Evening star., 1901-07-27
BOVINE TUBERCULOSIS
THE QUESTION OF ITS TRANSMISSION
TO HUMAN BEINGS.
Health Officer WOodyvard's Observa-
tiOns ON the Recent Declara-
tiOn Of DIR. Koch.

The recent opinions on the subject OF
tuberculosis, or consumption, In it's various
phases, expressed by the eminent specialist,
DIR. Koch, at the London medical congress.
have received the same interesting atten-
tien from physicians in this city as has
been the case elsewhere throughout the
United States. DIR. William c. Woodward.
the health officer Of the District of Column
bia, who Is particularly interested In bovine
tuberculosis and the possibility of its trans
mission to human beings through milk and
dairy products, was interviewed today by
Star reporter on the subject of DR..
koch's uttefances
Il am unable" said DR.. Woodward. ito
discover anything very startling in the
views recently set forth by Prof. Koch rela-
tive to the extent Of the danger, if any, OF
contracting tuberculosis from cattle. There
are no courts of last resort in medical sci
eEce. and therefore, while Prof. Koch's
views and opinions are entitled to great
weight they cannot be regarded as settling
this matter. The position he has taken is
by no means new. For instance, the fol-
lowing statement by DR.. Robinson Of Chi
cago. made in an address delivered in Oc
tober, 1880 IL set forth by itself. might al
most be mistaken by one not familiar with
it's origin. for a part Of Kochs address.
DR.. Robinson said:
"A wide review Of the literature of the
subject 6uberculosis) leads me to the fol-
lowing conclusions: That we have not suffi-
cient evidence to teach positively the doc
trlne OF intertransmission of bovine and
human tuberculosis by contagion and in
gestion OF tubereulous flesh, while we must
admit that there may be an element OF
danger In the use of tuberculous milk. This
danger Is sufficient to justify us in demand
ing such food laws as win insure the con-
sumner pure milk and pure food products.
for asthetic IL no other reason But until
exact degree n u31
the use Of the milk Of tuberculous cows is
proven. 1t is better to teach the public that
there are other predisposing and exciting
causes OF human tuberculosis which, IL re-
moved, would tend to eradicate the disease
from the human race more rapidly than
trying first to eradicate it from the do
mestic animals. In other words, while we
40 not attempt to conceal the possibility OF
the mtertransmiSSiOn of the disease let
this possibility be placed In it's proper per-
spective.''
VIII Lead to Further Inyestigation.
There Is always a Margin" continued
DR.. woodward. between the teachings Of
science and the practice of the correspond
ing art. While in few Jurisdictions the
regulations designed to prevent the spread
or tuberculosis among cattle and from cat
tie to human beings have been carried to
the utmost limit of the scientific theory,
yet. generally speaking, this cannot be
SoAo ~ nave DeSH the case. k0ChS 0QCia-
ration or opinion will lead to further in
vestigation OF the subject of bovine tuber-
culosfs In its relation to human tubercuio-
SIS. but until such investigations have been
made It Is not likely that such regulations
as are now generally in force relative to
bovine tuberculosis will be materially modi-
neu The regulations to diminish the
spread Of the disease through spma will,
however. probably be extended"
Importance of Education.
while agreeing with Prof Koch, as all
must agree with him, in the Importance Of
sanatoria for the treatment Of consump-
ticn. would lay more weight than is gen.
orally laid upon the Importance of educa-
ton. While 1t Is desirable that the pupils
In our schools should know something Of
the conditions likely to result from the use
or Intoxicating liquors, It is, 1t seems to
me, quite as important that they should
know something Of the prevention Of the
spread OF contagious diseases, and among
tuberculosis. The first step for the gov
ernment to take u. believe, the introduce
tion Of instruction along these lines into
the curriculum OF our public schools When
the public understands as II will be made
to understand through such instruction,
that tuberculosis Is contagious, and, fur
ther. that 1t is durable, the government
will. I believe, be ready to provide proper
hospitals for the isolation Of such cases as
are incurable and 80 situated as to be dam
gerous to their families, and for the cure
OF such cases as may not have advanced
too far"