The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-10-01
ODiniOn On tuberculosis Has
Not Been Changed
.BACILLI MUST Be STUDIED
Dr. Koch Declares That Human Bacilli
Are Not Transmitted to Cattle,
But Bovine Type Can
Occur In Man.

Washington, September 30-That his
declaration at the British congress on
tuberculosis in London, in 1901, that
human beings may be infected by bo-
vine tubercle bacilli but that serious
disease from this cause occurs very
rarely" have undergone no modification
was emphasized by Dr. Robert Koch,
the eminent authority, before the inter-
national congress on tuberculosis, here
today. DIR. Koch stated that his opin-
ion has been reinforced as the result
of experiments conducted subsequent
ly. DR.. Koch said, however, that up
to date in no case of pulmonary tuber-
culosis in man has tubercle bacillus of
the bovine type been definitely demon
strated."
He declared that our regulations for
combating tuberculosis by all means be
directed against the tubercle bacllll
He made known today that he intend
ed to undertake soon experiments along
this line on a broad scale. "At the
same time | wish to make my plea to
other tuberculosis workers in order
that as many cases as possible may be
examined" said DIR. Koch, Ito join me
vigorously in this task. But l wish
to lay stress on the fact that the con-
ditions laid down by me for carrying
out these Investigations must be fol-
lowed. 1 consider it quite possible
that in this manner the essential facts
for deciding this important question
may be collected in about two years
and be presented in the next interna-
| tional congress"
i DR. Koch made the above nnequivocal
sta atement al a Joint session of sections
/ I.a A.
the subject of ''the relations of human
and bovine tuberculosis" was dismissed
Many of the most eminent scientists
in the world participated.
DR.. Arloing of France, in combat ting
the views of DIR. Koch, declared him
self staunch adherent of the doc
trine of the unity of the tubercle bacil-
Ius and pointed out the necessity
of taking precautions against the tu-
berculosis virus, whatever may be its
origin.
DR.. Koch today declared that to his
knowledge the bacilli of the human
type had never been demonstrated in
cattle. but that the bacilli of the bo-
vine type can occur 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 to have been pro-
duced 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 to prove that
the tubercle bacilli in man and tn ose in
| cattle can not be of different species
and added
| 81 have never held that we are deal
ing with two distinct species, but have
only stated that they differ from each
other in certain characteristics
A number of papers were read at the
several sectional meetings today,
among them being one by Jacob II.
Schiff, president of the Montefiore
/ home for invalids in New York city.
who talked on the work done by that
institution.