Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-11-27
CAUSES OF CONSUMPTION.
Important Information Concerning the
EtiOlOgy Of the Disease.

Consumption causes many more deaths than
any other disease, and any statistics bearing
upon Its causes or the conditions of its develop
ment are Of much Importance to both the med
ical profession and the public. With the view
or obtaining Information concerning the etiology
Of the disease DR.. Playter, of Toronto, sent out
list Of questions to each Of many hundreds OF
physicians, having cases in practice in Canada
| and the states Of New York, Ohio Michigan, In
diana, Illinois, and Louisiana. The questions re-
lated to the age, SEX and general structure of the
patients, and to their ancestry, general habits,
&c. About $50 physicians answered the ques-
tons. and the doctor has made up from these
$50 cases concise report of much practical
value The average age of the patients was q
years; 46 per cent were males, and 81 per cent
females: only % per cent were married. The
circumference of the chest was in every case
much below the average of vigorous persons of
the same height being only 311s inches; the
average height being feet So inches Persons
of such stature should have a chest circumfer-
ence of about 81 inches About IS per cent had
light blue eyes and light hair, and the ner-
vous temperament largely prevailed. Two
thirds the patients had been engaged in indoor,
sedentary occupations. and spent but little time
in the open air. Much the greater part of
them had slept in
SMALL UNvENTTLATED ROOMS
two in a bed had not usually worn flannel next
the skin. nor used habitually any form OF bath;
ana nearly all had been small or very moderate
eaters. and used but very little fatty food ex-
cept butter. The general habits of nearly all
had been good, and but very few had used alco-
hohc spirits to excess. In only So per cent. Of
the cases had ancestors died of the disease;
While nearly three-fOurths had resided in
locality favOring humid, cool atmosphere.
Mr.. Piayter draws some important deduc-
lions: Marriage in certain conditions and Ger
tam stages OF the disease is probably unfayOr-
able to the development and progress of con-
SUMPTION Heredity is not of such cOnstancy
ana Importance as cause as appears to have
been commonly believed. further than in SO far
as c0nfguratiOn and structure of the BODY the
relation, and the relative size and vgor of the
different organs to each other are Influenced by
pafentage-l. e., in z want of general stamina
from detective construction. With the small
lungs and consequent imperfect respiratory
capacity the individuals could not consume
enough oxygen to utilize the digested products
OF generous or full Diet especially that con-
tanning much carbonaceOus matter while there
would be in all probability accumulatons in the
body OF unused and waste substances which
should have been thrown off through the lungs
The one means which will best tend to pre-
vent the development of the disease in those
tnus predispOsed to it is apparent enough; it is
that OF increasing in early life by judcious phys
ical exercise the size and capacity Of the respira-
tory organs.
The doctor draws attention to the desirability
OF taking into consideration the respiratory
capacity of patients suffering from tubercular
phthsis before prescribing full or too carbon
aceOuS diet