Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1906-09-08
CAUSES G TUBERCULOSIS
Latest Theory Lays Stress Upon
Size and Condition Of Heart.
THE CONSUMPTIVE TYPE
Prevalent Among Cattle - Horses
Practically Immune Due to High
Ratio of Heart 60 Body Weight
Post Mortem Examinations Con.
firm That Statement.

series of Investigations Of victims OF
consumption. both In the human aud
lower animal kingdoms, are set forth
by DR.. Woods Hutchinson of Red
lands, California. in the New York
Times. Exhaustive comparisons are
made with previous theories, and the
biological side of the question is fully
dealt with.
Without detracting from the I'm
portant lessons learned, because from
the days of Hippocrates physicians In
studying the consumptiye have cen
tered their attention on the lung, DIR.
Hutchinson points out that with the
Increase of knowledge concerning the
disease, an uneasy feeling has arisen
In the mind of the medical faculty
as to the necessity for locating po-
tent predisposing factor, other than
the bacillus and Its localization In
the lung tissue. This factor, he de-
clares, is none other than the UNDER
sized, undeveloped heart. II is now
recognized, as the result of post-mor
tenn investigation, that whereas Il
used to be thought that some time IN
life the lungs of but 80 per cent, OF
the human race were invaded by the
germs of tuberculosis, II Is now
known that the percentage is between
70 and so. The majority OF these
persons never develop consumption;
that, according to DR.. Hutchinson, Is
because they have hearts proportion
ate to the rest of the anatomy.
The consumptive type has been so
variously and confusedly described
in past ages, that with but slight ex-
aggeration the entire human race
might be included In the category.
Sometimes it was described as the
type with clear skin, bright, ex-
pressiye eyes, aquiline features,
abundant. light, wavy hair. tall slen-
der figure, tapering fingers. and blue
VEINS again, It was. type
sswarthy, thick-skinned. dark-haired
with heavy features, squat build, and
stupid" another time the type was
that with red or tawny hair, clear or
freckled skin, and dark eyes, eye
brows and lashes.
"One general physical character
istic may perhaps be said 10 be a pre-
disponent to the attack Of tuberculo-
sis, and tat is unusual tallness OF
stature This, OF course, applies only
TO those who have reached some
where near the maximum height at.
say from sixteen to eighteen years OF
age and upward; for tallness In
children is, in a safe majority Of
cases, a sign of vigor.
almost every observer who has
paid attention TO the point has ex-
pressed an unhesitating opinion that
men over five feet eleven inches, and
women over Ave feet seven inches in
height, are distinctly more subject to
the attack of the disease, and sue
cumb to 1t more rapidly than the
average of the race. IL all the gia.ls
and very tall men, whom l have ex-
amined, the heart is relatively under
sized.
My attention was first called to
the size of the heart in tuberculosis. :"
continues DIR. Hutchinson, from the
SoiEt of view of comparative pathol-
ogy. / was engaged for nearly two
years in ma ing autopsies upon the
bodies of the animals dying at the
f-ardens of the London Geological So
&C " where, of course, | found large
counts and almost infinite variety
of tuberculosis and tuberculosis le-
sions. While tuberculosis can be
found in both animal and vegetable
feeders In captivity, 1t never becomes
common or frequent cause of death
except in herbivora or mixed feed
ers. 1t reaches the level of a pesti-
lence in the herhivorous cattle, apes,
and monkeys, fowls. pheasants, and
turkeys. But there are curious va
riauons among vegetable feeders
For instance, cattle and anteiopes are
exceedingly subject to the disease.
while the equally purely herbivoroas
sheep, goats and deer, as well as
horses, zebras and asses, are almost
exempt. Practically all of those who
were susceptible were found to have
heart weights far below this proper
ton.
THE deer, with heart weight OF
l-90 of Its body weight Is almost alb
solutely immune, while the antelope,
In the same group, with a heart
weight OF 1920. is exceedingly sus-
ceptible. The COW. with a heart
weight OF barely 1880 OF its body
we ght is, as every one knows. ex-
ceedinsly subject TO the disease,
while the sheep, placed under even
more unfavorable and unnatural con
ditions, with heart weight OF abo Il
1-100 is almost completely immune
The same relation explains the
marked immunity OF the horse, ASS.
and zebra, even under domestication.
for their hearts range from 1870 to
400 of their body weight"
DR.. Hutchinsons conclusions as
basis for further Investigations are:
That weak, understood, muscu-
larry deficient heart. Indicated by
weak, rapid pulse and defective first
sound. Is one OF the most constant
and significant conditions present In