Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1906-08-10
CAUSES Of TUBERCULOSIS
Latest Theoy.Lays Stress Upon
Size and Condition of Heart.
THE CONSUMPTlVE TYPE
Prevalent Among Cattle - Horses
Practically Immune Due 10 High
Ratio Of Heart TO Body Weight
Post Mortem Examinations Con-
firm That Statement.

The results OF a long and patient
series OF investigations OF victims OF
consumption, both in the human and
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 detraeting from the TN
portant lessons learned, because from
the days of Hippoerates physicians In
studying the consumptive 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 a po-
tent predisposing factor. other than
the bacillus and It's loealization 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 II
used to be thought that some time in
life the lungs OF but so per cent. OF
the human race were invaded by tho
germs OF tuberculosis. It is now
known that the percentage is between
10 and so. The majority OF these
persons never develop consumption.
that, according to DIR. Hutchinson. Ia
because they have hearts proportion
ate to the rest OF the anatomy.
The eonssmptive 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 II WAS described as the
type with clear skin, bright, ex-
pressive eyes. aquiline features,
abundant, light. wayy hair, tall slen-
der figure. tapering fingers. and blue
veins;'' again. 1t was a type
"swarthy. 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
istlc may perhaps be said TO be a pre-
disponent to the attack OF tuberculo-
| sis, and that 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 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 It more rapidly than the
average OF the race In all the giants
and very tall men, whom have ex-
| amined, the heart Is relatively under
sized.
my attention was first called to
| the size OF the heart In tuberculosis. :"
| continues DR.. Hutchinson. from tho
| point of view OF comparative pathol-
| ogy. | was engaged for nearly two
! years In making autopsies upon the
bodies of the animals dying at the
gardens Of the London Geological So
| ciety, where, OF course, found large
amounts 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
q common or frequent cause OF death
except in herbivora or mixed feed
ers. 1t reaches the level of pesti-
Ience In the herbivorous cattle, apes.
and monkeys. fowls. pheasants. and
| turkeys. But there are curious va
r1ations among vegetable feeders.
For instance. cattle and antelopes are
exceedingly subject to the disease.
while the equally purely herbivorous
sheep. goats and deer, az well as
horses, xebras and asses. are almost
exempt. Practically all OF those who
were susceptible were found to haye
heart weights far below this proper
ton.
Tho deer, with heart weight of
100 Of it's body weight Is almost abb
| solutely immune. while the antelope.
in the same group, with heart
weight Of 1900. is exceedingly sus-
ceptible. The COW. with a heart
weight of barely 1890 OF its body
weight is. as every one knows. ex-
ceedingly subject to the disease.
while the sheep. placed under even
more unfavorable and unnatural con-
| ditfong, with heart weight of about
1-i00 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
1-i00 OF their body weight"
DR.. Hutchinson's conclusions as a
basis for further Investigations are:
That weak. understood. muscu-
larry deficient heart, indicated by a
weak. rapid pulse and defective first
sound, is one of the most constant