New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-04
MEDICAL AND SANITARY NOTES.

CAUSES OF TROPICAL DISEASES The dis
cussons which have lately been carried on by
medical writer's on the acclimatization OF white
settlers In the tropics seem TO show thai heat ard
moisture not to he regarded as In themselves
the direct cause Of any important tropical disease
II Is ascerancd that the direct in fact. 81
20 per cent OF such diseases germs. the great
scientific desdordtum being. OF course. an accurate
know ledge OF these germs and their habits. The
fact that most micro parasites. when once I'm the
body fairly safe Is well known; but these
same parasites, in oder that their respective
species may keep IN existence by spreading from
host TO another necessarily at some time or
another leave the human body, and during this
tra-corporeal state hey are eminenty yulner-
able. to kill them being. therefore, simply matter
of kroS!edge' and the proper application Of such
knowledge or in other words. sanitary science and
sanitation In regard TO the degenerattve in
fuences Of such hot climates upon the descendants
that in some parts Of the iropics-as for instance.
IN portions Of md.a-thc climate does cause de.
terioration OF stamina II - question. however.
whether it is the heat alone that works this
change. or whether there are certain as yet unaP-
preciatcd telluric influences which are responsible
for the loss in question.
METHODS FOR AVOIDING TUBERCULOSIS.
In recent report on this subject by NJ Gran
cher to the Paris Academy Of Medicine It is again
recommended. confirming the position arrived at
some years ago that all sputum should be collected
in vessels containing solution Of carbolic acid, or
else water thar sweeping should be avoided az
much possible dust. etc. being removed or
wiped of with damp cloth and that all milk
should ne boiled before il is consumed. In regard
to family practice. it Is recommended to all med
zeal men to resort to continued applications Of
these various prophylactc measures from the time
when tuberculosis is diagnosed anu also II pos
sible. 10 keep the disease quiesceht by means OF
early diagnosis and proper trea tment with ref
TO the Army. IL is suggested that early
cases Of the ailment in which the expectoration
does contain hacli. should he invaded tempo
to contain Kochs bacilli: and the military author-
ties are specially appealed 10 that these rules be
carried out in every barrack
EXPERIMENTS IN PHYSIOLOGICAL CHEM
ISTRY.-A paper OF much interest. detailing ex-
periments the effects OF alcohol upon the hu-
! body has been presented 10y Professor Ben
edict TO the American 'hemical Society. These
experiments were made with a respiration calori-
meter a small alright chamber In which the sub
iect lives for several days. Accurate measure
ments are by this means made OF the amount OF
heat given off by the body. weight I'm grains OF
| solid and liquid excrements. and the kind and
quality OF the cXhaed air * ascertained and with
going into the box all food and drink are weighed.
and in this valuable information concerning
the vital processes Is obtained. In TINS expert
mcnt the subcct-a man accustomed TO regular
supplies OF alcohol-was kept I'm the chamber eight
which seventy-two and "A half grains Of alcohol a
| day added an amount about equal to that
1
pertinent proved. in this instance. that over %
| per cent ~ the alcohol vas oxidzed and utilized
by the mans body. doing In all respects the work
OF n true food. The knetic energy coming from II
nearly equal to the potential energy 81 the
alcohol when supplied.
SURVIVAL. OF THE FITTEST THE realiza-
ton OF this ideal desdcratum, II need scarcely he
said. Is the outcome OF struggle tasking both
mind and body. and the necessary result OF such
| an extreme demand for brain actVity-since that
organ IL the sole source OF energy which all the
functions OF the body. including that OF digestion,
depend-is. according to Sir Henry Thompson.
writing in The Nineteenth Century para
mount factor in the case Under the circumstances
| In question nothin~ can be important he
! saws than TO provide food of a kind and In a form
which will economic the work Of the stomach
! tageously soluble in form as TO be rapidly and
easily accumulated even predigested sometimes. and
! when solid requiring much masticaiion Pro
fessor Thompson does not hesitate 20 declare that
! he has found nothing which fu.nls these condi-
tons so completely the various concentrated "x-
| tracts OF meat which are now IN such extensive
/ use a teaspoonful of sound beef extract In a
| fatinued and the stomach IL unfit for work, being
! I'm many cases the best antidOfe possible. rem
| MIGRATING the system and preparing II Tor hght
meal or for little more work as TIE frqur ements
may he
| SAL9AS \ CONDlMENT. Some of the medical
Journals have revived the old-tne question as 10
the benefit derived from the VI salt In the