, 1886-02-11
CONSUMPTION OF The LUNGS.

Its Phases ExpIainabIe by Dr.. Koeh's
Discovery-Thc bacillus of rubercle.
For many years it had been suspected
that consumption OF the lungs was a
true infectious disease-that is, one due
to a special cause, that when implanted
in the system was capable Of growth and
multiplication. As long as 200 years
ago, the fact that it was TO some de-
gree contagious from man to man was
duly recognized. and special hospitals
for consumptiyes were established in
Italy.
Still later, the fact that the disease
could be inoculated into the lower ami
mails was fully established by the French
experimenters. But II was not until
1881 that DIR. Robert Koch, Of Berlin,
proved that the harmful agent was a
minute vegetable growth that could be
cultivated outside the body Of any ami
NAL for IN indefinite period, and when
it was inoculated into healthy animals
II always produced the same results
tuberculosis. He proved that it was in
variably present in the lungs Of those
dying from consumption, and was al
ways to be found in matters expector-
ated by consumptive patients. He made
his demonstration 30 complete and per
feet. and his experiments have been re-
peated so often by competent observers,
that there is now perfect agreement
among all who are competent to judge
Of such matters concerning the nature
Of consumption and all forms of tuber-
culous diseases.
Koch found that this parasite is very
slow about beginning to grow; that it is
full ten days before it shows any ten
dency 10 do so; that it requires a tenn
perature nearly that of the healthy ami
nal body before it will develop at all;
that il must have moisture also, and
that thorough drying does not kill its
seeds. These facts have a most import
ant bearing upon the way in which the
disease is propagated from person TO
person, as will be shown.
Certain animals never become tuber-
culous unless the germs are introduced
purposely into their bodies. The dog il
one Of these. In the same way there
are families among men who prove
almost entirely exempt from consump-
ton and similar affections. There are
animals, however, such as rabbits and
Guinea pigs, which acquire tubercle
with the utmost facility. SO we find
families and nations Of men which are
especially prone to take the infection.
Thus the negro race in northern climates
Is especially prone TO acquire consump-
ton. II is n matter ef everyday expert
ence to see the children and grandchil-
dren Of co~nsuraptives die of the same
disease on reaching a certain age. This
fact was understood long before the
bacillus Of tubercle was discovered.
People with long, shallow chests, and
narrow shoulders, who showed a ten
dency TO catarrhal inflammation of the
eyes, nose, throat and lungs, were recog-
nizcd as especially liable TO become CON
sumptive. Damp, dark and badly ven
tilated dwellings were known 10 favor
the development of the disease in those
coming from consumptive families, and
TO often occasion it in families previ-
ously free from its ravages. Measles,
whooping-cough, smallpox, typhoid
fever. etc, were noticed 10 be followed
10y consumption in a large proportion OF
cases. The life history Of the bacillus OF
tubcrcle gives a key to these hitherto
inexplicable facts. Sections Of country
were found in which cases OF consump-
ton had never been noted; these were
recommended n saniElriums. Soon
after patients had resorted to such local
tiles in large numbers, cases of the dread
disease appeared among the natives,
who had never suffered from il before.
Minnesota, Colorado. Florida, California
the mountain regions of the Carolinas
and Of New York have zach been the
Gene Of such experience, Koch's dis
covery explains this also.-Cor. Globe
Democrat.