The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-12-18

due to consumption. Tho habitual GRIM
inal class is also especially IiaAe TO TINS
disease, and there are fey 1alis or peni-
tentiaries that are not injected with II.
Turning now to other forms OF tuDercu-
losis We find that they occur In dinerent
localities in much the saisie proportion as
consumption, but that thsy appear TO be
more connected with food than that dls-
ease appears to be, Tuoerculosls rarely
affects sheep, but il is pery common In
cattle, and one OF the most lmportant
questions still unsettled is as to the ex-
tent in which the disease is proooced IN
man by the use of the flesh and mix OF
tuberculous animals as GOOD. Undouot-
ediy some of the beef cattle slaughtered ior
market are tuperculOus to some extent
the precise proportion is cnknown-ano IL
varies greatly, being much larger IN AMI
mails which have been keIt for some TIME
in stables.
1t is claimed that the reason why the
Jewish people suffer less ffom tubercuioslS
than others (Which is undoubtedly the
easel IS because their meals are all suolect
to an inspection which le5ds to the re}ec-
ton OF the greater part OF the meat oi
tuberculous animals. Fhe comparative
freedom of the Jews from TIL erculosis IS,
however, mainly confined to consump-
ton, which is propagated by inhalation
rather than by food. En- the form In
which the bacillus exists IN meats IL IS
killed by thorough cooking OF the meat,
and it is because of this that we 90 no
doubt consume considerable quantity OF
meat from tuberculous cattle without any
marked results. There Ia no doubt that
milk from tubercuious cows may propa-
gate the disease, and these Is growing
tendency to insist on systematic ana
skilled inspection of dairy cattle with
view to getting rid of these that are tu-
berculous.
Il 70 nfo al
death rate from consumption has de-
creased in this country wishin the last ten
years, as shown by the statistics of differ
ent states and cities. Ihus DR.. Fiick
points out that in Philadelphia the death
rate from this cause was. IN 1870. 3.4l; IN
1880, 3.17, and in 1890. 2.6S per 1000. and
considers that this is due 80 increase in the
popular belief in the contagiousness of
the disease, and to the Increasing tend
ency on the part of physicians to urge
special measures of prevention In all cases
which they attend.
To the man who has LOST near relatives,
parent, uncle or brother by consumption.
the practical question OF interest IS.
"What can l do to keep myself and my
children free from it?" The avoidance Of
infected houses and rooms, and living as
much in the open air as possible, and the
securing of abundant veptllation Tor the
offices. work rooms, and especially for the
sleeping rooms, which must be occupied,
are the most important measures. Those
places of residence which sre dry and have
an equable climate, and those occupations
which keep one chiefly out OF doors are to
be preferred.
There has been, heretofoese, a certain ele
ment of danger in the se-called "health
resorts for consumptiyes,' owing to the
collecting there of nurnber OF persons
affected with the disease who have freely
Il str tad hn
walks and rides and III their rooms. 10
send to hotel in such place person IN
the first stage of the disease with brother
or sister as companion, when both OF
them will probably occupy infected rooms.
is certainly unwise. Fortunately 1t is now
we'll understood that the first duty OF
consumptive is to guard against the dltfu-
sion of his sputa by taking care that 1t Is
deposited, as produced, Ia disinfectant,
such as per cent. solution OF pure car
bolic acid or in cloth Ghich should be
boiled before it is allowee to become dry.
a fresh cloth or handkerchief being used
for every walk or ride.
CONSUMPTION is often eurable disease
when taken at the commencement, and
the means Of cure is life in open. dry air.
The most common mistake made by IN
cipient consumptiyes goins to New Mex
leo, the Adrondacks, ETC., is to suppose
that because after five or six months
camp lie In tnOSe places tEelr cough lay
nearly or quite disappeared and they have
gained in weight, that. Therefore, they are
safe in returning to their former homes
and occupations. whereas they should re-
main where they have found relief for at
least year after they think they are quite
well-and should go prepaSed to stay three
years if possible. For those who cannot
avail themselves of climatic treatment,
and, unfortunately, there are many such,
there is reason to hope thas in the near
future means will be found for checking
the growth or destroying, the specific
baccilli within them without injuring their
health, but as yet it cannot be said that
the efficacy of any means proposed for
that purpose has been demonstrated, or
that they have been proven to be free from
risk. john s. Bra1LINGs, NJ. u.