The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-04-19

Contagious Discusses, Particularly Tubcr.
cnlosis. -.- 4te
To he Editor Of The Intclitqenecr.
srn:-The following extracts from n
paper rsal before the New York Acad-
cmy OF Medicine January ., 1892, by T.
Mitchell Prudden. NJ. D.. will give your
readers some clue as to the precision OF
knowledge which marks the decade
now closing, "a to tho causes and pre-.
ycntion OF infectious diseases, especial
ly consumption. In 1882 Dr. Koch am
nounccd that tuberculosis was caused
bya living germ.
THE places outside Of tho bodies OF
living beings in which the bacillus OF
tuberculosis Is to be especially found
under ordinary conditions with us are
in the flesh and milk and discharges OF
tuborcular cattle and tho excretions of
tubercu,ar persons, especially, of those
who are the victims CT tuberculosis OF
tho lungs. But by far and away tho
most common and abundant lurkin.
place OF this germtis the sputum (spit-
tlo) in pulmonary tuberculosis.
When the sputum dries tho bacilli
are still firmly held in place SO long as
the desiccated mass remains intact. But
let ms once be pllverlzel by the loot
on moor or carpet, by rubbing between
ioios OF c!oth or In any other way. and
theso Virulont particles can minele at
once with other dust and become sub
ject to the same physical laws Of trans
port and diffusion.
II Is to be distinctly. understood that
inc pfeat!i OF consuInptlves, apart from
soiid particles which may now and then
De cast on IN coughing, conveys no
germs. =.
But II tupercle bacilli are cast of
awe IRON the bodies OF Its victims, or
Gun be consumed In the ineat.and milk
OF tuoercular cattleTare, not these cast
on or consumed germs the sources from
which new disease is propagated? II
this were true, then tuberculosis is
communicable disease. The main
point Is that tuberculosis is commu-
n1caole disease, and that the Chief Gle
mcht IN Its conveyance IS the uncared-
lot sputum OF the victims OF pulmonary
tuberculosis:
"Ihe TACT is that such infectious dis
eases as typhoid fever, dlphthcria and
tuberculosis can be highly contagious
or made scarcely ut all so, depending
upon the care or lack OF care which is
taken by the victims or their attend
ants III the disposal OF their varying
escuuates or discharges.
"lloW contagious tuberculosis ICON
sumptionl actually is under the condi-
tons which prevail to-day, it is not
within the scope OF my theme to con-
sider now. But do not see why it, should
not continue Just as ominous, or become
even more SO, If the present unsanitary
habits continue in public and private
places. II the vile and increasing prac-
tlce OF vel. nigh indiscriminate splitting
goes on unchecked III nearly all assem-
bling places and public conveyances;
II the misguided women who trail their
ss'ris though the unspeakablc and in
1ectuous filth OF the street are to be adj
mltted uncleansed into houses and
churches and theGters; II theatcrs and
court rooms and school houses and ears
are 10. remain the filthy lurking places
- .oHtaS.' "Hien tHei 'ti-'cutiutloA
which their mostly ignorant and care
less eo-called cleaning necessarily en-
tail; ii in sleeping cars and hotel bed
rooms the we'll are to follow consump-
tives in their occupancy without warm
ing or even the poor show of official dis
Injection; ii no persistent warning is to
be given to the ignorant Of the dangers
which Turk in uncleanliness-then our
task VIII be most complex ms well rs