The San Angelo press. (San Angelo, Tex.) 1897-1907, 1904-12-01

the Sun Angelo Business Club:
We, your committee on santa
ton and public health, having
been requested to make report on
the tuberculosis problem, beg to
submit the following:
We have considered the sub
iect in divisions; taking up first,
conditions favorable to the de-
velopment of tuberculosis, and
second; measures looking to the
prevention OF tuberculosis.
CONDITIONS FAVoRGNG DEVELOPMENT
Behring. che eminent scientist
OF Germany, who is good author
ity on such questions and whose
opinion therefore carries weight,
accepts the view that every one is
slightly tuberculous, but this by
no means implies that every one
is or will be affected with pulmon-
arv phthisis,
He thinks two things are neces-
sary to produce phthlsis; II tuber-
culous focus, and bodily con-
ditions favoring the development
Of the disorder. He regards the
contagion of consumption in
adults with grave doubt, holding
that it has not yet been demon
strated. Therefore, the predis-
position to pulmonary infection
is not in exposure TO Infection
which is shared by all more or
less, but in the conditions of life.
The more probable cause is the
awakening of u latent focus into
activity on account of defects of
nutrition or from impairment of
health. These views should not
encourage us to neglect reason.
able precautions for self protec-
ton, but they do oppose the pes
simistic views held by some
modern alarmists. Behring's
opinions also have this in their
favor: They harmonic with the
great decrease of tuberculosis
under better modern conditions
of living which implies that the
bodily resistance, given fair
chance, will throw off the disease.
As has been set forth above, it
seems probable that in time
tuberculosis infection of itself
will not be so much feared under
ordinary hygienic conditions of
life.
1t is only when reinforced by
other pathologic infections that
it develops into tho disease so
much dreaded.
While the medical profession is
in receptive mood for ANYTHING
scientific and new in regard to
tuberculosis, it is not yet pre-
pared to swear by the words of
any master, however high he may
be in science or medicine.
The result of Behring's utter
ance, therefore, will be to increase
our caution as regards the infant
requirement of tuberculosis and
probably not to diminish it as re-
CARDS its communicability to
adults.
One thing is certain however,
and that is that bodily resistance
to the germ is an important thing
We must build up our defense,
while not neglecting active meas
ures to prevent the attacks from
outside.
DR.. Sims Woodhead. of Toron-
to, in q lecture on pulmonary
tuberculosis is noted for his opti-
mistic utterances as to the cura-
bility of the disease and as to the
Importance of germs as compared
with the Importance of a body cap
able of resisting disease. Says he
has handled, inspired and prob
ably ingested tubercle bacilli for
many years, and yet he has not
tuberculosis. 1t is the soil, not
the seed, as has been stated
many times by others; the de-
Tense, not the eXtirpation of
germs, on which we must place
the most reliance in our conflict
with tuberculosis. This of course
does not imply that the active
fight against the infection is tc
be neglected or that the fight
against germs is not also an OBJ
ject, but it should not be ouI
sole aim in combating the con,
ditions.
The question of the increase OF
tuberculosis among the perma.
nent residents of health resorts
frequented by consumptives il
one of great interest. DR., Gard
ner has studied the subject II
Colorado Springs, in which city
tor twelve years tubercular pa
tients have been living, and h
finds the number of cases o
tuberculosis originating in tn,
city to be very small DR.. VIM
Oster. of Baltimore. n gentleman