Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-08-15
ON TUBERCULOSIS.
Report of the New York Health
Board Pathologists.
Science Robs Deaths Prime Minister OF
Half His Potency-The Disease Is
Not Hereditary and May Be
Prevented.

quested to formulate a brief and COM
prehensive statement regarding the
nature of the disease Of tuberculosis,
commonly known as consumption, have
made the following report:
The disease known as tuberculosis,
and when affecting the lungs, as pull
monary tuberculosis (consumption)
is very common in the human being
and in certain of the domestic animals,
especially cattle. About one-quarter
of all the deaths occurring in the
human being during adult life. Is
caused by it, and nearly one-half OF the
entire population at some time in life
acquires it. The disease is the same
in nature, in animals and in man. and
has the same cause.
1t has been proven beyond a doubt
that living germ called the ''tubercle
bacillus" is the cause and the only
cause of tuberculosis. 1t does not
seem necessary to state the facts up
on which this assertion is based, for
the observation first made by Robert
Koch in 1882 has been confirmed so
often and so completely that it now
constitutes one of the most absolutely
demonstrated facts in medicine
Tuberculosis may affect any organ OF
the body, but most frequently first in
wolves the lungs. When the living
germs find their way into the body
they multiply there, If favorable con-
ditions for their growth exist, and
produce small new growths or
nedules (tubercles), which tend to
soften. The discharges from the
softened tubercqes, containing the iV-
ing germs are thrown off from the
body. In pulmonary tuberculosis
these discharges constitute, in part,
the eIpectoration The germs thus
thrown off do not grow, outside the
living human or animal body, except
under artificial conditions, although
they may retain there vitality and vi
rulenc e for long periods Of time, even
when thoroughly dried. AS tubercu-
losis an only result from the action OF
these germs, it follows from what has
Just b cen said that when the disease Is
g.caui red it must result from receiving
/ into the body the living germs that
have come from some other human
being or animal affected with the dis
q ase. It has been abundantly estao-
Ii shed that the disease may be trans
mitted by meat or milk from the tu-
be,cular animal The milk glands IN
milf cows often become affected with
the disease, when their lungs are in
yolved, and the milk from such ami
mails may co utain the living germs
and is capable of producing the dis
ease. Among Stalled dairy COWS
twenty or thirty per cent. are some
times found to be affected wlththe dis
ease. Tubercular animals are also
frequently killed for food. Their flesh
sometimes contains the germs and Il
not thoroughly cooked is capable OF
transmitting the disease Boiling the
milk and thoroughly cooking the meal
destroys the germs Although the
meat and milk from tuberrular animals
constitute actual and important
sources of danger, the disease Is &C
quired, as rule, through its commun'
| ication from man to man.
tuberculosis is commonly produced
in the lungs (Which are the organ;
most frequently affected) by breath
ing air in which the living germs are
suspended as dust. .1Nhe materia
which is eoughed up, SOMETIMES II
large quaint tiles, by persons suffering
from consumption, contain tnes'
| germs, often in enormous nu. uoers
This material, when expectorateL ire
QuentlY lod ges in places where it dr. YES
as on the treets, floors, carpets, clot- "
ing, handk erchiefs, etc. After drying,
in one way or another, it is very apt
to become pulverized and float in the
| air as dust
1t has been shown experimentally
that Dust collected from the most
varie6l points in hospital wards, asy-
lumF,, prisons, private houses, etc.,
WIN ere consumptive patients are pres
en- t, is capable of producing tuber-
ulosis in animals when used for their
incubation. Such dust may retain
for weeks its power of producing the
disease. On the other hand. dust col
lected from rooms in institutions OF
} houses that have not been occupied by
t tubercular patients, does not produce
, the disease when used for the inocula
ton of animals.
These observations show that where
there are cases of pulmonary tuber
cuIosis under ordinary conditions, the
dust surrounding them often contains
the ''tubercle bacilli," and persons in
haling the air in which this dust Il
= suspended may be taking in the living
: germs. 1t should, however, be dis
tinctly understood that the breath o
tubercular patients and the mons
: sputum received in proper cups are no
. elements of danger, but only the drie'
and pulverized sputum. The breatl
and moist sputum are free iron