The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1903-02-19

In the recent discussions of the causes Of
tuberculosis alcohol has not been consid.
cred as either an active or predisposing
cause requiring special mention. An eX-
ceptlon to this was noted in the London
congress for the study OF tuberculosis in
which one OF the papers read emphasized
the Importance of alcohol as a cause. In
other similar gatherings little or no refer
ence was made to alcohol as an etiologic
factor of this disease. Recently DR.. Lar.
sen. OF Copenhagen, has published a
pamphlet in which he describes alcohol as
one of the most prominent and active
causes of tuberculosis. He shows from re-
suits of modern research that alcohol is
one OF the most dangerous posons in com
mon use. not only by impairing oxidation
OF the blood, but favoring and encouraging
fibroid, sclerotic and fatty changes of cell
and tissue. Also it diminishes force. nerve
energy, and is a special protoplasmic
poison.
He asserts that its narcotic and anacs.
thetic action diminishes metabolism and
lowers vitality. In this way it favors the
growth OF the bacillus OF consumption. He
also proves that all persons who use aco.
hol have feeble powers OF resistance with
increased susceptibility to the formation OF
toxic state, and the encouragement of bac-
terial growths. DR.. Little. of Paris. in a
paper read at medical congress in Vienna
declared that the use of alcohol was very
intimately associated with ard very ire.
uuently preceded tuberculosis. He de-
clared an axiom that all chest diseases
were durable when they occurred in total
abstaiaers. but IN alcoholics and moderate
drinkers they were practically fatal. He
asserted that nearly all Partisan workmen
were alcoholics before they became tuher.
culous, and that alcohol always prepares
the way and makes the soil more fertile
for the growth of tuberculosis. He showed
from statistical studies that deaths from
alcoholism. both directly and indirectly.
far exceeded that Of tuberculosis. and
urged that an Gnti-alcohohc movement was
far more practical than an aati-tuberculous
crusade. These and other papers less
prominent intimate a new field of causa.
tion which deserves more active study. In
a recent examination of the histories OF
100 fatal cases of tuberculosis the following
significant facts appeared Forty-four OF
the 100 had been moderate or excessive
users of alcohol before tuberculosis ap.
peared; thrty-nine of the 100 were de-
scendants of inebriate ancestors. hence had
inherited strong predisposition to eX-
haustion with low resistant power; ten of
the 100 had received alcoholic treatment at
the onset of the disease. which had in
creased its activity rather than diminished
it. From observations collected by two
Italian authorities ii was found that occu-
patton and professional work, in which al
coholism was common, had very high
mortality from tuberculosis. In another
study made in Paris OF 450 cases, 322
proved to be alcoholics. In this c0un.
try it appears that the descendants OF al
coholic parents show an excessive mortal
ity in which tuberculosis and meningitis
Is the most common form of disease. These
are only hints and intimations OF the inti-
mate association OF alcohol in the produc-
ton of tuberculosis. Clinical studies of
the previous habits of tuberculosis pa.