The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1882-12-16
CONSUMPTION.


Prom the Toronto Canada Mail.
Consumption causes many more
deaths than any other disease, and any
statistics bearing upon its causes or the
conditions Of its development arc Of
much importance to both the medical
profession and tho public. With the
view Of obtaining Information concern
ing the etiology Of the disease, DR..
Playtor, of Toronto, sent out list of
questions to each OF tho many hundreds
OF physicians having cases in practice
in Canada aud the states of New York,
Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and
Louisiana. Tho questions related to
the age, sex and general structure of
the patients, ;-;iy3s 70 their ancestry, son-
eral habits. etc About $50 physicians
answered the questions, and the doctor
has made up from these 250 cases q con
else report of much practical value.
Tho average Z. y efe,tat .Lascni1 -'.s M
years; 40 per cont, were males and o.
per cent. females; only % per cent.
were married. Tho circumference Of
the chest was in every Gaze much below
the average OF vigorous persons Of the
same height, being only 81 inches; the
average height being feet D inches.
Persone of such stature should have q
chest circumference of about 81 inches.
About So per cent. had light blue eyes
and light hair, and the nervous temper
ament largely prevailed Two-thirds
of the patients had been engaged in in
door, sedentary occupations, and spent
but little time in the open air. Much
the greater part of them had slept in
small, uuventilated bedrooms, two in Il
bed, had not usually worn flannel next
the skin, nor used habitually any form
of bath, and nearly all had been small
or very moderate eaters, and used but
very little fatty food except butter. The
general habits of nearly all had been
good, and but very few had used alco'
holic spirits to excesB. In only 80 per
cent. OF the cases had ancestors died Of
the disease, while nearly three-fourths
had resided in locality fayoring a hui
mid, cool atmosphere.
Mr.. playter draws some important
deductions Marriage il certain CON
ditions and certain stages Of the disease
is probably unfnvorable to the depelop-
ment and progress OF consumption
Heredity is not of such consequence
and importance as a cause as appears to
have been commonly believed, further
than in SO far rs eonhguratiou and
structure Of the body, the relation and
the relative size and yigor OF tho diilcr-
ent organs TO each other nre influenced
~ percentage -. O., in want Of gon-
eral stamina from defective construc.
ton. With the small lungs and coDse-
quent imperfect respiratory capacity
the individuals could not consume
enough oxygen TO utilize the digested
product OF generous or full diet, es-
pecially that containing such carbon
aceous matter, whilo there would be in
all probability accumulations in the
body OF unused and waste substances
which should have been thrown of
through the lungs. The one means
which will best tend to prevent the de-
yelopment OF the disease in those thus
predisposed to it is apparent enough;
It is that Of increasing IN carly life, by
judicious physical exercise, the size aud
capacity OF tho respiratory organs Tho
doctor draws attention to tho desirable
ity Of taking into consideration the res
piratory capacity OF patients suffering
from tubercular phthisia before pre-
scribing a full or too carbonaoeous diet.