Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-10-04
KOCH OPPONENTS WIN
At CLOSING SESSION
tuberculosis Congress Recognizes
latgs' Of Human Infection
From Bovine 6acRli.
AGITATION QG|EIEO UNTIL 1911
Adoption Of Resolution AppIauded-
Koch Unperturbed in Pefeat--Gath-
erins Adjourns Since oie-President
Roosevelt Pays Notable Tribute
Important Recommendations.
Ae|I.1|9n Qut1ED uxT|l 1911
(By Associated Press.)

signal victory was today won by the
opponents Of the theory advanced by
DR.. Robert Koch. the eminent German
scientist, minimizing the danger Oh
human infection from bovine tuber-
culosis bacilli. when the sixth trlen-
NAL International Congress on TuDef-
culosis. just before final adjournment,
placed itself squarcly on record IN
opposition TO the views Of the GER
man savant.
The controversy over this momen-
tous issue. which has been the sub
ject OF spirited debate during the en-
tire proceedings of the congress,
reached its climax today when that
body. by unanimous vote. adopted
re solution recognizing the "possiblh-
ty" Of human infection from the DO
vine tuberculosis bacilli. The text
of the resolution. which was one of a
series of Official declarations is as fol
lows:
Resolved: That the utmost efforts
should be continued in the struggle
against tuberculosis to prevent the
ceayeyaAcs fron, man to man 81 Oh
tuberculosis infection as the most im-
portant sources of the disease.
Bovine Infection possible"
THAT preventive measures be con-
tinued against bovine tuberculosis
and that the possibility Of the propa-
CATION of this 10 man be recognized.
This official expression. wlic1 was
one of the most important results OF
the session of the congress. was greet
ed with prolonged cheers
DIR. Koch sat throughout the pro-
ceedings without even so much as
nod of disapproval .
The action Of the congress Will
likely put a quietus to further agita-
ton, at least urtil the next meeting
OF the congress in Rome in 1911.
President Appears.
One of the most pleasant surprises
OF the closing scenes of the congress
was the appearance for the first time
during its proceedings Of President
Roosevelt.
In a characteristic address, Presi-
dent Roosevelt paid notable tribute
to the assemblage of SO many scientists
Of International reputation.
The President spoke in part as fol-
lows:
1T is difficult for US to realize the
extraordinary changes. the extraordin-
ary progress In certain lines Of social
endeavor during the last two or three
generations: and in no other manffes-
;ation of human activity have the
changes been quite so far reaching az
in the ability to grspple with disease.
II is not so very long. measuring time
by history. since the attitude OF man
toward a disease such as that Of con-
sumption. was one Of helpless acqaie-
sence in what he considered to be the
mandates OF a supernatural power.
1T is but a short time since even
the most gifted members OF the medi'
cal profession knew as little as any
1ayrnan of the real cause Of disease
like this. and therefore necessarily O.
the remedies to he invoked to over
come them.
Medical Triumphs on Isthmss.
Take. for instance the work that
the government Is now doing in Pana-
ma. The !siamus Of Panama, which
was a by-word for fatal liSc.ses. has
become well-nieh q saEitarium: and
II has become SO because OF invesfiaa-
tons Of certain medical men. which
enabled them TO find out the real
causes. especially yellow fever and
maiarial fever. and 10 take measures
10 overcome them. The older doc
tors here. when they we're medical
students. would have treated the sus-
gsstion Of regarding mosquitoes as the
prime source Of disease Ike that as
a subject for miTth.
These utterly unexpected results.
have followed patient. iaborious. dan
scrous and extraordinarily skiIiful
work tina; has enabled the cauee OF
the disease TO be found and the dis
eases themselves TO he combatted
with extraordinary success.
Superstition vsnqvisned.
AT this moment in the middle OF
the great continent OF Africa. tncre
is q peculiarly fatal and terrible d.
ease. the sIcepisg sickness: a disease
which. II u had been known Ia orr
ancestors in the middle ages. vou!a
have been SPOKEN % as the black
death wss SPOKEN Of in The niddie
sSrs-ss q sccurge sent Ct God pos
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