Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-01-23
CATTLE MAY INFECT
Agricultural Department Posi-
tive that Bovine Tuberculo-
sis Is Communicable
SERIOUS TESTS ARE MADE
Germs Do Not Affect Lungs, But Other
Vital Portions of Human Body =
House Democrats Scramble for Place
on Ways and Means Committee =
Want Hand in Tariff Bill.
Especial Correspondence)

Washington, Jan. 2S.-Experiments
perimental farm at Bethesda, Md, near
Washington, have developed beyond
question that bovine tuberculosis may
be communicated to humans; that 1t is
communicated thru milk; and that as
communicated it is liable to result IA
tally.
There has long been sharp disagree
ment among the authorities as to
whether this was possible. Many of
the best authorities have insisted that
bovine tuberculosis was not commu-
nicable to humans, and that in those
cases in which it apparently was
communicated, 1t did not develop
form which justified the belief that it
was the bovine complaint, Or that It
was serious
The experiments at Bethesda leave
no doubt in the minds of the scientists
Some children there were fed on milk
from an animal which was not sus-
pected of being tuberculous. There was
no thought originally Of experimenting
in such a serious matter. But post
mortems of the children, more than one
Of them died, developed that they had
tuberculosis. The animals that had
produced the milk fed to the children,
proved that they had the disease. The
bacilli were Identical. and all the cir
cumstances made it clear that the dis
ease came thru the milk.
1t is explained, as a result of these
experiences and of experiments which,
have since been conducted, that the
bovine tuberculosis is not commune
Gated in such form that it affects the
humon lungs. In this regard it differs
entirely from human tuberculosis.
Cows suffer from tuberculosis of the
intestines and the larger glands, in the
main. In its transmission to humans.
it is found, the disease manifests itself
in the same way exactly. The glands
of the neck become affected and dis
eased. while the intestines show the
effects earliest.
The results OF these Investigations
are considered absolutely to sustain
the position of that school of scien-
lists who have regarded bovine tuber-
culosis with the gravest concern. The
department will probably issue some
literature on the subject soon in the
effort to arouse the public to a reali-
cation of the very real and imminent
danger from this source.
There is lively scramble among the
democrats of the house to capture a
place on the ways and means commit
tee There will be two vacancies on
the minority side of the committee
when the special session is called 10
order next March. Bourke Cochran, oof
New York, did not get chance to
come back by reason of his quarrel
with Charlie Murphy, and Dan Grang-
er. of Rhode Island, no was defeated
last November.
Champ Clark, minority leader, has
been besieged with requests that take
some action now. in order that the mi
nority members selected foH the va
cancies may have a chance to work
on the tariff schedules and hearings.
He has refused to do so on the ground
that he has not yet been elected as
minority leSier for the extra session.
He has let it be known, however, that
he is in sympathy with the policy OF
John Sharp Williams in giving north
ern democrats a fair share of the
good committee appointments. This
policy, if carried out, would mean that
the two seats in the committee now
held by members from the north would
go to men in these districts The state
of New York has always been repre-
scented on the committee, both on the
majority and minority sides. Among
the members of the New York delega-
ton who are after Cochran's seat are
Representatives Sulzer and Goldfogle.