CONSUMPTION

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 301, 14 September 1921, Page 9

CONSUMPTION

EVER-PRESENT INFECTION IN CROWDED CITIES A “RESULT” OF CIVILISATION At the international conference on tuberculosis at Westminster a paper was road by, Professor A. Calmette on "The Modes of the Diffusion of Tuberculosis Throughout the World.’’ Professor Calmette demonstrated tho frequency of tuberculosis among civilised peoples and its rarity among the uncivilised and nomadic. In the years before the Great War, ho said, it was proved that tuberculosis infection was non-existent or very rare in certain countries —for example, among the African tribes about the Equator, where civilisation had not yet penetrated. On the other hand, tho disease was extremely prevalent tin large cities and among

civilised peoples of all climates. Professor Calmette referred to the statement of Cummins in 1908 that there was an absence of tuberculosis among tho natives in tho Sudan and that in East Africa Otto Pciper observed in 1911 that tuberculosis infection was quite rare among tho negroes living in the huts of the native villages and working in tho fields, but was common in the large groups where tho negroes were to be found in contact with the natives of India, Arabs, and Europeans. It was found that in the large cities, like Paris, Vienna, and Prague, 20 per cent, of children were infected at the age of 2 years, 55 per cent, at 5 years, 93 per cent, above 15 years, and that about 97 per cent, of adults reacted positively to tuberculin. It might therefore /be asserted that in the lares overcrowded cities of Europe —and the same applied to the United States—almost no ope who was born there and lived to adult life escaped tuberculosis infection. In man tuberculosis resulted from his civilisation. It was obvious that we must not think of forbidding suspected individuals from entering certain professions or from travelling or living with the healthy, but we must hope, through appropriate supervision and education, to render them •harmless. This was the goal towards which organisation rind health departments of every country should strive.

Infected Milk Sources. Sir G. S. Woodhead (Britain), opened tho diecussion on a paper dealing with the subject from the point of view of the relation of the bovine tubercle bacillus to the tuberculosis in man. He said one saw that the geographical consideration hod a great deal to do with the arguments brought forward concerning the spread of tuberculosis. In Japan, for example, the human bacilli played a more important part in the process of infection than it did in Edinburgh. In the latter place, in the early eighties, they were looking for the cause of tuberCjiloeis and were drawn, almost naturally, to the infected milk found in their dairies. showed that 80 per cent, of the cattle were tuberculous, and 16 per cent, of milk samples contained bacilli, often in considerable numbers. Whatever might bo the popular belief, there had been very great advances -not only in the knowledge of the distribution of bacilli but of treatment. It was now possible to distinguish the bovine from the human typo, and from 6J to 10 per cent, of fatal tuberculous cases were tho result of bovine infection. He hoped there would not bo any cutting down of money, thought, or Parliamentary legislation affecting the great health question of Britain.

Professor L. Bernard (France) suggested that they should send a resolution to the British Government and to all Governments concerned in favour of larger supplies of money being granted ip, tho interests of public health ana ultimately in ths interests of public economy, and the chairman, Sir Robert Philip; intimated that a resolution would be drafted. .Dr. Harbitz (Norway) stated that tuberculosis had increased very much in the most northern parts of Norway. Figures indicating the prevalence of tho disease in India were quoted by Colonel Hutchinson, showing that in rural areas the death-rate was 63 per 100,009 and in urban areas 223.' , Thb Derby Winner’s Death. Referring to tho death of this year’s Derby winner, Humorist, Dr. H. Sutherland, of tho Ministry of Pensions, said ho had been told the liorse had died through hemorrhage. Tuberculosis was Tao' most frequent cause of hemorrhage. Racehorses were highly delicate, and in many of our racing stables the arrangements made to keep out cold led to deficient ventilation, which possibly explained the increased liability of these animals to tuberculosis. '