Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-10-12
Transmission Of tuberculosis.

The October number OF the Sanlt:ry
insrcc.or has an interesting letter
frcr, PIoi. +. {. Robinson cr Bcwdoin
college. The delegate Of the Maine
Board Of Health to the recent congress
on tuberculosis in London. Prof
Europe. dweils mainly in his letter up
ON the sensation created at the con-
srcss BY Prof. Koch Who argued that
rarely it ever is tuberculosis tranc-
mttcd Ia humm beings throAgh the
meat or milk cf tubcrcuiar cattle.
His paper stirred Up medical ana pub
lie health authorities as nothing else
has for a long time AS to It's effects
upon those who heard it. P-of Robin
son writes:
1t is putting i; mildly to say that
the whole congress was fairly dazed
by it, 1t was like Il bolt from Il clear
sky. The effect wore off il little be-
fore the end, and the leaders pulled
themselves together and put 4 bold
face on it by way of resolutions, etc,
but it was Il forced confidence mani
festly. have just come from the last
meeting where the resolutions We're
offered The most important one was
that which expressed their adherence
to the old views as to practical iden-
tity of human and bovine tuberculosis.
The resolution was carefully framed
beforehand and proper persons select
cd to second it. but YOU could feel the
tense condition of the atmosphere.
There was evidently a dread least
some one of ability should speak in
opposition from the floor of the meet
ing Il have no doubt that you
would like to know just what seemed
to be the. opinion of the meeting of
DR.. Kochs expression OF his convic-
ton that there was little danger from
tuberculOuS milk or meat. | talked
and listened as far as could, and
should say that the feeling was strong
that he had made an unjust1tiabe
statement. and a very unwise one: that
he had considered his experiments as
the chief. and disregarded those Of
others Prof MacFaydean gave the
only careful reply to Koch. and his ar
gument was as strong as il could be
made. but l can't help thinking that
it is not strong enough, and indeed all
say that obviously the whole question
must now be reviewed and new ex-
periments made.
1T must be remembered in consider
ing the resolutions of the congress that
the majority of its members We're
connected in some way with sanitary
boards which receive their chief sup
port from the public funds on the
theory that human health is menaced
by tuberculouS milk and meat There
is hence little wonder that they are
alarmed and anxious. To my mind
the whole thing is an illustration of
what | have felt and expressed many
times recently, ana especially when we
were talking about our laboratory. that
there was such a thing as too great
haste in scientific matters. Great
things are demanded at once. things
are regarded rs established before
they are.
1t is really surprising to all how
little real attention mas actually been
given TO the matter discussed by Koch.
Is has been assumed as proved.
and bacterioloEists have gone
on and reasoned from it as though
there was no possible doubt. Now Of
course Koch may be wrong. ! am in
clned to think ne does state it in
too sweeping a manner, hut it seems
to me that it Will soon be 4 matter Of
general belief that the danger of TAX
ing tuberculosis from tuberculous COWS
through milk or meat. is Very much
less than it has been generally thought
| am glad Of one thing and that is that
our Board has never been carried off
its feet in the matter. That we have
directed our main efforts to prevent
ing contagion from man to man. |
do not believe that pure milk will be
any the less demanded even though
kochs position be perfectly sus-
tanned.