The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1901-08-01
TUBERCULOSIS IN IAN AND
BEAST.
New York Tribune,

New YORK tribune,
Many circumstances consplre - lend
importance to the opinion expressed In
London on Tuesday by Dr. Rn6:rt
Koch ,Ha. bovine tuS,rcuiosi, cann1I ie
,ransmi,;al 10 man. The contrary view
has been so extensively held n EuroDe
and America tor years thar one feature
Of the war agains; consumption which
mas O. late been vigorously wagei in a
prohibition Of the sale " infected cattle,
milk ani meat. II this mas bee7 4 mis-
taken policy a grea; hardship has been
needlessly wrought, oni If existing re-
srrictons can be safely 'cmovei a form
idaole load viii be ;aken from the
shoulders Of the dairy and stock farm
ers.
1t is to be observed. however, that a
belief in the riskiness Of using Infected
milk and meat, whether correc, or not,
is widely prevalent among scientific
men. And Lord Lister, than whom no
living man is better qualified TO form
a sound opinion on this subject, frank
ly declared that he could not accept DR..
Koch's conclusion on the evidence pre-
sen,ed. Hence, in spite Of its startling
and gratifying character, the distingu-
lshei Germans statement is not likely
10 exert much influence in the immedl-
ate future. In fact. entirely indepenl-
eat testimony will be needed TO corob-
crate It, This is the rule regarding all
scientific discovery, whether it be the
finding Of a new chemical element. a
new star or a new microbe. OF course.
now tina, the old view has been chal-
lenged by the original discovery Of the
tubercule bacillus, observation will be
freshly directed to the phenomenon in
dispute, although the point is not one
that can be determined easily. The
bactcrioiogist may with proprie,y inocu-
late an animal with the germs Of
human disease and watch he effect. but
a reversal OF the procedure would not
be sanctioned by reputable Scientists.
Still. careful scrutiny Of cases in which
contaminated milk and meat have been
taken ignorantly and accidentally may
o4rhaDs afford the desired information.
Certainly, now tha; the question has
been raised in so conspicuous a manner,
scores Of Investigators all over the civil
lied world will be on the aler; for facts
bearing upon it,
OF course, IL the new view shall event
ually be es,blished, the chief means lef.
for fighting tuberculosis will be the
prohibition Of splitting in public places.
To some extent il may also prove advis-
able to interfere in the crowded tene-
men. houses, where bad sanitary condI-
tons unques.lonably promote mortality |
from this disease. But while there is ye; !
some question as to how far I, is wise
and righ, to go in this direction, there |
is no excuse for hesitation in enforcing |
the anti-spitting ordinance. Even were
DR.. Koch mistaken as 70 the risk from /
infected meat and milk 1t would still be
true that the greatest danger to the
proceeds from indiscHmin-
ate expectoration. A noteworthy feature
II yesterdays proceedings in the Tuber-
culosis congress in London was Dr..
congra tulation Of the United
States upon It's prompt recognition II
this peril, and the vigorous .roa.ment
which the latter had received here. In
deel, It would seem as II the beauties
Of that policy Were better appreciated
abroad than by certain magistrates 10
this city, whose leniency in dealing with
ofenses against health, decency and law
is inexplicable.