The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-10-08
THE TUBERCULOsIS CONGRESS.
Dlscussion by Eminent Specialists rs tc
the Disease.

the Disease.
The third Congress Of tuberculosis has
Just closed its meeting at Paris. Since
| the meeting of last year, no striking dis
| coyeries have been made about the
| disease. sim. the discussions by eminent
| specialists who came from different parts
| of France and foreign countries are not
without interest.
| Ii IS we'll established that consumption
| is a contagious malady. transmissible to
| man by animals and by one human being
| TO another. 1t may therefore, be cOnsid-
| cred. up to a certain point, an avoidable
malady If all the tubercul isis germs
| proceeding from animals or sick men
| were destroyed, no consumptiyes, after
some years, could be found. 1t is also
| certain that pulmonary tuberculosis,
| like other tuberculOus maladias less widely
| Glffused and perhaps less contagious, are
| produced by the bacillus Of Koch. This
| bacillus, Il is known, is found in meat and
the milk of certain animals as well as
in the expectorations of pulmonary con-
| sumptives. These admitted facts gave rise
to no discussion, There We're, however,
some valuable suggestions made IN regard
10 bacilli coming from animals.
The tuberculine Of Or. Koch, which so
far has served only 10 shorten the days
Of the comsumptyes on whom expert
ments with it have been made can be
used 10 diagnose. with certainty. a tuber-
culosis at its beginning in bovines.
Its use, according to Dr. Nocard, who
was the first to advise II, ought to become
general for II will serve to condemn
animals. which are healthy in appear
ance. but already contaminated enough TO
infect whole herd. We manage 10 sup
press tuberculous meat. and, If this meth
Cd is vigorously applied, we can be sure
Of getting milk from healthy COWS only.
While waiting for such a contamination,
1t will always be prudent TO boil milk
long enough. The ordinary ebulition in
households is insufficient. MIX can best
be "Pasteurized" by keeping it at so de-
grees for from ten to fifteen minutes.
COnsumptives themselves are breat
source OF danger for other consumpuves.
The danger arises especially from their
spittle which. spread on the surface or
the ground and then dried. fills the air
which we breathe with quantities OF
baclln We ought, then, TO learn not 10
spit on the ground; II is a habit OF neat
ness which ought TO be cultivated In
childhood, and the Congress expressed
wish that school-rooms be furnished with
spittoons and that children be early taught
not TO soil the floor. The practice OF
dsinfection applied TO linen, clothing.
| and even to rooms occupied by these
! sick people. should also be made gen
| eral. This disinfection, which should be
incucated by popular publications Of a
| kind TO make the public comprehend the
necessity OF It. might at a given time be
rendered obligatory.
Even after he is dead. the consumptive
person may remain a source Of danger.
The worms OF the corpse. rising 10 the
surface OF the soil, will bring with them
a. Il. 10 Il H..
ehanism which Pasteur has cast light on
in the case of carbuncle. The fact how
ever. OF such rising is not clearly demon
strated, and animals do not pasture in
cemeteries: thus the demand for crema-
ting the corpses Of consumptives appeared
uncaled for. Cremation, which Is repug-
nant to our manners, which is contrary
TO the prescriptions OF the Roman Catho-
lie Church, had but little support at the
Congress.
II Il were proved that the corpses Of
consumptives are source OF danger, IL
would suffice 10 have a special kind Of
burial with the addition Of some an
tiseptics In order 10 render them inoffen-
siye.
No novel point Of striking Importance
was made from the point OF view OF pro-
phylaxis As TO the treatment OF the
disease the physicians present were gen.
orally in favor Of special asylums sana-
forums In climates high above the sea,
and placed under medical direction. The
Congress did not show, on the whole.
any marked pogress I'm preventing or
treating the disease, but II affirmed anew
facts which to-day are more clearly de-
monstrated than ever before. and insisted
on the consequences resulting from those
facts from the point OF view or hygiene
and the preservation OF tho public health.
Literary Digest.