The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1884-06-05
Infectiousness OF Consumption.


DR.. Koch's conclusions respecting tho
origin and infectiousness of consump.
ton have been partially confirmed by
the British Medical Association. A
committee was authorized to address
circular to the medical profession of the
United Kingdom. inviting opinions and
experiences regarding the communi-
cability of this disease. The number
Of replies received was 1,078. Of these
no fewer than 673 were blanks, the
practitioners not having had any cases
on which positive opinion could be
based There were 105 negative and
80 doubtful answers. The number of
affirmative replies was POI, and the
cases cited in support of the theory that
consumption is a germ-caused disease
and can be directly communicated were
very remarkable.
For example, a dressmaker was re-
ported as dying of consumption after
protracted illness during which she
lived in cottage and piled her trade.
She had three apprentices-women
under nineteen years of age, and not
related-and each in turn remained
over night in the cottage a week at q
time and shared the dressmaker's bed.
Each of these apprentices contracted
the disease aud died in less than two
wears. Another instance indicates the
communication of consumption from a
young man to his sister, who nursed
him, and from her to companion, a
Young woman in excellent health, each
case ending fatally in short period.
Another illustration is that of man,
who apparently contracted the disease
/ from his wife, and in turn commune
Gated it to the servant nursing
him. A majority of the cases reported
are instances of the communication Of
the disease from husband to wife, or
from wife to husband. In 130 of the
1872 cases of this nature, those to whom
the disease was impaired had no pre-
disposing trait or tendency.
These results are analyzed in apapel
by DIR. Andrew Wilson, in the Pail 1fGL
Gazette, and the conclusion is reached
that consumption is infectious, and that
the germs, or plant-like bacilli, are con
veyed in the breath or lung excretion.
from the patients to others, and breed
disease in the new soil where the seeC
is planted. In view of the negative re
plies to the. circular and also to tht
! large number of blanks representing
!, physicians who are unwilling to com
NIT themselves on this subject, this
probably an extreme opinion. Con
J sumption is one of the commonest dis
eases in England. and the medical prac
} titioners to whom the circular was ad
; dressed must have had familiar ac
quaintance with many thousands O
cases in the aggregate. The number Q
cases cited as corroborating DR.. Koch
: theory is comparatively small, and tn,
result of the inquiry is not by any mean
: conclusive. Nevertheless, the evidenc
t in favor of the communicability of tn
| disease is startling, and, as DR.. Wilso
I observes, is calculated to make U
l think seriously enough of our duty bot
2 to the sick and to the hale. y The con
4 plete demonstration of this hypothes
: would add another terror to this dreaC
2 full scourge. The eonsumptiye woul
] be distracted with the thought that b
was imparting contagion and endar
! gering the lives of those who were nurs
3 ing and caring for him. If that be tn
t final result of these German inyestig;
: tions with the microscope, the victim
: of consumption will have small eau;
/ for gratitude to DIR. Koch. 1t matter
+ little to them whether the disease
+ caused by the inorganic poison of d,
r cay of lung tissue, or by the multipl
! cation of organized living particles
| the system; and the thought that the
; fatal ailment may be infectious will |
: the final drop of gall in their cup
: bitterness. Until medical science ca
{ discover the remedy and mode of pr
vention as the cause, its work with Il
microscope viii remain half finished.
: N. Z. Tribune.