The Wilmingtonian., 1888-09-01
The Ravages of Consumption
From the Chicago Journal.

From the Chicago Journal.
Among the many international congresses
recently held in Paris, perhaps that which is
most far-reaching in its possibilities of ma
terial benefit to the human race was the con-
gress of medical men and veterinary sur
geons for the consideration Of the nature and
causes of phthisis, or consumption. Paris is
long way from Chicago, but the scourge
that is computed to cause 10000 deaths an
nually in Paris is exactly the same as that
which brings mourning to the homes of
countless American families and to many on
the shores of Lake Michigan. Pulmonary
consumption causes about ono-fourth Or the
mortuary lists of all nations. The total
number of deaths in Chicago during 1887
was Is, 400, of which 1852, or more than s
per cent, were caused by consumption of
the lungs, and, 80 far as statistics are avail
able upon the subject, the proportion is
about the same in many of the great cities
of the Union.
Physicians practically agree upon the germ
theory of phthisis and one of the most i'm
portant aims of modern science is to discover
something that shall kill this germ, in scien-
tfio phrase "germicide. The French
Congress, composed OF two hundred of the
most distinguished specialist, has de-
voted itself to an investigation of phthisis,
''its contagious character, its origin, its eff
fects on domestic animals which furnish us
with milk or meat, the conditions that favor
the progress of the malady, its hereditary
nature, and any positive curative mode Of
treatment"
Scientific men are agreed that the disease
is essentially hereditary, and that in some
| elementary form it prevails much more wide
| ly than the public suspects. 1t is well es-
| tablished that the peculiarly variable climate
along the shores of the great lakes is favor
| able to development of the germ which,
| under other conditions, might give no sign
| for generations. Certain portions of our
| foreign population are peculiarly susceptible
| to this malady. Many Scandinavian and
| Irish people who arrive here in a state of
robust health, soon break down under the
| damp, northeast winds of spring and fall
| though in the summer and winter months
they seem restored to normal health. Ma.
tive-born Americans are less liable to pull
monary affections than any other class,
though the reasons for this immunity are
not clearly defined, as it is not yet known
whether it is change of climate or ch..nge o
habits that creates such havoc among the
foreign born population.
Physicians are agreed that the germs of
phthisis can be transmitted through milk
/ and other food, and one of the important
phrases of the subject at present is the pos
sibi!ity Of the disease being directly COM
municated from one person to another. 1t
is suspected that an individual in a low
state of vitality may contract phthlsis from
| one in the advanced stages of that disease;
but the fact has not been established. Os-
culation may carry the tubercular baeilli in
atoms of sputum on the lips. No specific
has been discovered, though hyperphos-
pilates of lime and soda, employed to build
up the tissues which have been wearing
away around the tubeTcular cells, have IN
many instances produced admirable results.
Immediate change Of climate upon the very
first apI lrauce of the disease is the best oi
known remedies In the second place, there
should be no return to the climate in which
the disease has been developed.
For many reasons the results of the Inter.
national Congress in Fiance will be awaited
with profound interest, and it is hoped that
once again that great nation may inauguratt
revolution which shall relieve the worlt
from another of it's monstrous scourges.