TUBERCULAR EXPECTORATION IN PUBLIC 
THOROUGHFARES : 
AN EXPERIMENTAL INQUIRY 
By H. E. ANNETT 
No greater stimulus could have been given to a renewed and more careful study 
of the etiology of tuberculosis of man and animals than the astounding announcements 
made by Robert Koch at the Meeting of the British Congress on Tuberculosis,' held 
in London on July 22, 1901. Whether his chief statements, over which much 
controversy has arisen, viz. : — 
1. ' That human tuberculosis differs from bovine, and cannot be transmitted 
to cattle' ; 
2. 'That it is not the case that many cases of tuberculosis are caused by 
the consumption of alimenta containing tubercle bacilli among the 
inhabitants of large cities, especially the children ' ; 
3. 'That although the important question as to whether man is susceptible 
to bovine tuberculosis at all is not yet settled, one is at liberty to 
say that, if such a susceptibility really exists, the infection of human 
beings is but a very rare occurrence.' 
be right or wrong, it is certain that at the present time extreme energy is being 
exerted by bacteriologists and hygienists to confirm or negative the results of his 
extensive experimental work 2 on the subject. 
However, at the present stage, in spite of the results obtained by this illustrious 
author, and of his ' belief that it is not advisable to take measures against the infection 
of man by the milk and flesh of tuberculous cattle,' it would be somewhat hazardous 
to relax the sanitary control of the milk supplies of our large towns — a control which 
is just becoming firmly established. 
Particular attention is naturally directed to investigations into the methods by 
which infection may be brought about by human tubercular sputum, and to the 
measures which might be employed to prevent such infection ; for all observers agree 
with Koch that human sputum is the main source of human tuberculosis : 
X. British Medical Journal, July 27, 1 90 1, p. 191. 
2. Arch.f. ivissensch. u. prakt. Theirkeilkunde, 1902, XXVIII, p. 169. 
