New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-03-01
MITCHELL B. PERKINS.
Beverly, n. j., Feb. %, 1894.
coyrAGrorsNEss OF CONSUMPTION.

CONTAGIOUSNESS OF CONSUMPTION.
To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: In The Tribune of February "a is an article
on the contagtousness Of consumption signed COM
mon Sense" though the writer displays IN MS Inc"
very little OF that commodity. chiefly through is-
norance OF the subject concerning when ne IS WITT
ing for the article shows an entire lack OF knowi-
edge OF recent Investigations. He has conceived
that consumption is not contagious. hence II Is
not This is about the gst OF the argument.
would recommend the writer 70 obtain MODERN
work on consumption and peruse It carefully. 1t
will be revelation to him. Especially VIII ne De
convinced that the contagiOusness OF consumption.
the way in which apply that word 10 the as
ease IS not pure fabrication fresh from the Drains
Of Tammany physicians, but an accepted fact cor
roborated by the testimony and researches or thou-
sands OF physicians For his perusa might sug-
gest the Annual Of the Universal Medical Sci
ences' for 1890 Vol T. first article in the book or
course this production from the pen ~ common
Sense" would have weight with the medical pro-
fession and would receive only passing NOTICE
from the aity, except in It's connections with TAM
many Hall.
Indeed the people too little interested In mat
ters of such vital importance 10 themselves, ana
the frghtful ravages OF that dread disease VIII be
unmitigaed until the people are educated up TO that
point where they understand that II an individual
can keep the germs of the genus bacillus tubercu-
oss out OF his system it is impossible for him to
Consciousness Of the disease let It be distinctly
understood that We do not mean contagious In the
same sense that would speak OF the contagion
of measles scarlet fever. etc. Ii might IN some
respects be compared with Asatic cholera or ty-
phod fever Infectious from the discharges are
they So too consumption is communicated by the
discharge from the lung. the sputum or spit Here
lies the OF the whole matter one might
inhale the breath OF consumptive for years, ana
he would never contract the disease. WhyE BE
cause the breath contains none OF the germs. The
tenacity OF life OF the bacillus tuberculosis Is
scarcely equalled by any other germ unless II be
the harmless bacillus found on hay. which Will be
alive and moving about after having been boiled
an hour Freezing does not kill them. Sunlight.
which IL death TO many germs. but ministers %
their preservation by drying them.
Here IS the great source OF danger: The dried
sputum Consumptives spit on the ground the sun
dries IT, and the wind may blow II 10 some sus-
ceptible victim. They spit in public buildings and
on the floors OF private dwellings. and the hustle OF
life and the broom OF the sweeper carry them to
the lungs Of the unprotected public. and the BREATH
ing apparatus must be strong indeed that can
throw them off. 1t argues nothing that many are
directly exposed and escape infection. 1t Is so
with all diseases. | have treated scores OF cases
of scarlet fever. and yet have never had the dis
ease myself. How absurd 1t would be for me to
contend that scarlet fever is not contagious. The
robust with full vigorous circulation and res
piration, may escape, though they have taken the
germs into the SYSTEM but let the system be run
down. or worst OF all, let there be hereditary
lack of lung power (for consumption per cannot
be Inherited but only fit place for Its abode). and
IL finds there a suitable soil in which TO reproduce
its kind and the world knows the rest only too
well.
from one generation another is not heredity,
although as before stated, one may Inherit weak
relatives being exposed to the dried germs OF the
disease which germs when dried. VIII be dormant
for wears, only to spring into wonderful activity
on being deposited In the form OF dust on the moist
warm mucous membrane of the lungs. Few physi.
clans are there but have witnessed the entrance OF
the disease into families whose ancestors have not
within the memory OF any one living been affected
with IT, How they have seen IL take case AFTER
case much as II II had been In the family Tor gen
erations One example OF this kind will suffice Mr..
NJ, a resident of this town. moved TO the State
OF New-York. and married woman who arterwaro
developed consumption and died. Mr. NJ, wing
was one Of a numerous family In this section Y
would think there might be nifty relatives here "
that name) In which consumption nad never oeen
down with the disease and In the last stage OF tne
disease, came home 10 die. Soon after ms oeasn az
brother, living in the same house, became amcee0
With It and later still his sisters son oied from
in the same house. This Is only an instance OF
one physician There are thousands OF such.
The consciousness OF consumption IL conclusivoV
established: also that 1t Is prevehtaDie a,ssa.
the annual deaths OF the United States are from
Consumption alone Would 1t not be wise LOT y.
10 use every means In our power TO stay me savass
~ the worst scourge that humanity has ever KNOWN
', ~ A. A. ARMSTRONG. ~. u.
Fair Haven. N. j.. Feb. o. 1884,