The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-27
German Scientist Again Declares Tu-
berculOsed Animals Are Not
Menace to Mankind.
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BERLIN, Oct. 26-Surprise and regret is
felt by the delegates to the international
tuberculosis congress, which has been in
session here, that the United States did
not have a larger representation, and es-
pecially that some one was not present to
give the result of the experiments carried
on in America during the last year with
regard to the communicability of animal
tuberculosis to human beings. The only
American who attended the congress was
DR.. William Enger, of the United States
Marine Hospital Service, who is stationed
at Naples. The abstract Of a paper on the
direction which should be taken by tu5er-
culosis investigation, the work of DIR.
Charles Denison, of Denver, Col, has been
circulated among the delegates.
The last session Of the congress was held
to-day at midday. DR.. Williams, of Eng
land, made an address in which he advo-
Gated the classification of patients in sana-
toria according to the progress each had
made toward recovery. The congress then
adjourned to meet next year In Paris. In
the opinion of leading delegates the chief
results of the gathering have been to show
the progress made in Germany in sanatoria
and scientific appliances.
The sensation of yesterdays session
Of the congress came toward the end
Of the sitting in the form of a paper by
Professor Koch, i'm which he maintained all
his former positions regarding the non
transferability of animal tuberculosis to
man. Professor Koch began by stating that
he spoke at the desire Of the central COM
mittee. He wished it to be understood, he
said, that his statements referred exclusive
ly to the transmission of bovine tubercu-
losis TO human beings. He asserted that
statistics on the subject of intestinal tu-
berculosis were too incomplete to estab-
lish the frequency of that disease. Some
authorities assert, said the professor, that
Intestinal tuberculosis Is very common In
the United States and I'm England, while
other authorities hold contrary views
Cases of the disease are not frequent in
Germany. An inquiry instituted by the
government has proved the rarity of such
cases.
Taking up the alleged proofs that HUI
man beings may be infected with bovine tu-
berculosis through skin LESSONS Professor
Koch admitted that cases of tuberculosis
do occur among butchers and other per-
sons who handle animals, but he asserted
that the percentage Of sufferers from the
disease among joiners is equally as high
as among handlers OF animals and meat.
He could not see, he declared, any con-
nectfon between a skin lesion and tuber-
culosis, ending in death, like the case al
legged OF certain workman who scratched
his hand and finally died from consumption.
The experiments on monkeys which were
innoculated with bovine bacilli and died
subsequently subs. d are, according to Professor
ability or animal tuberculosis.
If" said the professor. infection Is so
frequent through milk, positive proof of
this ought to be obtainable. When poi
soned meat is eaten in community wide
spread effects follow. How is it that no
general infection follows the eating of tu-
berculosed meat or the drinking of milk
that large amounts of tuberculosed meats
are consumed daily and that not only the
flesh but even the tuberculosed organs are
made use Of for food, yet no widespread
infection follows. In view of the quantity
Of tuberculosed meat eaten and the rarity
OF intestinal tuberculosis the question must
frequent? II tuberculosed meat is APP
parently so harmless. why is it not the
same with milk? People think that boiled
milk Is harmless, but boiling does not ex-
terminate tubercular bacilli, and sterilizins
milk impairs its quality. Why is 1t that
the public is so nervous about milk but vet
will eat butter. in which bacilli are equally
nurtured, without hesitation? The fact is
that most people have eaten tubercular ba-
cili. Why is not the infection widespread?
Professor Koch declared that only two
cases of alleged general infection were
known to him, and these two were NOT
proved. He did not affirm, he said, that
the transmission of tuberculosis from ami
NAL to man was impossible, but that cases
of the kind were extremely rare IL they
did occur. He had collected twenty-eight
cases of apparent transmission of tubercu.
lar bacilli-a very small number-and in
none of these could the source of the in.
lection be stated positively that data beine
incomplete.
Last year Professor Koch received 2
number of letters from people who had
drunk tuberculous milk for years and
who had discovered only upon the
which they had been drinking. tina,
| the animal was tuberculous He an.
pealed to the central committee to col.
| lect trustworthy data, and especially tC
ascertain the proportion of poisons. usine
the same meat and milk, that remained un.
was reported. AS the matter stands. ne
| satisfactory proof exists.
IF measures are to be taken to combat
| animal tuberculosis" went on Professo,
| Koch, they must be on economic, not SAM
| tary grounds In order to combat tn,
| disease we must find the root of the evil
establish better dwellings and workshops
avoid overcrowding and isolate person.
| who are affected with tuberculous bacilli
| This is the only way to meet the enemy
| Experience with other infections prove:
! that tuberculosis can be successfully com
| bated." Prolonged cheering followed TN,
| will be printed in pamphlet form in a few
| he