The Washington times., 1901-07-29
LONDON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

LONDON. July 8.-Sir Alfred Miner
has talked brave words to the city mag
mates regarding South Africa. and the
Government have come within seventeen
votes of defeat in forcing their education
bill through the House OF Commons, but
for all that, politics took quite second
ary place last week.
AS for the Congress on Tuberculosis.
the English medical world is, of course
greatly perturbed by Prof. Koch's sweep
ing denial OF the theories upon which are
based the English methods of treatment
and legislation affecting tubercuious dis
eases II the Koch theory. that tuber-
cuIosis Is not communicated to man by
animals. Is accepted. the very stringent
regulations which Parliament has placed
upon the sale OF meat and dairy produce
have no meaning. and the constant anx-
iety of English mothers regarding the
milk supply is quite needless. Fearing
lest the dairymen and butchers should
fershr-...hh asiia,e Tor relaxation of the
present restrictions. English medical men
are rushing into print with reminders
that Prof. Koch's Investigations are still
in the experimental stage: that so.0oo per-
sons in Great Britain now die of tubeTcu-
! iosis each year: that probably 30 per cent
OF all breeding and milking cattle In the
country are In some degree affected with
tuberculosis. and that a grave national
danger may arise from any modification
of the existing precautions except after
the fullest investigation by English au-
thorities. For the moment, the Govern
ment will do nothing-that Is the English
officials invariable first move.
In Parliament on Thursday the Presi-
dent of the Local Government Board
was urged to institute thorough official
Investigation of Prof. Koch's main con-
tention, which is summarized thus: IL
bovine bacilli are capable OF causing
diseases in man, there are abundant op-
portunities for the transference of bacilli
from one species to another, and cases
OF primary intestinal tuberculosis from
the consumption OF tuberculous milk
ought to be Of common occurrence. but
the post-mortem examination of human
beings proves that cases OF primary intes-
tinal tuberculosis are extremely rare In
man. 1t. therefore, must be concluded
that human subjects are immune against
infection with bovine bacilli, or slightly
susceptible that 1t Is not necessary to
take any steps to counteract the risk Of
Infection in this way"
But the Government refused to make
enquiry on the ground that Prof. Koch's
view did not meet the assent of the gem
eral body OF scientific men, and it cer-
tainly is the fact that high English medi-
cal authorities have since adduced many
eases which work against Prof. kochs
contentious. such as the accidental inocu-
lation among dairymen working with an
open sore cut among diseased cows.
while there is the evidence of Dr.. Ravenol.
of Pennsylvania, regarding three cases
within his knowledge of accidental inocu-
lation from animals. two of the victims be-.
ing veterinary surgeons, and the third his
own veterinary assistant Indeed, the
congress generally concurred In Dr. Raw
enors conclusion that the tubercle bacfl-
Ius transmitted from cows has great
power over human beings. especially in
the early years of life. With the view of
testing Prof. Koch's theory, Harold
Swithinbach proposes to undertake ex-
tensive series of experiments on his own
home farm at Denham, and many other
private Investigations are now certain to
be made.
The Kings new title is certain to be ac-
cepted by Parliament-that is to say, there
viii be no such outbnrst as greeted the
last enlargement of the royal title. when
Lord Beaconsfield ingratiated himself
with Queen Victoria by proposing to add
Empress of India to the title. Lord
Spencer voiced the widespread Liberal
sentiment when he declared in the Lords
Friday night that, while he followed MIR.
Gladstone against Beaconsheld's pro-
posal experience, especially in India. had
the wisdom of the extension. The Govern
ment had received assurances of the colo
NAL popularity of the present enlarge
nent, though Canaua and Australia would
have liked the King specially to be called
King of Canada and Australia This di-
rect association Of the colonies with the
Crown marks no new era in the history
of the Empire. but it accentuates the en-
tireiy new feeling of knship which has
arisen since that unbending Liberal, W.
z. Forster. founded the Imperial Fedora
tion League sixteen years ago. An en-
larged kingly title will give a new stim-
ulus to such unifying movements as Mr..
Chamberlain blessed the other day, when
he assured the colonies that any colonial
for direct representation in the
imperial administration would be cor
daily considered here. Moreover, plans
are now maturing at the War Office, the
and other departments to
prove that the Empire is being quietly
and effectively brought into the closest
possible unity.