The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1893-11-18

inhalation of any foreign matter lrritatcs the
air passages"
You may state as my opinion that the
natural secretion of the healthy mucous menu
brane either destroys the germs so inhaled or
renders them of no effect, so far as any In
trinsic power TO produce the disease is con-
cerncd II consumption was either contagi-
Gus or Infectious ! would have had 1t long
since, as am daily closeted with the worst
possible cases, and during the investigation
leading to my discovery OF the cause and
cure of the disease, sought out the worst
forms of it and made microscopic examine
ton OF diseased sputa marked feature OF
my professional work and research Not
withstanding all this, and although predis-
posed TO consumption, | have inhaled the
diseased breath and germs OF tubereulous
patients almost continually without III ef-
fcct.m
"On what grounds, doctor, have all these
appeals for the isolation OF consumption been
madci'
"On the theory OF some bacteriologlsts
that the disease is communicated by microbes
expcctoratcd by the consumptiye."
Asked as TO how many OF the medical pro-
fesslon agreed with his theory TO the con-
trary, DR. Amlck said: From all ! can
learn perhaps onc-half and a majority OF the
other half freely express their surprise that,
considering my treatment Is not based on the
baclll theory, 1t proves so efiicacious.
year or two was practically alone In ad-
yocatiny my theory, but to-day the progress
sivc physicians agreeing with me are mum
bered by thousands, and prophecy that in a
few years very few will contend that the
mlcrobc causes the disease. ! make no at
tempt to destroy the bacilll in my treatment
for they disappear OF themselves as the dis
ease is conquered, and this IS observed in
using the microscope by physicians prescrib-
lag my medicine. ! consider this the strong
est possible proof that microbes arc not the
cause Of the disease, and that they can not
exist under normal healthy conditions. 1t
does not require q scientist to understand
that inasmuch as the bacilli are not found
until the eNpcctoration becomes purulent
that they could not produce this purulent
condition. No. unlike smallpox, the disease
does not announce itself in any aggressive
manner, but begins with gradually increas-
Ing weakness, loss OF strength and appetite,
and is firmly seated before the bacilli are
produced, thus showing that the disease pre-
cedcs these germs. suppose you Yourself, -
said DR.. Amick TO the Post man, caught
cold suppose that cold ran into catarrhal
| pneumonia, which in turn, resulted in con.
sumption. | do not think any one could
make you believe IL was mlcrobe instead
! Of a draught or exposure which occasioned
| your catching cold, and yet you admit the
cold produced the disease. No, firmly
contend" concluded DIR. Amlck, that the
| Isolation and separation OF these poor, sick
| con-umptlves from the only ones who for AZ
lection SAKE Nblli TART lbi th'Ah' !, hp'
! only inhuman but unnecessary, and not only
| unnecessary but lmpracticable. Please re-
| member that they are numbered not by hun
dreds or thousands, but by hundreds OF thous-
] ands and that nearly every one who reads
| the Post has near aud dear relatives In con
sumption who properly administered TO can
| be restored TO health, but whom ISOLATION
might place beyond all hope. II Will require
/ no argument to convince you that the rela-
/ tlves Of these sick ones VIII vigorously pro
0 and b
good citizens OF this country VIII help them
/ prevent the carrying out OF the proposed
cruel imposition
Dr. Drumming said
Consumption Is increasing In cities on ac
count of the favorable conditions which eN
let for It's dissemination. All cases OF the
| disease are communicated. There are no
/ sporadic cases. The germs are in the atmo--
phcrc which everybody breathc-, but they
only take hold 10 favorable soil, in III,
proper type of human organism. Isolation
| of consumptivcs Is difficult. People attend
Ing them should use great care in disinfect
| ing the discharges. The disease Is contaSi
/ Gus from Its start
"Do you think that Ohio should initiate
ibf Niaisre8sisii Board of Healih's action To.
tagious diseases, along with smallpox, scarlet
fever, diptheria and cholerain
well, there Is not quite the game danger
| from consumption as there is from smallpox.
/ Most diseases arc contagious. Consumption
can never be stamped out by law. People
suffering from 1t can not be dragged from
their homes To n special hospital.m
DIR. I. c. Minor declared that he took no
stock In the theory that consumption IS con-
tagious.
The death rate from consumption Is ri.
ways greatest on The sea coast and gradually
dlmlnshe. toward the interior a mols,
climate dcyclopcs lung trouble. | do not be.
| llcyc 1t can be accounted for by the microbe
theory. 1t would be the height of cruelty to
Isolate consumptiyes from their friends and
| relatives, who are the only ones who will
/ properly care for them -
| DE-. +. Forchheimer said briefly: icon.
sumption is sometimes contagious, but no,
always. can not how discuss the matter
| fully