The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-07-26
DON'T AGREE WITH KOCH
MUCH CRITICISM OF HIS BOVINE
TUBERCULOSIS THEORY
Leading Physicians at London Con-
gress Hold That Consumption
Is TransmissibIe From
Cows to Humans,

LONDON, July 25.-Presiding at this
afternoon session of the British congres -
OF tuberculosis, Earl Spencer (chal a.. or
or the Victoria university and vice-presi-
dent OF the congress), severely criticised
Or. Robert Kochs theory to the effect
that humane beings were immune from
contagion from tuberculous cattle Earl
Spencer said he hoped this was true. but
that he hoped that more of the dissemina-
ton of such views would not tend to
cause laxity on the part of dairymon and
cattle owners, or less vigilance by the
authorities charged with protecting the
consumers of milk. The speaker earnest
ly trusted the congress would not indorse
the view that it was unnecessary to take
measures to prevent the transmission Of
tuberculosis from animals to humans
Prof. John MacFadyean, of the Royal
Veterinary college, read a paper on tu-
bercle bacili in milk as a source of tu-
berculosis in man. He said that until Dr.
: Koch had declared himself in this con-
| nection to the contrary it was supposed
| to have been fully proved that human
and bovine tuberculosis were Identical
| diseases.
Prof MacFadyean discussed the
grounds upon which Dr. Koch based his
belief. contending that they were either
not well founded or had little bearing
upon the question and he submitted ar
guments to prove the strongest grounds
remained for regarding milk from tuber-
culous cows as distinctly, dangerous to
human beings.
DR.. Ravenel of Philadelphia, gave an
instance Of the infection of ten persons
from tuberculous cattle, but said he con-
sidered such instances to be rare.
King Edward received the foreign dele
gates to the British congress on tuber-
culosis at Melbourne house this afternoon
His majesty briefly expressed mis- keen
interest in the congress and his hopes Of
fruitful results therefrom.
James King, a vetinary inspector Of
London, speaking before the congress, at
tributed the large increase in the import
ed meat trade to the rigid inspection Of
home killed cattle and said meat sales
man assured him that the losses from
condemned carcasses were so great that
the British dealers We're forced to buy i'm
| ported meat. Mr.. King dissented fatty
from DR.. Koch's belief in the trans
mission of bovine tuberculosis to humans
I and urged the adoption Of stringent meas
! ureS in this respect to insure the health
fulness of imported carcasses. He also
urged a government compensation for
cattle destroyed under it's orders, in
order to thoroughly stamp out tuber-
| culosis from British herds where, he de-
clared, it was alarmingly prevalent.
BERLIN July 25.-Prof. Koch's state
ment of his discovery regarding tuber-
culosis as made before the congress now
! in session in London has been received
here with some skepticism among physi-
clans During the regular proceedings of
the Berlin Medical society, which began
today, the members discussed Prof.
Kochs announcement dwelling upon the
fact that his conclusion is Numerically
| opposed to his former position. Several
members pointed out that this new theory
was asserted by him with as much dec
sion as the old. In the course Of the SEES
sion Prof Virchow referred to Prof.
Kochs address in the following terms:
Nothing remains for me but to maintain
more positively than ever that the deci-
sive thing in tuberculosis is the tuber-
culosis center-tuberkelknoec s
the pathological mark of tuberculosis and
| not the bacillus as SUCH