New-York tribune., 1901-08-05

of the infection by milk. butter and meat of
tuberculous cattle is hardly greater than that
Of hereditary transmission. and that conse-
quently ii is not advisable to take any measures
against it. They have enlarged upon the ex-
traordinary extent of tubercular disease among
cattle in the United Kingdom until the convic-
tion is forced upon the public that children and
adults in the towns are daily feeding upon living
and virulent bacilH of bovine tuberculosis. Pro-
fessor McFadyean. in his address. declared that
about 80 per cent of all the COWS giving milk
in this country are tuberculous in some degree
A great deal of the milk in the market
contains a considerable quantity of dust and
dirt, most of which comes from the cows udder
and the hands of the milker and part from the
dust of the air of the cowshed. When 80 per
cent of the COWS in a byre are tuberculous. the
dirt in that building and the atmosphere in 1t
almost certain 10 contain tubercle baciln
and some of these very likely TO find their
way into the milk. The more dirt milk contains
the greater is the chance that tubercle bacilli
from that source may he present With this
frank admission that at least a third Of the milk
supply Of the United Kingdom is tainted in
greater less degree. and that in order to avert
impending danger there must be a great army
OF cattle inspectors, and milk must he steamed
and boiled for the nursery. the professor virtu-
sands of consumers of bovine tubercle bacilll
are unconsciously carrying out the experiment
which expert investigators like DR.. Koch are not
Permitted make upon human beings. The
marvel is exclaimed Mr.. Chaplin. that
not all dead - DR.. KOch's theory helps to X
plain why the death rate in the United Kingdom
is not running up by leaps and bounds when
third of the cattle a thousand hills are Off
eially pronounced to be tuberculous
1t would be a serious misfortune il the vigi-
lance Of cattle and milk inspectors were relaxed
in consequence of the bombshell which Dr
Koch has flung into the sanitary camp British
conservatism is proof against sudden innova-
tions in administrative practice. especially when
there is army Of paid officials to be employed
Existing theories respecting infection from ami
mails will be stoutly defended. at least until a.
royal commission reverses the decisions reached
by similar bodies during the last twenty years
tuberculosis is not the only disease of which
milk is suspected of being the absorbent and
carrier, and until scientific investigators are in
substantial agreement respecting the concu-
sions of DIR. Koch prudence requires the main
tenance Of all existing regulations In the in
terest Of public health. There ought however
TO be more gratitude than has been displayed
demonstration that tuberculosis In is main
ly due to inhalation of air borne dust laden
germs from diseased lungs, and that meat and
milk are Of no account in the matter of infec-
tion. If DR.. Kochs theory can be estab-
lished, animal infection and heredity will both
be eliminated from the etiology of the scourge
and measures for the prevention and extirpation
Of consumption will be greatly simplified. The
audiences at St. Jamess and Queens halls
would have shown truer instinct If they had
applauded more heartily the learned bacterioIo-
Q G yVh WAS ha Of
ance from one Of the worlds most terrible
scourges With perverse unreasona bleness they
were fairly frantic with enthusiasm when Pro-
fessor McFadyean sought to refute his con-
clusions. and ended by proving that a third of
the cattle in England was tuberculous and the
milk supply infected, and dangerous unless
steamed. /. y. F.