The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1900-05-10


from friend whom he had met on the
street or from living In the same house
He would with more reason ascribe the
origin to error Of living, vicious habit,
the inhaling of metallic dust, insufficient
food, over-work. damp rooms.
These are cases Of spontaneous origin,
though this idea is unpopular with many
but we have Illustrations that theory
which is accepted this year as fact may
be rejected next year as an error. Did
the first bacillus tuberculosis beget itself,
appear de novo?
II true, 1t may have been thus with ev-
cry contagium. There is one idea not In
harmony with our belief in merciful
Creator that he made the first germs of
disease. We don't know what conditions
In nature existed then affecting our first
parents or progenitors, but nature was
prolific and possibly of disease. In order
to determine the origin of the first tuber-
cular germ we must first decide upon
either a special creation as starting
as we'll to the bacillus as the man. or we
must admit a spontaneous generation and
the evolution of the species from their en-
vironment-protoplas matter taking
form and having within itself vitality
for reproduction. In lecture delivered
by DIR. Allbitt, professor of Physics in
Cambridge University, Eng, 1893, before
the Johns Hopkins University, he said,
1.-The study of origins is not only the
new method of modern criticism of mod
ern history of modern anthropology of
our reading of the evolution of the uni
verse itself from elements which even
themselves are falling under the same
analytic inquiry. But the study of origin
is leading to revolution which as yet we
have not fully understood" An atom of
oxygen and two of hydrogen forms water.
An atom of albuminoid matter added and
we have a proteid but one remove from
the cell.
In the organized world HsO forms a
constituent part Of every tissue and fluid.
The theory Of the origin Of species by
special creation has been doubted but
rather a creation by law.
If phthisis originates solely by the de-
posit of a tubercular bacillus why should
it be more prevalent on our coast than in
the midland states far removed from the
great bodies of water where f1uctuation
of temperature and humidity are infre-
quent? Has there been a single anthem
tic case given of the disease being COM
municated by tuberculous invalid at a
health resort to anyone who had no sus-
picion Of the disease previously? Physi-
clans are never without having one or
more cases of it. We are in close con-
tact with the patient by stethoscope. We
breathe their exhalations. We visit them
during the more advanced stage of the
disease. They cough In our face.
Do you know of any physician who has
been infected from his tubercular patient :?
Though we are liable to the infection of
diphtberia and erysipelas. 1t seems to
be disease of mal-nutrition and NAL
assimilation, the tubercle consisting of
nodular masses Of granular and caseated
cells, material gone astray, finding lodge
ment in any part of the body and should
have been excreated from the system now
acting as foreign body and as an auto
poison, harmful because out of place.
If the individual bacillus is the only pri-
mary cause we are all equally In danger,
no matter what the climate or mode of
life. II fluids by osmosis can pass freely
through moist membrane, If the germ of
variola or any other germ can find easy
entrance into the blood of a healthy per-
son because microscopically minute so
may the bacillus of consumption.
Thus one person would be as liable to
it as another, as In the case of variola,
but this Is not according to our observa-
ton and experience. All really contagious
diseases are no respector of persons. The
bacillus Is found in the diseased lung.
Diphtheria germs are found in the
healthy mouth. We have diphtheria
oooCo "AAOuo AuoluS tucu dS ucSCL1UcO
by Klebs and Loffler. Are we sure when
we find the bacillus tuberculosis that we
have found the sole and first cause? !
don't believe person need be all pre-
pared for its occupancy if contagious In
the degree now being taught. Doctors
and nurses would be in extreme danger.
1t would have nearly depopulated the
countries as small pox has done.
A person entirely excluded from posi-
BILE infection may originate the disease
from Inheritance.
The study of climatology and the selec.
ton of sanitaria for the consumptive is
the duty of the physician.
We know that a change from our damp
climate to one that Is dry with some ele.
walton above the sea level and distant
from any great body of water is the best
resort. On all sea coasts it is preva
lent disease but far removed from it does
not prevail. Latitude south of 40 degrees
north suggests Colorado or New Mexico
Here the rainfall Is so slight that one
source of water is from the melting snow
Of the mountains. Common prudence ir
regard to dress, exercise and food with
little medication. We must select thu
right material for repair. DR.. Fletcher
the distinguished anatomist and aDthro
pologist, one Of the highest authorities
upon the human proportions, said tina
the measurements of one million Ameri
cans enlisted showed that the men from
Vermont, New Hampshire and Kentuck,
were noticeably the tallest.
This he attributed to the rich lime de
posts In those states, which materia
builds up the whole skeleton-while alb
sence Of lime and certain mineral salt.
will cause softening and dlminution of tn,
frame work Of the body, condition VI
find in consumptive persons.
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