International Congress on Tuberculosis

Various papers were read on the nature of tuberculosis in man and animals, its diagnosis, pathology, and preventative and curative treatment.

[2] About 2,000 members attended the sessions, whose purpose was mainly to instruct doctors, officials and the general public.

The speakers explained aspects of the subject and the actions that should be taken to prevent the spread of the disease and to treat it when present.

Cures for the disease included abundant food, particularly of a fatty nature, and life in the open air.

"[8] At this meeting, Robert Koch, who had discovered the tubercle bacillus, announced that it was almost impossible for humans to catch the disease from cattle, and even if they did it would only be a very mild form.

"[11] Later Koch modified his views, but the belief that milk with live tubercle bacilli could be drunk without much risk persisted in Britain.

They represented foreign governments, universities and special associations and committees, and there were also many doctors, surgeons, veterinarians and local administrators.

[15] Émile Loubet, President of the French Republic, welcomed the attendees on the first day, and held a reception at the Élysée Palace after the congress closed.

The Municipality of Paris gave a reception at the Hotel de Ville, and Le Figaro staged an “at home” where well known artistes performed.

[18] The exhibition was placed in the partially enclosed rooms and large vestibules leading to staircases on either side of the great hall, and in the galleries.

The museum occupied the greater part of the right side of the ground floor, and included a careful arrangement of specimens prepared by leading pathologists and bacteriologists, as well as models and photomicrographs.

[20] Hundreds of the attendees came from Canada, Central and South America, Europe and Japan to obtain the latest information about tuberculosis from biological, economic and sociological perspectives.

[26] Robert William Philip of the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh told the congress,[27] The tuberculization of the race is a grim chapter in human history.