St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1894-03-08

We have learned in the past few
years one tact about tuberculosis
which is of incalculable comfort to
many, and that is that the disease
is not hereditary. 1t is very impOr-
tant that we should understand this,
because it seems to contradict a
long prevalent tradition, and a be-
lief still widely and sorrowfuIly en-
tertained. Bacteria, and especially
most disease-prodncing bacteria,
are very sensitive in the matter OF
growth and proliferation to the con-
lions under which they are placed,
and especially to the material on
which they feed. So that a germ
which can induce serious disease in
one species of animal is harmless in
the body of a different though close
ly allied form. More than this, diff
ferent individuals ofthe same species,
or the same individual at different
times, may have the mot marked
differences in susceptibility in the
presence of disease-prOducing germs.
What this subtle difference is we do
not know. Whether the body at
one time affords a cOngenial soil to
the invading germs and at another
does not, whether its marvellous
and complex powers of resisting the
vlrulent tendencies of disease-pro-
ducing bacteria at one period or in
one individual are more vigorous
than in any other way and vary at
different times we do not certainly
know. This, however, we do know,
that certain individuals are more
likely than others to yield to the in
cursions Of the tubercle bacillus.
This vulnerability in the presence of
invading germs we call susceptibility,
and susceptibility to the action of
the tubercle bacillus is hereditary.
1t is not the disease, tuberculosis,
which comes into the world with
certain individuals or with success
sive children of the same family, but
the aptitude to contract it should
external conditions favor. What
subtle impress on the cells which are
to develop into the new individual
renders him more than another an
easy prey to the tubercle bacillus
should it later find Judgement IN his
body we do not know, and we
may not hope soon to be enlighten-
ed, since all the intricate mysteries
of heredity seem involved in the
problem. But this we do know,
that however much the child of tu-
bercular parents or a member of
tubercular family may be predispos-
ed to the disease, he cannot acquire
tuberculosis unless by some mis-
chance the fateful germ enters his
body from without. What has been
through all these years regarded as
the strongest proof of the hereditary
transmission of tuberculosis-nam
ly, the occurrence OF the disease in
several members of the same house
hOld-is, in the new light, simply the
result of household infection-the
eathing of air especially liable to
contain the nOX1Ous germs, or their
entrance in some other way into the
bodies of persons especially sensitive
to their presence. | do not mean to
imply that under no conditions can
tubercle bacillus be transmitted from
the mother to the child before its
birth. In few instances this is be-
lieved to have happened. But it's
occurrence is so extremely infrequent
that it may be regarded as accident
al, and of no serious Importance
from our present point of view
From Tuberculosis and its Proven
tion," by T. Richard Prudden, Nj.
D., in Harper's Magazine for March,