The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-01-24
TUBERCULOSIS,


The distribution of the germs of
tuberculosis must, be remarkably ex-
tensive, for tuberculous diseases occur
pre-disposition of mankind to the
disease is also great and nus we also
| understand the frightful fact, which
statistics show, that about one-eightn
of all deaths are from tuberculosis!
Considering the wide distribution OF
| the tubercle bacilli and the many
| chances for infection, it seems won
erful that in spite of it so many hu-
| man beings escape the disease. one
| factor which has been already men
toned by Koch, must be borne IN
| mind, however, and that is the ~ex-
| tremely slow growth of the germ.
This is the reason why the germs dc
not ALWAYS remain in the body, but IN
many cases are eliminated before they
have gained a definite foothold.
| We must assume an unequal pre-
| disposition to disease in different in
| diYidua1s. OF all individuals who are
1 exposed to the invasion of the germ OF
| tuberculosis, only those become dis
! eased in whom the poison can estab-
lish itself in the tissue cells where
il exerts its deleterious influences and
whence it further increases ana
! It is very striking that the existence
| of the tendency to tuberculosis is OFTEN
| expressed in general constitutional
| debility of the individual and espe-
cially in certain pecuIiarities of his
1 body. e. e. the shape of his chest Per
| sons who spring from tuberculous
| families may have vigorous frame
and yet fall victims to the disease
Likewise. tho there is not heredi-
tary tendency, the great powerful
| frame does. not render the person in
| vulnerable to the disease.
| A tuberculous family history IS OBJ
| tanned in infected individuals in 20
per cent Tuberculous parents may
infect their children $50 per ceAt) as
they may infect others, but 81 per cent
escape the disease when removed
| from their parents. According TO
| Rieffel per cent of children acquire
tuberculosis when both parents are
sound, % per cent when both parents
are tuberculous, 10 per cent when the
| mother and Z per cent when the
father is tuberculosis. Hereditary pre-
| disposition is no obstacle to prevention
and treatment.
|. The germ of tuberculosis is thin
| narrow rod and more often slightly
| curved than straight. Has no motion.
| Occurs singly. in groups or bundles
| Its resisting powers are, as RUE,
limited. Drying is endured by the
germs strikingly well. six to ten
a few minutes. 1t may survive "a
below zero for weeks. Sunlight Kills
in few hours.
Types OF Germs.
! Koch was the investigator who an
| nounced to the world that he had dis
covered the cause of tuberculosis His
| Investigations went farther and diff
! ferentiated two types of the germs.
the tphus bovinus (boYine, occurring
/ in cattle) and the typus humanus
| (human). Human tuberculosis
germs usually produce only local
tuberculosis in cattle whereas a gen.
| eral tuberculosis is produced In them
by incubation with the bovine type OF
germ.
tuberculosis is the greatest foe OF
Imam. 1t causes II per cent of all
deaths: SO per cent of deaths between
lis and As years of age. 100000 die
YEARLY of this plague, 100000 III
Europe, 10000 in England, 10000 in
tFrance, 10000 in the United States
land 1900 in Germany Post NOR
Items and hospital statistics do not
idepict the tuberculosis situation. In
AAustria the general death rate from
Tuberculosis is II per cent: the hos
lpital rate among the poorer classes Is
lbs per cent. Quiescent and healed
Tuberculosis is found in many pos'
mortems of those dying of other dis
eases
In Germany, tuberculosis Is found II
it reached 20 per cent in bullocks and
tuberculin test was positive in II pei
, in Europe than in this country. Mon