The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1909-02-04
PAPER On TUBERCULOSIS
Address of DIR. All. Keller, of Sioux
Falls, Read Before the Stock
Mens' assnc;at,on
Mems Association.

le4frf
Falls, Read Before the Stock
Mems Association.
Mr.. President and Gentlemen of
the South Dakota Improved Live
Stock Association:
The identity and commenciability
OF human and bovine tuberculosis
were accepted by scientists as estab-
ltshed until following the initiative
OF Smith. Robert Koch undertook
a series Of experiments and present.
ed the following conclusions before
n British Congress on Tuberculo-
sis in 1901. mi
I. The tubercle bacilli of bovine
tuberculosis are different from those
of human tuberculosis. &a
2. Human beings may be infect
ed by bovine tubercle bacilli, but
serious diseases from this source
occur very rarely.
3. Preventative measures against
tuberculosis should therefore be di-
rected primarily against the propa-
cation OF human tubercle bacilli.
These statemtns SO opposed to the
former beliefs on this subject, ma
turally brought forth strong Oppose
ton from a large body of scientists,
with the result that two factions
were formed, the followers and the
opEosers of Koch. AS was to be ex-
pected, this subject occupied an in
portant place in the discussions at
the International Congress on Tuber-
culosis held at Washington last fall.
AT this meeting Koch declared him
self as standing by his former asser-
tions, and Sn. it'll YVES also of this
opinion.
On the other side, Drs. Febiger
and Jensen of Copenhagen reported
experiments showing that transition
forms between the Typus bovine and
Prof. Woodhead Of Cambridge, DR..
Raw of Liverpool and DR.. Ravenel
of Madison, Wis., stated their belief
that human infection from cattle
was common enough to warrant for
more serious consideration than was
received at the hands of Koch and
his supporters. Prof. Arloings of
Lyons, France, believed in the iden-
tfty of human and bovine types.
AS the result of this discussion, a
separate meeting was called to con-
slider this subject more fully, but
little was gained beyond the above.
However, a vote taken at the confer
ence showed a majority opposed
Koch's beliefs.
In the most recent work IN tuber-
culosis, Bonney states that bovine in
lection Is of common occurrence. HE
believes, however. that the form Of
tuberculous. infections common to
childhood. namely, joint and lynn
phatic involvement are evidence of
infection with edissimilar bacilli.
With the most prominent authors
ties in the world on this subject dis
agreeing, we shall hardly be able to
arrive at a conclusion. However,
the Importance OF a conclusion on
this interesting subject is not SO
great to US, as s%anitarians, as would
at first SEEM. The course Of wisdom
lies in erring on the safe side, and,
since Koch himself must admit the
possibility of bovine tuberculosis
transmission, it behooves us to take
every sanitary precaution to prevent
that transmission. While science is
the foundation for the advancement
of our knowledge, we are at times
in danger of overlooking the practi-
cal side.
In an address before the Illinois
Veterinary Medical Association Pro-
fessor Hughes of the Chicago Veteri-
nary College states that tuberculous
milk can infect hogs and the human
family. That intestinal tuberculosis
In children is on the increase, and
that cattle tuberculosis, both from
the meat and the milk, is perlious
to man and beast. DR.. Hughes says
it Is too costly a disease to be har-
bored by the farmer. -
Investigations at the Bureau of
Animal Industry show that the ma
jority of mankind are t%ubercular,
that we are constantly exposed to
fresh tuberculous material through
the S of dairy products, from tu-
berculous cattle and hogs.
1t is. claimed that there are ten
million mich cows in the United
State suffering from tuberculosis. 1t
is estimated that ten million children
are consumers of milk. 1t Is known
that at least 1919 of the children are
afflicted with tuberculosis. 1 have
traced several cases Of granular tu-
berculosis to Infection from cows. In
a few cases the children made pets
OF diseased animals, with the result
undoubted transmission.
A number of Investigators report
cervical tuberculosis in children and
young animals after nourishing them
withS milk from cows known to be
tubercular. With such, evidence in
favor of Infection from milk I join
with those advocating the pasteuriz-
ing of all milk, sold to the general
public. Unless said milk is from
cows proven free from tuberculosis.
The family consuming small or
large quantities Of milk readily pay,
the increased cost of a warranted
pure article.
The owner of dairy cows win suf-
fer no loss because of the higher
price. I believe increased demand
for pure dairy products will more
than compensate for extra trouble
and expense.
Straus says: The only practicable
remedy is pasteurization, and this