San Saba County news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1874-19??, 1893-11-24

Mlutll Llldu III Il DuliulUR.
do you think that consumption is
increasing or decreasing"
Probably decreasing on account
of better methods used in treating it.
The newspapers can do great good by
calling attention to the great danger
of consumption and noting the neces-
sity for greater care in guarding
against the disease. People are too
careless. No doubt isolation would
be Of benefit to patients and do good,
but it could not be enforced"
DIR. W. R. Amick, who resigned
his professorship in the Cincinnati
College of Medicine and Surgery, held
for seventeen years, TO devote him
self TO curing consumption, said:
Il am, Of course, opposed to isola-
ton, because my theory is that con-
sumption is not directly produced by
an outside cause. | hold that the
bacillus microbe is the effect, or pro-
duct, and not the cause of the dis
ease, so it is very evident, in my
opinion, that isolation would accom-
plish no good.
You mean 20 say, then, that the
inhaling of the dried-up sputa, con-
tanning these microbes, is not harm
fuIs''
"On the contrary" DR.. Amick re-
piled, ''any dust or extraneous mat
ter would produce a mechanical irri-
tation of the parts and be likely to
occasion lung trouble-as the inhala-
tion of the dried sputa of consump-
tive. Just as a speck of dust irritates
the eye, the inhalation of any foreign
matter irritates the air passages.
Continuing, Dr. Amick said:
You may state as my opinion that
the natural secretion of the healthy
mucous membrane either destroys the
germs so inhaled or renders them of
no effect, so far as any intrinsic
power to produce the disease is con-
cerned. If consumption was either
contagious or infections, would have
had it long since, as | am daily clos
eted with the worst possible cases,
and during the investigation leading
10 my discovery of the cause and cure
of the disease, | sought out the worst
forms of it and made microscopic ex-
animation of diseased sputa a marked
feature of my professional work and
research. Notwithstanding all this,
and although predisposed to consump-
ton, l have inhaled the diseased
breath and germs of tuberculous pa
tients almost continually without i'll
effect"
"On what grounds, doctor, have all
these appeals for the isolation of con-
sumptives been made?'
''On the theory OF some bacterolo-
gists that the disease is communi-
Gated by microbes expectorated by
the consumptive."
Asked as to how many OF the med
ical profession agreed with mis- theory
10 the contrary, DIR. Amick said:
Prom all can learn perhaps one
half and a majority of the other half
freely express their surprise that.
considering my treatment is not based
on the bacilli theory. it proves so eff
cacious. A year or two | was prac-
tically alone in advocating my theory.
but to-day the progressive physicians
agreeing with me are numbered by
thousands. and / prophesy that in a
few years very few will contend that
the microbe causes the disease. l
make no attempt to destroy the bac-
I'LL in my treatment, for they disap-
pear of themselves as the disease is
conquered. and this is observed in
using the microscope by physicians
prescribing my medicines. | consider
this the strongest possible proof that
microbes are not the cause of the dis
ease, and that they cannot exist under
normal healthy conditions. 1t does
not require a scientist to understand
that inasmuch as the bacilli are not
found until the expectoration becomes
purulent that they could not produce
this purulent condition. No, unlike
smallpox, the disease does not an
nounce itself in any aggressive man
ner, but begins with gradually in
creasing weakness. loss of strength
and appetite, and is firmly seated be
fore the bacilli are produced, thus
showing that the disease precedes
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 consumption. l do
not think anyone could make you be
lieve it was a microbe instead Of a
draught or exposure which occasion
ed your catching cold, and yet you ad-
nit the cold produced the disease.
No, firmly contend concluded DR..
Amick. that the isolation and sepa-
ration of these poor, sick cOnsump-
tiyes from the only ones who for affec-
TONS sake would care for them, is
not only inhuman but unnecessary,
and not only unnecessary but
imrpacticaDle. Please remember
that they are not numbered
by hundreds or thousands,
but by hundreds of thousands, and
that nearly every one who reads The
Post has near or dear relatives in con-
who properly administered
to. can be restored to health, but
whom isolation might place beyond
all hope. 1t will require no argu-
nent to convince you that the rela-
ives of these sick ones will vigorous
V protest against any such enactment,
and the good citizens of this country
will help them prevent them carrying
,ut of the proposed cruel imposition"
DIR. Drumming said:
Consumption is increasing in cities
IN account of the favorable conditions
which exist for its dissemination. All
,ases of the disease are communicated. |
There are no sporadic cases. The
rerms are in the atmosphere which
everybody breathes, but they only /
AXE hold in a favorable soil, in the
proper type Of human organism.
ISOLATION of consumptives is difficult.
People attending them should use
treat care in disinfecting the dis |
.harges. The disease is contagious |
rom its start.
..Do you think that Ohio should i'm
tate the Michigan State Board of
Iealth's action in putting consump- !
ion in the list of contagious diseases,
low ,,-;+b sr,a1I,oV scarlat fpyars I