The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-10-08
PROGRESS IN THE STUDY OF DISEASE:


was the discoverer of the tuber-
culosis germ, which is now univer.
sally acknowledged to be the cause
of consumption, was the most con
spicuous figure in the recent Tuber-
culosis Congress held in London.
On this occasion, DIR. Koch took the
ground that it is not true, as had
been supposed, that tuberculosis can
be readily conveyed to human beings
by milk or butter from COWS Attic
ted with what is known as bovine
tuberculosis, not for the use of the
meat of ~tubercular cattle. DR..
Koch had reached this view after
much laborious study and expert
ment. Other authorities in the con-
gress did not agree with him, how
ever, notably Professor Macfadyen,
of the Royal Veterinary College,
who held that human and bovine
tuberculosis are essentially the same
disease. The congress was one of
great interest and value, and was
fraught with more Importance, by
far, to the human race than most of
the recent action and discussion of
the parliaments and congresses that
are supposed to shape the destiny of
nations. 1t is, indeed, highly signif-
icant to note the great progress that
the world is making through volun-
tary association, free discussion, and
cooperative effort, quite outside the
spere of politics and government.
Thus the united efforts of devoted
and self-sacrifioing specialists, as
focused occasionally in a gathering
like this congress on tuberculosis,
are certain to result in the very near
future in the saving of hundreds of
thousands, or even of millions, of
lives every year from the ravages of
a single diseases. Professor Brou-
ardel, of Paris, by the way, in his
paper on the prevention of cODsump-
ton, dwelt upon the Importance of
dry, well-lighted houses and gen
orally wholesome conditions of life,
and placed especial emphasis upon
the danger of drink in relation to
~tuberoular diseases. He is quoted as
saying that alcoholism is the most
potent factor in propagating tuber-
culOsis the strongest man who has
once taken to drink is powerless
againstit. Another eminent French
specialist, DIR. Daremberg, has now
made an alarming report on the
prevalence and steady growth of
consumption in France, where one
third of all deaths is now due to that
disease. He attributes it's recent
frightful progress to the manner in
which the French nation has of late
taken to alcoholic drinks. It is high
time that the double fight against
poisonous beverages and ~tubercular
infection should be waged by the
united efforts of science and govern
ment.
h WAR AGAINST MOSQUITOES.
An article written for this Review
last month by DIR. Howard, the Gov
ernment's chronological authority
at Washington, summed up in a most
complete way the Investigations by
experts of various nationalities which
have worked out to a complete dem,
OnstratiOn the remarkable and inval-
liable discovery that mosquitoes are
the principal and probably the sole
transmitters of malaria and yellow
if not of other diseases. The
whole world is brighter and more
hopeful for it's notable demonstra-
ton. Practical measures are being
employed this summer on the New
Jersey coast and in various other
parts of the United States, to get
rid of mosquitoes by recourse to
drainage, the filing in Of stagnant
the more complete use OF mos
quito netting and the use of petro-
leum to destroy the mosquito larvae
on ponds and pools. In the West
Indies, in Italy, on the coasts of
Africa and elsewhere, the war of
offense and defense againt mosqui.
toes is going on, and it is by all odds
the best and most hopeful wal of the
present year. In Havana, as we
noted last month no daafhG ara To
from yellow fever, this being
the first summer in considerably
more than a century when yellow
fever has not been prevalent and to
some extent fatal. The mosquito
transmission of the -N~allnw-favar