TREATMENT OF TUBERCULOSIS.

Lake County Press, Issue 979, 12 September 1901, Page 2

TREATMENT OF TUBERCULOSIS.

A ROYAL COMMISSION SET Ul\ LONDON. September 4. The Royal Commission appointed to inquire into Dr Koch's theory of tuberculosis, •is enunciated by him at the recent Conference, will consist of Sir Michael Foster. Mr G. S. Woodheud (professor of pathology at Cambridge). Mr Sidney Martin (professor of pathology at University College). Professor Boyne (Liverpool), and Dr John M'Fildyean (Royal Veterinary College). LONDON. July 26. Of the papers read and discussed at the Tuberculosis Conference in London this week that of Dr Koch's attracted by far the greater attention among the general public. It is well that our people should read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest, the paper of Dr Koch, for it is the, people themselves rather than medical men who must, take that, decisive action which will render the world more or less free from what has been truly termed the dominant scourge of the human race. The vast majority of people even at this period in the world's history believe that consumption is hereditary, and that when once it, shows itself it is incuraDie. J hey are not aware that a perfectly healthy person may contract, the disease by merely living in surroundings where it, has taken hold, and that in its earlier stages it may certainlv be cured. Thus the great, enemy that science has to combat is not, so much the disease as the ignorance that, prevails, whereby the most elementary precautions are neglected, and every vantage given to the enemy to strengthen its hold, especially on the poor, who live in crowded dwellings where the most simple, sanitary laws are defied out of sheer ignorance. Perhaps there was nothing in Professor Koch's paper which has not been known to men of science generally for some time : but unfortunately science is 'well-nigh impotent, when it, has to defend that tremendous frontier line —the ignora-nce of the fjreat majority of the population. The main source of the infection of tuberculosis, says Professor Koch, is the sputum of consumptive patients. Hereditary consumption is so rare as to be of smalL account: ami the same is true as to the extent, or infection by the milk and flesh of tubercular cattle. Professor Koch thus narrows the area of infection practically to consumptive patients themselves, and the ineffectual means generally taken to prevent infection. The cure or prevention of consumption thus lies, to all intents and purposes, with the people themselves, and the local authorities should pave the way for compulsory measures by diffusion of knowledge as to the nature of the disease, and the easily available means by which it can be successfully combated. Perhaps among medical men and those removed from the " common herd " by a knowledge of hygiene the most, interesting part of Dr Koch's paper was that, which dealt with the possibility of tubercular infection from animals. This has been generally regarded as proved, but, Professor Koch announced himself sceptical. His investigations led him to form an opinion different, from that, generally accepted. Genuine tuberculosis has been observed in almost, all domestic animals, most, frequently in poultry ami cattle, but the tuberculosis in poultry was so different to the human that the professor thought it might be left out of account. He had from (he first regarded the identity of bovine and human tuberculosis with reserve, and in order to decide the question he, made experiments first on rabbits and guinea pigs without satisfactory result, and afterwards on cattle. A number of young cattle which had stood the tuberculin test, were infected, with pure cultures of tubercle bacilli taken from human subjects, but after sonic months they showed no signs of disease, and gained in weigul.

When they were killed no trace of tuberculosis was found in their internal organs, but at the places where injections had been made small suppurative foci had formed. On the other hand, when the same experiment was made on cattle free from tuberculosis with tubercle bacilli from the lungs r.f an animal suffering from bovine, tuberculosis symptoms of disease rapidly appeared, fever set in, and some died within less than two months. In short, the cattle proved just as susceptible to infection by the bacillus of bovine tuberculosis as they had proved insusceptible to infection by the bacillus of human tuberculosis. Similar experiments made with pigs, asses, sheep, and goats gave like results, and investigations recently made in North America confirmed this view. “ Considering all these facts,” said Professor Koch, “I feel justified in maintaining that human tuberculosis differs from bovine, and cannot be transmitted to cattle. It seems to me very desirable, however, that these experiments should be repeated elsewhere, in order that all doubt, as to the correctness of my assertion may be removed. Owing to the great importance of this matter the German Government have appointed a commission to make further inquiries on the subject.” Lord Lister properly termed Professor Koch's suggestion that bovine tuberculosis was incapable of development in man as being of enormous importance. If correct, our means of defence were simplified; but, on the other hand, it would be grievous it our efforts to ensure pure milk and wholesome food were relaxed, and then the theory should turn out. to be not altogether correct. Dr Koch's evidence w'as not entirely conclusive, and the whole matter should be made the subject of further inquiry. He did rot think it necessarily followed that because the human tuberculosis would not develop in the ox that bovine tuberculosis would not develop in the human body.