On March 24, 1882, Koch announced his discovery of "Mycobacterium tuberculosis" as the causative agent of tuberculosis. He presented his findings to the Physiological Society of Berlin, revolutionizing the understanding and treatment of the disease. This discovery earned him international acclaim.

Koch publicly announced his findings to the Physiological Society of Berlin. This pivotal presentation definitively proved that tuberculosis, a disease that ravaged populations worldwide, was caused by a specific bacterium. The date is now recognized as World Tuberculosis Day.

In an attempt to develop a cure for tuberculosis, Koch developed tuberculin, a glycerol extract of the tubercle bacillus. While tuberculin proved ineffective as a cure, it later found use as a diagnostic tool for identifying tuberculosis infection.

Koch publicly announced tuberculin as a potential remedy for tuberculosis. Initially, there was widespread excitement and hope for a cure, but clinical trials soon revealed that tuberculin was not effective and could even be harmful. This led to significant disappointment and criticism.

Despite its failure as a cure, tuberculin was eventually recognized as a valuable diagnostic tool for detecting tuberculosis infection. The tuberculin skin test (Mantoux test) became a standard method for identifying individuals who had been exposed to the tubercle bacillus.