The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-03-17
tuberculosis or Consumption.

Editor OF The Timoa.l)iapatch,
Sir,~-Nluch hna been suld recently IN
tho papers and magazines Regarding
the spread OF discusses, und especially
the dreaded nalndy, consumption
Sanlt1rln nre being built for the
comfort and Isolation OF those huflor-
Ing from such discusses ana the medical
profession is putting forth great Of
forts IA discovering new, and utlliHlnS
tho best known methods OF treatment.
However,, IL is not to these things that
the writer wishes to cnll attention,
but to tho Importance OF preventing
tho spread OF thls disease through q
much-ncglectcd source or It's dissent
mutton.
The chief channels of personal In
lection In the spread OF consumption
among a community ~ tubercular
Rputum or cough spray, on other utbcr-
cular discharges; second, Infected milk
or meat.
former and thoroughly cooking tho lat.
ter, VIII remove all danger. In any
case, thorc IL evidence to show that
infection from milk or meat Is moth.
ing liko 80 common as injection from
sputtlm or from mucous particles from
n consumptiVe patient. 1T liz to this
mode Of infection that Ia due the largo
amount OF respiratory tuberculosis The
cxpectoratlon from the lungs must
contain, from the nature Of the case.
very large number Of bacila. As
matter of fact, single consuinntivc
Individual can cough UP several mil
lions OF tuberclc bncilli In n little while.
When cxpcctoration becomes dry, the
least curront OF air Will disseminate
tho infected dust, which can By that
means be readily reinsplred.
Infected saliva on pave'/cnts and
floors, ms we'll ns on handkcrchlefs, or
even IN books may thus become n
source OF danger to othcrs. The writer
has examined specimens Of sputum OBJ
taincd from depot platforms and from
tho streets O ftwo cities in Virginia,
| which contained myriads OF the bacllli.
1t is very easy to imagine how per-
son may carry this sputum on tho
| solos OF shoes, or lady may carry 1t
| on tho bottom of her dress into the
home, where is becomes dry. aud tho
| air OF the rooms when dusty may be
| filled with the germs, and children or
other healthy persons may become in
| fected
| Boards OF health should sec that tho
| law prohibiting splitting in public
places. on sidewalks or platforms II
railway stations. Is rigdly enforced.
In, the rural districts. infection is
| very largely due to careless and
promlscuous splitting and to the all
most entire neglect to disinfect rooms
and houses In which tuberculous pa.
tlents have lived. Houses in which
q consumptIve patient Is living who
| takes no precautions to dispose of his
expectoration, but splits freely on tho
| floor and into his pocket handkerchief
! are vlrulent sources OF Infection. The
| germs may get into the cracks Of the
| floors and walls, and unless destroyed
| by some powerful disinfectant will
| keep their vitality for years. and when
l dislodged from their resting place they
| float out In the air to be drawn into
4 the lungs Of any one with whom they
| come In contact.
4 Another source OF Infection which
| has been overlooked Ia the house dog
| 1t has been ascertained by experiment.
that the dog will become tuberculoui
from contact with man, and II II
\ natural to believe that the converse
! rate possible when house-dog con.
stantly scatters ON the floor and beds
cough spray, and II Is rem
dered extremely dangerous, cspe
cially for children It's habi
tual playmates. Therefore. the mos
elementary prudence will Danish from
a room any dog which coughs fire.
i qpently, though 1t may seem to be suf
4 fcring only from some common afrec
tion Of the bronchi or lung.
AS n great many people arc totally
ignorant OF the danger Of these source
OF Infection. II the sacred duty o.
to SEQ that the spirit or the sanitar,
law is carried out by explaining t
those who do not understand and re
porting to the authorities those VIII
mnlciously disregard It.
MEADE FERGUSON,
\ Bacter!ologist
Backsburg. Va.