New-York tribune., 1908-10-04
DIR. KOCH HEARS HIS
THEORY REJECTED
BY VOTE OF CONGRESS- on
TUBERCULOSIS.
President RoosereH Pays Notable
Tribute to Work of Medical Men
at Closing Session.


7arger Of human infection from bovine tuber-
rulous haciIli when the sixth triennial Interna-
-ionaI Congress on tuberculosis, just before
final adjournment, place itself squaTely on rec
ord in opposition 10 the views of the German
scientist The controversy over this issue,
which has been the subject Of much SPIRITED
debate in the congress, reached its climax to
dsr when that body, by unanimous VOTE
adopted a resolution recognizing the "possi-
biiitv' OF human infection from bovine tuber-
e,llo,ls hacilH The text of the resolution, which
was one Of series Of official declarations, is as
toliows:
Resolved. That the utmost efforts should be
continued in the struggle against tuberculosis
10 prevent the conveyance from man TO man OF
tuberculosis infactiOn as the most important
source OF the disease.
That preventive measures be continued
against bovine tuberculosis, and that the posi-
bilify Of the propagation Of this IN man De
recognized
This official expression, which was one Of the
most important results Of the sessions Of the
congress. was greeted with prolonged cheers
Whether Dr.. Koch has receded from his position
IS II the unity of human and bovine bacIlli'
which he has maintained tenaCiously. by
silently acquiescing in the adoption Of the reso-
tuition Is not known He sat throughout the
proceedings without even much as a nod OF
disapprovaI. It is not believed. however that
that rather than provoke further controversy
he declined 10 commit himself openly
The action Of the congress. it is thought, will
for the tine being put quietus TO further agi-
fsrjon at least until the next meeting of the
oongress-in Rome in 1911 This scientific bat
TIA has been waged with great vigor ever since
Or Koch advanced his doctrine at the London
Congress on tuberculosis in 1901
An unexpected but pleasant feature Of the
closing scenes Of the congress was the appear
rnce Of President Roosevelt His keen interest
sn the great work which medical science has
undertaken was particularly gratifying to the
foreign delegates.
THE PRESIDENTS ADDRESS
President Roosevelt paid notable tribute to
the assembIage Of so many scientists Of inter
national reputation when he declared it to be
his belief that no gathering could take place
Traught with greater hope for the welfare of the
people at large than the congress which closed
to-day He laid especial emphasis on the prog
ress Of medical science in combating disease
His address follows:
7 could not deny myself the privilege Of say
Ing a word Of greeting TO this noteworthy gath
ering II is difficult for 10 realize the eK-
fraoTdinary changes, the extraordinary progress,
3n certain lines Of social endeaVOT during the
last two three generations; and III no other
manifestation Of human activity have the
changes been quite far reaching as in the
ability tc grapple with disease It is not so
very long, mea surfing time by history, since the
attitude of man toward disease such as that
of consumption was one Of hel pless acquieScence
in what he considered to be the mandates Of d
supernatural power. 1t IS but short time since
even the most gifted members OF the medical
profession knew little any layman Of the
real causes Of q disease like this and therefore,
necessarily. of the remedies TO be invoked to
overcome them. It is affair of decades, l
am almost tempted TO say an affair OF years,
when go back TO cover the period in which
rp-1 has hapr, de
Take. for instance, the work that the United
States government is now doing in Panama
When the first railroad was built across Pan
II was said with some foundation Of truth,
with but slight exaggeratiOn, that every sleep
eT laid cost the life Of d man Now the work
Ft the canal. in that identical place, is being
prosecuted. on an infinitely larger scale of
course than the mere building OF a railroad, un-
der conditions which make the locality stand
above the ordinary locality in the United States
IN point Of health The Isthmus Of Panama,
which q byWoTd for fatal disease, has be
come well nigh a sanatorium; and il has be
come 80 because OF the Investigations of certain
medical men which enabled them TO find out the
real causes Of certain diseases. and especially
yellow fever and malariai fever, and TO take
measures to overcome them The older doctors
have treated the suggestion OF regarding mos
auitoes as the prime source Of diseases like that
as a subject for mirth. Isn't that literally true?
HEROISM SHOWN BY DOCTORS
These utterly unexpected results have fol-
lowed patient labOriOus. dangerous and extraOr-
olBarlly Skll1ul work that has enabled the cause
Of the disease TO be found and the diseases
themselves 10 be combated with extraordinary
success. I said dangerous work That success
had its martyrs; doctors laid down their lives
70 secure the results of which I have spoken
showing exactly as much heroism ever was
shown by the soldier the field Of battle.
Al this moment in the middle of the great
continent Of Africa there is peculiarly fatal
and terrible disease. the sleeping sickness; a
Disease which if il had been known to our an
csstors in the Middle Ages would have been
spoken ~ as the Black Death was spoken Of in
eAe Middle ASeS-as d scourge sent Of God
SossibE as something connected with a comet
some similar explanation would have been
advanced. We Eow know that il is due 10 the
carrying OF a small and deadly blood parasite
by species Of hitting fly. there being this very
curious genus OF biting flies in Africa. form
of which, although harmless TO wild animals
and man. conveys by its bite a fatal Infection
all domestic animals and even to the closest
allies Of the wild animals. 10 which its bite is
fatal. while the other form, which does not
seem 10 be fatal TO domestic wild animals is
responsible for the spread of this terrible dis
oase. the sleeping sickness, which in one region
killed 2GO000 out of 100000 inhabitants rate
Of slaughter, Of course, infinitely surprising
that Of any modern war
FIGHT AGAINST TUBERCULOSIS
and the chance To control that disease lies in
the work Of just such men as and indeed of
some Of the men who are assembled here You
who have come here. however, have come to
combat not scourge confined to the tropics,
but what Is the whole the most terrible
scourge OF the people throughout the world
But few years ago hardly intelligent effort
made. could be made, 10 against
this peculiarly deadly enemy Of the human race.
The chance successfully To conduct that war
arose VIXEN the greatest experts ia the medical
world Turned their trained intelligence TO the
TASK II remains Tor them 10 find out just what
can be done The task, then, viii be for the
representatives of the governments 10 give all
possible effect 70 this conclusion OF the scen-
tific men.
The change in tie status Of the man of
science during the last century has been i'm