The morning call., 1890-12-20
CONSUMPTION.
DR.. Clinton Cushing Tells How
1t May Be Prevented.
Origin and Extent Of Tuberculosis-Great De.
fects in the Present System Of
Food Inspection.

Consumption"
The importance of the subject under
discussion, said DR.. Gushing, is realized
when we know that tuberculosis causes
more deaths among the human race than
any other disease, and that it is universally
disseminated among mankind and among
many of the lower animals, and especially
among cattle, which form so large part of
our food supply. In 1865 Vellemin, a
French investigator, made the statement
that tuberculosis is contagious and infec-
tious disease and that he could prove it by
his many experiments upon animals. lis
views were not generally accepted until
TWEEN ty years later, when Professor Koch of
Berlin discovered the microbe or bacillus.
which is the essential element or cause of
the disease, and thus verified the opinion of
Vellemin.
The tubercular disease may affect any one
or nearl y all the tissues, and has been found
in the eye, the skin, the bones, the brain, in
the glands and in the flesh.
The essential cause Of tubercle is an ex-
tremely minute germ shaped like rod,
about 1-30C0 of an inch in length. 1t multi
plies by division Of the DIS, and these rods
and spores, wien dried, retain their vitality
like the seeds CT a plant, until brought In
contact with warmth and moisture, and
probably never multiply outside the animal
body; but when they secure n foothold on
favorable soil they multiply with amazing
Iapidity. When the bacillus secures foot
hold nd begins TO multiply, the lymph cells
and the white blood oorpuscles are invaded,
and undergo a fatty degeneration, and as
the number of diseased cells multip!ies the
agelomeration constitutes the masses of
cheesy-looking material called tuDercle.
these masses undergo dlSintegratlon, and
are thrown off from the lungs and other
parts OF the body, or are absorbed. So rapid
Is the multiplication of these bacilli that it
is estimated that many millions are each
day eXpectorated from the lungs of con-
sumptive.
CONTRACTING TUBERCULOSIS.
Now comes the very important question
Of heredity. Is the bacteria of tuberculosis
transmitted directly from the father or
mother to the child |? am glad to be able
to tell GU that the belief of nearly every
observe whose opinion is Of value is that
tuberculosis is very rarely, if ever,
Inherited directly from the parent-desptee
the fact that the contrary has been held
universally until now. What is inherited
is weak vitality, with slight resistance
against the causes of disease, and especially
the ttacks Of the bacillus Of tuDercle. A
most conclusive proof is that tuberculosis is
vel laiCiy lOunu III TIC EeN-OUID. u It,
cent writer claims that all the authentic
cases that have been reported can be
counted OD the fingers of one hand. How
then is tuberculosis, or consumption, con-
tracted?
Fnst from the use Of milk of a tubercu-
lous mother, or from the milk and meat Of
tuberculous animals. The feeding of the
milk has been followed in large proper
ton of cases by the production Of tube rcu-
SIS IN the animals so fed. 1t has been found
that as meat is ordinarily pre- pared the bacil-
lus is not destroyed; that milk has remained
infectious after being boiled; that in order
to destroy the bacillus the meat or milk
mus: be exposed to high degree of heat
for several hours, and that the gastric juice,
or digestive fluid of the stomach, is not suffi-
Gent 10 destroy the bacillus. Investigations
thus far point very strongly to cattle as re-
lily.
AMONG ANIMALS.
That tuberculosis is frequent disease
among animals is shown by the eXamina-
tions made under the law by inspectors Of
meat i'll Berlin. In that city, in 1883, alone,
tuberculosis was detected in 1900 cattle and
1888 pigs. 1t is also frequently found in
chickens.
In our own country we have practically
no laws which protect the people against
the sale Of meat injected with tubercle bacil-
lus.
AL Jan VIC Ddft DuL Uue H.
SIP ector to examine the large quantities of
meat sold in the shops. This inspector has
no knowledge of pathology or the use of the
microscope, and for all practical purposes
his office is a useless one, so fae as the pro-
lection of the public goes, in the matter of
beef.
Jewish people, said the doctor, rarely
have consumption and that this is so is due
to The care with which their food is selected
DIR. FehreGs, noted Hebrew physician
and scientist Of London, says that OF 1916
cattle slaughtered for the Hebrew trade in
London in six months, only 6973 came up to
the peculiar Jewish requirements, and that
the average rejection for five years had been
60 per cent; but the rejected cattle are often
used by the Christian butchers. He also
makes the astonishing statement that in a
large practice OF over thirty years he has not
members of the Jewish faith, and that other
Hebrew ply sicians have had similar expert
ence
THE real. DANGER
1t has been proved quite conclusiyely that
the breath of the consumptive does not con-
tain the tubercle bacillus, the real danger
arising from the expectations which are
Of a powder and inhaled, either by the
patient or those about him.
1t should be known that the weaker the
individual the poorer the powers OF nutri-
tion, whether inherited or produced from
other causes, the greater the liability for
tuberculosis. In other words.
the danger is increased where the vitality is
at so low an ebb as to offer but slight resist.
ance 10 the invasion Of the microbes.
The question might now be asked If tuber-
cular meat and milk are frequently used, il
dust containing tubercle bacill is frequently
found, why is not the disease more COM
mon? Simply for the reason that the power
OF resistance on the part of some individ-
ualS IS much greater than in others. This
applies to all infectious and contagious dis
eases The bacillus of pneumonia aud of
1iphtheria has been found in the mouths of
perfectly well and healthy men. There is
apparently but one explanation, and that is,
that the state of nutrition of the individual
enables him to withstand the attack of the
without harm.
DIR. Gushing then went on to explain how
can be prevented He said
any comprehensive system of prevention are
The following:
UNDERLYING PRINCIPLES.
First-The destruction of the vitality of
The tubercle bacillus wherever 1t NAV be
found outside the human body. Second
The avoidance by the unaffected of unneces-
sary risk Of introduction within the organ
cation of the living bacillus. Third-The |
Improvement of the vitality Of the indi-
vldual, his personal hygiene and that of his
dwelling, in order that conditions unfavor-
able to the presence, vitality and develop
nent Of the tuberce bacillus shall prevail as
widely as possible.
And, first, because of its Importance and
It's practicability, the destruction of all ex-
pecioration from the lungs of consump-
i've. A proper receptacle should be pro-
vlded for the reception of the expectoration
from the lungs. In this receptacle Should
be kept pieces of absorbent cotton, with a
solution OF corrosive sublimate, in order
that the spittum shall not become dry, The
contents OF this receptacle should be burned
at least twice in the twenty -four hours and
The receptacle thoroughly cleansed with
boiling water. All towels, handkerchiefs
and clothing soiled by discharges from the
body should be boiled for an hour, never al |
lowing the expectOration to become dried be-
fore being destroyed by heat. and the use OF
and towels for expectoration
should be limited as much as possible.
Careful disinfection Of the room in which
tubercular persons have died, as well as the |
bed and bedding, should be required. In !
all serious cases the patient should be made
to understand that unless lie take the neces- |
sary precautions he is liable to he source
Of injection to himself as well as to all about |