The morning journal-courier., 1908-10-01
Tells International Congress Bovine Type of Tuberculo- sis Is Not Fatal to
 Man,
EXPERIMENTS UNDER WAY
Expects to Collect Facts in Two Years for Presentation to Next Con- gress--Praises New York
 City's Methods.

Washington, Sept 3O--That ms declaration at the British congress on tuberculosis in London in 1901, that hu- man beings may be infected by bovine tubercle bacill, but serious diseases from this cause occur very rarely, have undergone no modification was empha- sized by pr. Robert Koch. the eminent authority, before the International con gross on tuberculosis here today. While admitting that human beings may be infected by bovine tuberclc bacilli, Dr. Koch said that "up to date In no case of pulmonary tuberculosis in man has the tubercle bacillus Of the bovine type been definitely demonstrated.
 He still holds that pulmonary tuber- culosis Is produced by the tubercle bacill of the human type exclusively and declared that our regulations for combating tuberculosis must by all means be directed against that source of the disease. He made known to- day for the first time, that In view of the great importance of this phase of the question, he intended to undertake as soon as feasible, experiments along this line on a broad scale. At the same time l wish to make my plea to other tuberculosis workers in order that as many cases as possible may be examined,' said Dr. Koch, "to join mo vigorously in this task But I wish to lay stress on the fact that tho lat h,.,, fnr rar ing out these investigations must be followed. l consider 1t quite possl- ble that in this matter the essential facts for deciding this important ques- tion may be collected In about two years and be presented in the next in- ternational congress"
 Many eminent scientists supported his contention.
 Dr. Arlolng, in combating the views of Dr. Koch, declared himself a staunch adherent of the doctrine of the unity of the tubercle bacillus and pointed out the necessity Of taking prosecutions against the tuberculosis virus, whatever may be it's origin.
 As tho result of many experiments ' to determine the question Dr. Koch to- | day declared that 10 his knowledge the bacilli of the human type have Inever been demonstrated in cattle. but that the bacilli of the bovine type can ocur in man "They have been found in the cervical lymph glands and at the intestinal tract" he said With few exceptions however. these bacilli are but slightly virulent for man and remain localized, The few known cases in which the bovine tuberculosis is said 10 have produced in man appear to me not to be above suspicion
 Dr. Koch took sharp Issue with many of his opponents. who. he said. have made strenuous efforts 10 prove that the tubercle bacilli in man and those in cattle cannot be of different specie. and added:
 They imagine uNat they can refutc my contentious. e never held that We are dealing wia two distinct spe. cies, but have only stated that they differ from each other in certain char. acteristics, characteristicf which arc of tho greatest importance in com batting tuberculosis. am concerned only with the practical significance be tween human ayd bovine tuberculo. sis"
 He expressed the belief that the sue cessful execution of the measures un dertaken By Dr Riggs, general medlca officer of the department of health New York city, represents one of the mos important features of the war agans tuberculcsls and declared that he hope, every municipality would adopt tn example set by New York in waglnj war cn tuberculosis
 The value of Dr. Koshs tubercull came in for criticism during the da' from several prominent tubercuosl experts.