New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-10-01
| KOCH ON TUBERCULOSIS
PRAISE FOR NEW YORK.
Still insists BOUine Bacili Do Not
Harm Human Beings.


at the British congress on tuberculosis in London
in 1901 that human beings might be infected with
bovine tubarcle baciIli, but that serious diseases
from this cause occurred very rarely. had under
gone no modification was emphasized by Dr. Robert
Koch. the eminent German authority, before the
International Congress on tuberculosis here to-
day. DR. Koch said that he still entertained the
opinion he then expressed which had been rein
forced as the result OF experiments conducted after
making the statement which attracted much
attention in the scientific world While admitting
that human beings might be infected by bovine
tubercle bacIII. Or. Koch said to-day that Up
TO date in no case Of pulmonary tuberculosis in
man mas tubercla bacillus OF the bovine type been
definitely demonstrated"
He stiu holds that pulmonary tuberculosis Is pro-
duced by the tubercle baciIH OF the human type
exclusively and declares that our regulations lor
combating tuberculosis must BY all means De IL
rected against that source OF the disease ne iAe
known to-day for the first time that in view OK
the great Importance of this phase Of the question
ne intended to undertake soon as feasloIs *
perinents along this line on a bread scale
al the same time 1 wish 70 make my plea 10
other tuberculosis workers IN order that as many
cases as possible maybe examined. said Dr- hoC'
..to ioIn me vigorously IN this task But wish
to lay stress on fact that the condlIl-lls 'aH
down by me for carrying out these lhVeslls
must be followed. I consider II quite possible til-
in this manner the essential facts Tor cec4ns o'
important question may be collected IN ABOUT Two
,asrs and be presented in the next international
congress" .
DR.. Koch made the above lnequiyoeal state.ize
at d Joint session OF ~--tons two and seven o. mo
congress when the subject q TINS Relations OF
Human AMI Bovine tuberculosis was 1nder as
cussicn Many Of the most eminent scientists H.
the world participated, including DIS = AItO'lis'
Iiceus France. Nathan Raw. Liverpool A-lisl1---'
Professor TheobaId Smith, Boston; Johannes Z
bigger and c. O. Jensen. Denmark VINO aIs-s--
against DR.. Kochs contentious, and DTs- y y,
DavaIos and J. Cartay1 Of Havana CGoar anu
others. who supported him
DR. ArIoing in com batting the views OF Dr. Koch
declared himself stanch adherent OF the doctrine
Of the unity the tuberCle bacillus, and pointed
out the necessity OF taking precautions against
the tuberculosis virus whatever may be its origin
As a result Of many experiments 10 determine
the question, DR.. Koch to-day declared that 70 MS
knowledge the baciu Of the human type had never
been demonstrated in cattle. but that the bacilH
OF the bovine type could occur IN man 'They
have been found in the cervtcal lynph-slands and
az the Intestinal tract" he said With rev e2cep-
tons however these baciIH are but slightly virJ-
lent for man and remain localized The r."
known cases in which the bovine tuberculosis Is
said TO have produced III man appear TO me not
10 be above suspicion
DR. Koch took sharp Issue with many OF his op-
ponents. who. he said, had made strenuous eiLol-S
20 prove that tie tuberce bacih IN man and those
IN cattle could not be OF different species, and
added:
.grbev imagine that they refute ny conten-
lions I have never held that we are deaIIns win
tvo distinct species but have only stated that they
differ from each other IN certain cnaracIeIIsl-7'
-Farac+ertstfcs which are of the greatest lnpor-
lance in combating tuberculosis am concerHeu
only with the practical significance between human
and bovine tuberculosis
N Koch earlier in the day took an active part
/ IN an informal discussion in the section on STATE
d -,uncfDaI control OF tuberculosis, following the
/ reading OF a paper by Dr. Herman NJ Blggs. gen
eral medical officer OF the Department OF Fiea =
New York City. the administrative coi-IOi o
/ +,,barrr11osis' Dr. Koch gave unstlnted praise 10
( - no +ar-7ed the fine example set by Dr. BIsSS
/ IN combating tuberculosis IN New YORK Clty- ne
are.eeI the belief that successful execution OF the
measures undertaken by Dr. Biggs represented oL-s
- +r most important features Of the war against
.1,t.-,,,tnsts He declared that Re hoped ever
,77tcioaIitv would adopt the example SET Oy Nc"
I YORK in waging war tuberculosis.
~ Herman NJ Biggs general medical officer OF
N-av York City IN his paper on tuoercuIoslS "OIA
a. +ba American metropolis, which called forth ms
r4s ~ nraise uttered by Dr. Koch. told MS near
- rat rrare was no other city in the world N
which the health authorities had so uhorouslIS
/ o-ganfzed the tuberculosis campaign as III Ne"
| YORK The basis Of the work ne salu' CO-ls-9 :,
the C,r,DuIsory notification and registration o. al
- - the disease If the consumpttve Is under
he care Of a private physician no rurther acl'oH -
+aken by the Board of Health H. ho"eV7'' .-o
.-5a1+ e receiving other medical ADVICE tneil l
[rTa.1tb Department assumes supervision WHICH
,.,s+s IN the visitation OF the consuInptlVeS -
80 homes by trained nurses and pnysLclAilS AoF
we'd nv their removal If deemed necessary 10
The country or 10 a sanatorluTn-
The value OF Dr.. Kochs tuberculn came IN tOE
criticism, during the dav from several IeaI--7
.L-,.To.is evrner+s Anio-~ those who found Ia4II
- 49,, +,,ta-c,,Iir was d.. Nathan Raw, OF LlV-
ar1ooI who declared that II had proved OF niue
- &, the treatment Of pulmonary tuberculosis
although IL was OF the greatest possible ser "
,rea-ing all infections Of bovine origin
MINER OF papers were read az the several
,ec+io1s1 meetings to-day, among than being one
h. Jacob H schin. president OF the Mon'enor9
LTr,a for chronic Invalids, in New York CITY VINO
/ talked on the work done by that fnsrilu'-'H-