N. MATERIA MEDICA, THERAPEUTICS, AND HYGIENE. 5 79 



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MAC CORMAC OX THE ORIGIN OF TUBERCULAR CONSUMPTION. 



In 1855 Dr. Mac Cormac presented a theory in regard to 

 tubercular disease of the lungs, or consumption, in which he 

 maintained that this disease is caused solely by breathing air 

 which has already passed through the lungs of man or other 

 animals (or, otherwise, air that is deficient in oxygen), the 

 inhalation of air already respired being accompanied by the 

 retention of unoxidized carbon, or the dead, poisonous carbon 

 within the body of the organism. This effete matter he con- 

 siders to be the starting-point in the tubercle. He does not 

 think that it forms the tubercle itself, but constitutes the 

 poison from which tubercular disease takes its origin. 



His deduction from this is to the effect that the greatest 

 care must be taken to secure an ample supply of fresh air, es- 

 pecially in cases where numbers of persons are obliged, by 

 cold weather or other causes, to occupy a limited space to- 

 gether, and in which a proper provision for a constant supply 

 of fresh air has not been made. He believes that the predom- 

 inance of tubercular disease in northern latitudes is not due 

 to a tendency in the climate itself to produce this condition, 

 but to the greater liability to huddling together for purposes 

 of warmth, although it is probable that a diseased condition 

 or irritation of the lungs in such cases .may increase the 

 morbification of the poisonous material. Where, in conse- 

 quence of the mildness of the climate, persons are induced to 

 live a great deal out of doors, or where the houses are not 

 closed up to such a degree as to exclude the external air, or 

 prevent its free passage, this disease becomes comparatively 

 unknown. He, indeed, encourages open windows and draughts 

 of air, especially at night, if the body be well covered. 18 

 A.June 28, 1872, 371. 



TOLLARD ON SEASICKNESS. 



Dr. Pollard, in a paper in the Ih'itkh M< Oioal Journal upon 

 seasickness, remarks that two opposite theories have been 

 suggested as explaining its cause one that it arises from 

 a depressing effect on the brain produced by the motion 

 of the vessel, for which the remedy would be lying so as to 

 obtain an increased supply of blood to the brain ; the other, 

 supported by Sir J. Aldcrson, that increase of blood in the 



