The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-10-08
CONGREGATIONAL GREATLY NEED
ED DISCUSSION.

The a couple ot months
since contained much concerning Pro-
.fessor Robert Koch's paper read on
23rd of last July at the British con-
gress on tuberculosis. His theme as
stated by himself was 9TH Combating
of tuberculosis in the Light of the
Experience that has been gained in the
Successful Combating OF other lnfec-
tious Diseases" The doctors, or some
of them, combatted h he said rela-
tive To tuberculosis infection from the
cows. which he denied. But this was
T. e point of many in the able,
ID. and interesting paper read.
.pprared afterward in London Ma
ture," and we ave it before US now.
1t is very instructive, hopeful, and, TO
an unprofessional mind easy of under
standing and very interesting. 1t is
too elaborate TO be touched upon here
save here and there. We will en-
deavor TO select a few points that
can not well fail to engage the atten-
ton of many of the readers of the
Messenger.
First the able physician of Germany
says that tuberculosis is a "preventa-
BILE disease" He proves it. indeed he
says il fought to have become clear
as soon as the tubercle-bacillus was
discovered, and the properties Of this
parasite n the manner Of it's trans
mission became known. He thinks
that hardly any intelligent medical man
"now denies the parasitic nature of
tuberculosis" Another point is that
~every disease must be treated accord
ing to it's own special individuality"
He refers to the bubonic plague, and
the discoveries concerning it, and that
experiments fully tested showed on
shipboard that the rats were the ans
snitters of the pestilence. He touches
upon cholera, hydrophobia and leprosy.
But we are particularly concerned here
with tuberculosis-consumption that
Stays such a great number of the hu-
man race.
DIR. Koch says and it goes to the very
centre of the disease:
I'm by far the majority of cases of
tuberculosis the disease has its seat in
The lungs, and has alo begun there.
From this fact it is justly concluded
that the germs of the disease, i. e. the
Iubercle-bacilli, must have got into the
lungs by inhalation. AS to the question
where the inhaled tubercle-bacilli have
come from, there is also no doubt. On
the contrary, we kno with certainty
tla they get into the air with the
Sputum of cOnsumptive patients"
Speaking, splitting, coughing do the
FORK of communication, Of spread
ing the fell disease. The sputum when
dried on clothing, on beds, or the floor.
gets into the air n is inhaled. The
lungs of heaIthfuI persons soon become
infected from it. But the tubercle-
hacilli may get to other organs of the
body in the same way, and thus origi-
nate other forms of tuberculosis. This.
however, is a considerably rarer case.
The sputum of cOnsumptive people,
then, is to be regarded as the main
sourc of the infection of tuberculosis.
On this point, 1 suppose, all are
agreed"
What about hereditary consumption,
the old idea that has been universal?
Is it true? 1t can exist, has existed
will continue to exist, We may believe,
but not in the proportions long believ-
ed. What does the eminent German
doctor say as to this important point:
Now, however, it has been demon
strated by thorough investigation that.
though hereditary tuberculosis is not
absolutely n~on-existent. it is neverthe-
less extremely rare"
DR.. Koch discusses next the theory Of
Infection from animals. We omit that.
He gives some interesting experiments
and no doubt many able physicians
agree with him.. After a long survey
he concludes that human tuberculosis
is not transmitted by cattle. A ques-
ton of Importance he answers, as to
the inevitable transmission of consump-
ton from the sputum of a diseased
victim. His answer is:
Fer a consumptive who coughs out
tubercle-bacilli is not necessarily a
source of infection on that account, so
long as he takes care that his sput-
UNI is properly emoved n rendered
~innocuous. This is certainly true OF
very man patients, especially in the
first stages, and also of those who be-
long to the well-to-do classes, and are
able to procure the necessary nursing.
But how is it with people of very small
kmeans?"
He shows that there is a vast spread
ing of the disease by ignorance and by
those living in badly ventilated rooms.
He discusses the extreme necessity of
not sleeping in rooms with consump-
tives. or they will probably inhale the
poison. He Celebrates here but we
pass On.
An interesting part of the discussion
is what the professor says concerning
hospitals for treatment of consumption,
and in removing wrong impressions as
TO advanced patients, etc. General hos
pitfalls do not answer for such patients
are quickly sent away. He says that
England is the only country that pos
sesses a considerable number of special
hospitals for consumptives. He APP