Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-08-09
DIR. Koch on CONSUMPTION.

The reported statements OF Professor
Koch before the British congress on
tuberculosis, TO the effect that the hu-
man and bovine lung diseases are apso-
utely different. has caused much dis
cussion. II is very largely assumed that
the great German scientist is misunder-
stood. or msrepresented when he is re-
ported TO have said that he had been
unable to induce tuberculosis in AMI
mails by incubation with human tuber-
Gle bacilh for It is claimed that the
possibility Of such transmission has
been proved by experiments. On the
other hand II is admitted that the
theory that bovine tuberculosis can be
conveyed to man. has never been es-
tablished by reliable data.
The Medical Record believes that
great harm may come through the re-
ports that have been published II the
public should infer that the consump-
ton of milk and meat from diseased
animals Is perfectly harmless and II
hastens to say that Professor Koch Is
not the authority he gave promise Of
being earlier in his career, THE Keen
striving after exactness," that Journal
says. "of the scientist has been dulled
In him more or less. lie mas
lost the caution Of the real scientist
and has put ON the assumption (the
cocksuredness. we are tempted to say
Of the poseur. He asserts with post
tlyeness what men like ADAM and
Theobold Smith suggest with caution.
To layman this censure appears I'M
called for. AS near as can be judged
from the reports Of his address, the
professor merely gave II az his opinion
that human beings cannot catch con-
sumption from diseased animals, while
he distinctly admitted that he was not
in position to furnish positive proofs.
What he thought he had demonstrated
was that human consumption could not
be transmitted to animals, and he de-
tailed the experiments on which he
based this proposition. II seems TO
us. that he made his statements with
the caution and exactitude OF an exper-
fenced scientist.
The inference TO be drawn from the
statements credited to the Berlin pro-
fessor is not that milk and meat from
diseased animals can be consumed
without danger, but that the danger
from that source Is slight, as com
pared to the peril Of inhalng disease
germs from human beings afflicted with
consumption lie emphasized that nine
tenths Of an new cases Of human tn.
berculosis were found TO arise from con
tact with consumptiyes. When this
fact is more generally recognized, the
campaign against one of the most ter
rble diseases that afilict humanity,will
be more effective since TO know the
chief source Of danger is, in such
contest, essential TO success
On this point there was practical UNI
animity on the part Of the delegates to
the congress The habit OF splitting in
public was strongly condemned, The
importance OF ventilation and cleanll-
ness In dwelling houses was em-
phasized, and the construction OF sana-
toria for the proper treatment OF pa
TENTS, especially Of the poorer classes,
was recommended, one OF the speak
ers drew attention TO alcoholism as a
predisposing cause and the most pot
ent factor in the propagation Of tuber-
oulosis." There was no difference Of
opinion as to the chief contention OF
the Berlin bacterioloeist that the great
source Of danger Is intimate contact
with consumptlves, and disposition 10
infection caused by some violation Of
sanitary rules