New-York tribune., 1901-08-03
DIR. KOCH IN LONDON.
THE TUBERCULOSIS CONGRESS AND THE
GERMAN INVESTIG ATOR'S PLAN
OF CAMPAIGN-LORD LIS
TER'S CONSERVATISM
TER'S CONSERVATISM.
London Julv ~


roval colors and with close approach TO the
,ormaties of state function The Duke OF
cambridge represented the King and read teie-
cram from him expressing deep interest I'm the
proceedings Of this International council for the
n-evention Of consumption. The services OF sew
eral ambassadors, the Viceroy of ireland, the
head Of the Foreign Office. the Lord Mayor, the
provosts Of Glasgow and Edinburgh, Lord
strathcona and a swarm Of dukes and earls were
reouiste in order TO impart dignity and stateli-
ness 10 a purely scientific assemblage The dele
Gates were welcomed by a dozen officials. who
competed with another in humility in dis
claiming any personal knowledge Of either bac-
+eriology or pathology The foreign delegates
were presented to the Duke of Cambridge, in
rited 10 a banquet and entertained at Apsley
House and at the Mansion House. When these
compliments and amenities had been exchanged
the congress on the second day settled down TO
uork in ST. James's Hall. with the platform
filed with experts from the Continent and with
the floor and galleries crowded with medical
men. The central figures the stage were
Lord Lister the most eminent surgeon and med
icsl investigator in England. and DR. Robert
Koch. the discoverer Of the tubercular bacillus
and the most practical bacteriologist now living.
These two great authorities. while differing re-
snecting certain details. We're equally confident
that one Of the most terrible Of modern scourges
could re removed by the adoption OF systema-
tzed pre-, ,entive and curative measures.
LORD Lister. while he may justly be said 10
have created in England the modern art of
surgery. is as cautious and conservative in
speech as he is progressive in method He has
q n,alodioIls Voice an intellectual face sturdy.
compact figure. and the manner and bearing OF
an old tire country doctor While he attributes
all resi- progress in surgery and medicine to
scientiflc Investigations by men Ike Pasteur ana
Koch he mas not lost his professional habit or
weighing evidence and avoiding premature con
clusions When Pasteur discovered that fer
rnentation and putrefaction We're caused by
microbes. the English surgeon applied the prin-
cirle 10 his own practice and introduced the
entiseptic treatment by which operations once
attended with high risks were conducted with
complete safety; but he waited nine years be-
fore dispensing with precautions which ham,
nered and inconvenienced him. He considered
these safeguards unnecessary, but he had too
great a respect for his patients 20 relax any
precautions for their welfare. The same quail
ity Of caution which had restrained him when
he was tempted TO experiment recklessly with
patients was displayed when he heard Dr.
Kochs inference that the risks Of infection by
the milk and flesh of tuberculous cattle were in
considerable. The bacteriOlogist was going too
fast and the conservative English surgeon could
human tuberculosis could not be transmitted 10
cattle. and also that was not susceptible
10 bovine tuberculosis. but there was insufficient
evidence on which TO base these sweeping con-
clusions and precautions for protecting human
patients from milk butter and meat from dan
gerous sources must not be relaxed. Lord Lis
ter's protest against DR.. Koch's theory that
tuberculosis in animals differs so much from
human tuberculosis that ii may be left out OF
account as a possible source Of infection for
man was characteristic OF an old time con-
servative practitioner.
DR. Koch himself he came under the eyes
OF spectators in St James's Hall, the en-
bodiment Of a scientific investigator Tall,
awkward in figure and movement. with stoop-
ing shoulders and high forehead, he adjusted
his spectaces and grew red In the face when
the audience received him with an outburst OF
hearty applause; and in an instant he was pick
ing his way deliberately and cautiously through
the opening sentences of his paper. IL was In
English. and he uncertain and timid IN
attacking unfamiliar scientific words. but he
persevered with German patience and thorough
ness and plodded on 10 the end without taking
note Of the applause which came from time to
time. He spoke without undue emphasis, but
with a tone OF quiet confidence and absolute
conviction. The cause Of tuberculosis had been
discovered in a parasite. and everything fol-
lowed naturally the inference that the enemy
could be pursued and annihiated. like other
parasitic foes Of mankind. Tuberculosis was
preventable disease and there were methods OF
successful treatment when il taken up IN
time If the disease had existed for thou
sands Of years and spread all over the world it
could be combated and conquered with the CO.
operation OF medical men and with the resources
OF the State. Since one parasitic disease after
another had been fought with SUCCESS, there
was reason for expecting a similar triumph in
the case Of consumption. that the caussl
relation between tuberculosis and the tubercle
bacillus had been established; but rs every
scourge had its own individuality the measures
10 be taken fer stamping II out must be adapted
to its special nature and etiology
By a series of analogies DR.. Koch enforced the
moral that there cannot be uniformity in the
treatment Of pestlences and that investigators
must learn how to strike at the root Of the evil.
The real transmitters Of bubonc plague were
ship rats, and when these were extermnated
the disease disappeared. Until the connection
between human plague and rat plague was
known measures for protective .nooulation were
ineffective With cholera the most dangerous
propagator was water. and the medium must be
considered If the disease is TO be eradicated.
Against hydrophobia protective inoculation has
proved emlnently effective. and infection can be
prevented by compulsory muzzlng. Leprosy is
caused by parasite greatly resembling the
buDeFcle bacillus. and It does not break out
III long after Infection and it's course is slower
IL Is transmitted from person TO person, and
comhative measures must be directed against
ciose intercourse between the sick and the
@aiihy Every scourge must be dealt with In
accordance with IT'S individual character and
me method Of infection must be accurately as
"a. 1--f-