The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1894-02-03
CONSUM
Most Valuable Suggestions offered by the
Michigan State Hoard Of Health.

49, - " IL W. ~
causes more deaths than any other
disease, According 10 the registra-
tion reports. the average annual
number OF deaths from consumpt IN
In Tn State for the nineteen years,
ls69-lSs1, is J, 69>; but IL S believed
that not o than two-thirds OF the
deaths are reported, SO that the
NUMBER OF deaths which actually &C.
u in Michigan from consumption Is
probably over >, 500 per year. A large
part OF this mortality can and ought
to be prevented.
Consumption is now known 10 be a
communicable disease, in which, fire.
quently, the contagium is carried
from the dried spitum OF "A consump-
tive 10 the lungs OF a susceptible per-
son where IL grows and m%ultiplies
and thus produces the disease The
germ which causes consumption is
called the bacillus tuberculosis, and
il is preSentin the sputa (spittle) OF
consumptiyes. These bacilla are
from about one twenty-thousandth TO
about one ten-thousandtn OF m inch
in length, and their breadth is about
ohONiNNh VI tiiOii iOiNth
bacilla have been thoroughly studied,
and by incubation with them the dis.
: has repeatedly been caused in
lower animals Interesting expert
ments have been made in this con-
nection 10y DR.. George Cornet OF the
Berlin Hyg enic Institute, with the
dust OF rooms inhabited by consump-
tives. Dust collected from those
surfaces not likely 20 be contami.
mated directly by the splitting or
coughing OF the patient was mixed
with sterilized bou Hon and injected
into the %peritoneal cavity OF guinea
pigs. Forty days later the ANIMALS
were killed, and "A careful necropsy
was made. Twenty-one hospital
wards, IN VIII ch there were consump-
tive patients were exam ned In this
way, and from the dust OF fifteen OF
them, tuberculosis was set up In the
guinea pigs experimental upon. Pri-
vate houses where cOnsumptives
lived gave similar results; where pa
tients had been in the habit of *
pectorating IN the floor, the dust
from the walls was certain tn yield
infect Gus cultures, but where cloths
or spittoons had been used this was
not the case.
The mode OF communication OF this
disease is mainly from the dried
sputa from consumptiveS The germs
in the sputa are carried into the
air by sweepings, and depos' ted upon
walls or contents OF rooms, o. find
their way TO the lungs OF persons.
1t is evident that the only certain
preventive OF consumption is u de-
stroy the sputum from the consump.
tive before IL has an opportunity 10
dry and scatter the seeds. 1t Is for
the consumptive's own safety 10 de.
stroy the sputa, becauses IL reduces
In a minimum the possibility OF re.
infection. Any person who has an
habitual cough. and raises sputa,
should have "A microscODical eXami-
nation OF the sputa, TO ascertain
whether IL contains the bacillus tu-
berculos S. Without waiting for
such examination, in all such cases
the sputa should be disinfected.
No consumptive should %expector-
ate on the floor. Cuspidors, In hotels
and other public places and I'm rooms
occupied by consumptives, should be
partly filed with water. They should
be washed twice each day In boiling
water, and the contents should be
disinfected with "A solution OF bichor-
ide OF mercury. The cuspidor might
we'll contain constantly a disinfect-
ant such as a , per cent. solution OF
Aa.IaIta IN aA o, al pnrInltn
acid dissolved In a pint and a half OF
water.
The cOnsumptive should carry
pieces Of cloth each just large
enough TO properly receive n spit
um) and pararhned paper envelopes
or wrappers in which the cloth, as
soon as once used, may re put and
securely enclosed, and, with its en-
velope, burned on the first oppOrtun-
ity.
All deiecta (bowel discharge and
urine) OF "A cOnsumptive person should
be d~estroye or disinfected; because
IL has been shown that the bacllli
are TO be found In the ur he OF per-
sons having tuber ular disease OF the
urinary organs, and In the frces OF
those having tubercular d seasc OF
the bowels. and tn y may be the
fl ces OF those who swallow sputa
contain ny the bacilli, that Is, pos.
bly,, D any ,onsumptive. Disinfect
each discharge from the bowels by
thoroughly mixing with IL at least
one Gun e OF chlOrlnated lime IN pow
der, or one quart OF STANDARD SOlu.
ton No i"
STANDARD Solution No. !" is made
by add z u each gallon OF soft
water four ounce OF chloride Of lime
OF the best Guality. which should
contain AT least - per cent OF. avail
abl chlOrins Use one quart OF This
solution for the d sinfectiOn OF each
discharge In cholera, typhoid fever,
etc. Nix well aud leave in vessel for
at east one hour before throwing in.
20 vault or closet"
Through better systems OF yentila-
"