Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-07-11

represented by eminent authorities on
tuberculosis. From Europe, Asia and
Africa, even from Australia and New
Zealand, there will come an aggregate
of 500 or 700 delegates. South America
will send a considerable number OF Its
ablest medical authorities on this dis
ease, while the United States. Canada
and Mexico will have q representation
of several thousand physicians. scien-
lists, sociologists and others who are
engaged In the movement for arresting
the progress Of consumption and tu-
bercular troubles In every form.
Subject in All Phases.
S So many absorbing phases OF the
! subject will be considered that 1t is
difficult to put ones finger on those
that will be most important. The feat
nre Of the congress that will no doubt
attract the most public interest will be
the tuberculosis exhibition. The meet
lngs Of the congress are to be held in
the new national museum and the ex-
hibition will be given there. It will
cover $4,000 square feet OF space, and
will be intended to teach a powerful,
e terrible lesson, to those who observe
It, on the ravages OF tuberculosis and
how the organs of the body are weak
ened and injured and made good re-
ceiving places for the germs OF tuber-
cular disease thru poor air, lack of
sunlight, poor food, and the like.
One section Of the congress will de-
vote its attention ITO tuberculosis in
animals and its relation to man. This
opens UP a wide field Of study and one
of the utmost Importance. It is likely
to attract no small degree of notice. It
involves the whole question Of tuber-
culosis in cattle, swine and other food
animals, of tuberculosis in dairy herds
and Of tuberculosis among domestic
pets, such as cats, dogs. canary birds
and other creatures that are petted
and fondled tn ones home. One does
not always reflect that the favorite cat
may be spreading tuberculosis In the
Z family, that the canary bird may be
deep In the throes OF consumption or
that the poodle dog Of the lady Of the
house may be sWarming with white
plague germs. This Is one phase of the
subject OF tuberculosis dn animals that
has been given comparatively little at.
tention. It will doubtless be heard OF
when the tuberculosis congress takes
up the consideration Of the disease. No
longer Is there any question that tu-
berculosfs in animals is communicable
to human beings. It Isl due
largely to the researches Of
! American medical men that this
fact has been fairly established. It has
been but few years since the emf
nent DR.. Koch aroused widespread
comment by paper in which he took
the opposite view. He was apparently
not aware how deeply Americans had
gone into this field Of study or he
would have been less pronounced in.
conclusions that are now generally ac-
done by the United States department
OF agriculture, thru its experts, in get
ting at the facts as to the communi-
cability Of tuberculosis from animals to
man and man to animals. 1t is expected
that it will be accepted by the congress
as settled that such communicability
IS q fact and that time will be devoted
to the question of how to prevent the
communication from being accom-
plished. Some physicians take the view
that the domestic pet is a good thing
to Danish from the house entirely. AS
to food and dairy animals. there is in
creased activity on the part Of federal,
state and municipal authorities in this
country and on the part Of the au-
thorities of most other enlightened
countries to guard them from tubercu-
losis and in this way to protect hui
mankind.
d Will Discuss Cures.
OF course, the subject of the cure Of
tuberculosis will be theme of absorb
ing interest It always is. It Is seldom
congress of this sort goes by without
talk arising that a new cure has been
discovered But so far as known, no
new specific cure for the disease is to
be presented at the coming meeting.
Much will be heard Of the open-air
method of treatment. This is the treat
ment that is recognized by the medi-
cal profession generally as the best
that has been developed up to date. 1t
is expected that discussion Of cures
will concern mainly improved methods
of outdoor treatment, with good food,
good air, sunlight and outdoor sleeping.
Prevention of the disease is a less in
teresting subject than It's cure but in
reality the more important. 1t is the
doctrine of the congress that the way
to accomplish results in stamping out
tuberculosis is by awakening the indi-
vidual to the Importance of SO living as
not to contract the disease.
Tho forthcoming gathering will be a
reflection of the activities the world
over in the war on the tubercle bacil-
lns. It Is a question whether tubercu-
losis is becoming less frequent and is
yielding 70 the assaults upon it. DR..
Jekh Hn1hlton, who is secretary gem