Wells (eds), Correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller, <https://vmcp.rbg.vic.gov.au/id//letters/1890-6/1890/90-11-18a-final.odt>, accessed June 13, 2026

M's letter not found. The text used here is from Kilmore free press, 5 March 1891, p. [2]. M's letter is dated to 18 November 1890 as the latest possible date it could have been written; Springthorpe was only asked to go on 17 November, and on 18 November left Melbourne to join the Orient in Adelaide (Australian star (Sydney), 21 November 1890, p. 5), from where it sailed on 19 November (South Australian register, 20 November 1890, p. 4). Orient had sailed from Melbourne on 15 November (Argus, 17 November 1890, p. 4).

[[Dr. Springthorpe, of Melbourne, who has just returned from Berlin] stated that, armed with letters of introduction to Sir Edwin Malet, the British ambassador at the Prussian capital, and also to Dr. Koch himself from Baron von Mueller, he left Melbourne by the Orient steamer in November last.]

Springthorpe, on a visit to Berlin funded by F. W. Were to investigate Koch's treatment for consumption (tuberculosis), was unable to meet Koch but visited a number of hospitals. He returned to Melbourne with a bottle of the lymph used in the treatment, after which he reported on his visit to a special meeting of the Victorian branch of the British Medical Association on 2 March 1891 (Springthorpe (1891); the report was followed by extensive discussion.