Tuberculosis.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 214, 16 September 1901, Page 3

Tuberculosis.

London, August ‘2. New Zealand’s representative at tho Congress on Tuberculosis has been Mr W. P. Reeves, Agent-General for the colony. Mr Reeves has attended the Congress daily xvitli a view to reporting to the New Zealand Department of Agriculture, and he has been good enough to give me his impressions of the discussions he has listened to.

“ 1 have devoted my time at the congress particularly to the cattle part of the question,” said Mr Reeves. i- This is being disouased in tho veterinary section of congress, and there Dr Koch's theory, or, rather, statement, that he did not think that tuberculosis in milk or meat was likely to affect the human subject, has, since he made it, been much discussed. His viexv is contradicted in the most emphatic manner by the veterinary experts, who express their undoubted belief—the large majority certainly—that it does so affect tho human subject, and that it isjan extremely dangerous source of infection.”

“ What opinion havo you formed after hearing the discussions ? ” “I am bound to say, after listening to I’rofessor Cruikshank and other authorities, that I think it would be extremely dangerous to accopt- Dr Koch's suggestions at present. lie himself says he would very much like to see the matter further gone into; in fact, he seems to regard his own opinion as merely an interim one, so to speak."

“ Dr Koch bases his belief that a human being is not ail’ected with tuberoulosis by milk or meat,” continued Mr Reeves. “ on the ground that he has failed again and again to infect cattle with bacilli from the human subject. Now, Dr Cruikshank says that while he has failed to do it with ordinary bacilli culture he has succeeded in infecting cattle in the most marked way by using virulent sputum from the human subject. He did not try in the same way as Dr Kooh, and he says most distinctly that in one case in particular, that of a cow, that ho succeeded in the most unmistakable manner. Another doctor, an Irishman, whose name I forget for the moment —a very eminent man from Dublin—said that by using matter from one abscess and also from a scrofulous gland he succeeded in both cases in transplanting human tuberculosis into animals. As Professor Cruikshank says, one positive result like that outweighs a great many negative results. You may fail 20 times. But if you succeed once that appears to show the thing is transmittable; in any ease, it is very dangerous. Experiments, of course, cam not be made on human beings. Dr Koch has tried the inverse process, and the opinion of the large majority at the congress was that at any rate it would be unsafe, to put it mildly, to accept Dr Koch’s dictum. A considerable number were deeidly of opinion that on the whole it is likely that milk and m6at do oause the spread of tuberculosis to the human frame.”

Some reference having been made in the discussions as to investigations in France being deemed contrary to Dr Koch's theory, I asked Mr Reeves about them. “ I’rofessor Dollar, I think it was,” replied Mr Reeves, “ mentioned investigations that had been made among milkmen and eowkeepers. in a certain French department. Here men were in the habit of living a great deal in tho stables or cowhouses and sleeping in the lofts. And it had been found that tuberculosis was three to four times as prevalent among these men as among the average people of the department. The inference therefore is extremely strong that they had picked it up from the cattle.” With reference to the tuberculin test to which New Zealand and other veterinaries now attach so much importance, Mr Reeves said : “ There was an overwhelming balance of testimony in favor of the results of that test as against any other, to show whether cattle are infected with tuberculosis or not. The experts certainly differed as to the reliableness of the tuberculin test-, some of them saying they had got as high as 96 per ceift. of accurate results. while some put it- as low as SO per cent. But as to’ the value of the test itself there was no doubt.”

“ Was anything said as to compulsion ? ” “ Generally speaking, there was a strong majority in favor of compulsory and uniform inspection of dairies and slaughterhouses, and it was almost the universal opinion that cows affected with tuberculosis of the udder should he slaughtered. Some thought it would be safe if the cows were isolated, but the majority were in favor of slaughter.”