CONSUMPTION AND CONSUMPTIVES. 339 



especially close relations with the sick. It will thus he seen that 

 in the one case the evidence is nearly always clear, cumulative, 

 and convincing, in the other it is usually confusing and some- 

 times contradictory. In former times, when controversies on the 

 subject were frequent in the medical profession, equally good ob- 

 servers often came to diametrically opposite conclusions. It must 

 not be supposed, however, that knowledge of the bacillus as a 

 causative agent is the only ground for belief in the contagious- 

 ness of consumption. If this were the case, the matter could 

 hardly be regarded as settled, for malarial fevers are known to be 

 produced by a micro-organism, but are not contagious. There 

 has seldom or never been a time when a conviction that consump- 

 tion was contagious did not prevail to some extent, and few physi- 

 cians of much experience have failed to see one or more cases 

 which could only be satisfactorily accounted for on this ground. 

 It has even occasionally happened that in certain localities this 

 theory of its nature has gained such widespread credence as to 

 lead to definite action. This was the case in Italy during the 

 period from 1787 to 1848, when vigorous measures were taken to 

 stamp out the disease, and a special hospital for consumptives 

 was established at Olivuzza. At Naples the bedding of consump- 

 tives was burned, and their vacated apartments were completely 

 renovated before being used again. In fact, the unfortunate suf- 

 ferers were often shunned, and whole families were driven to 

 want. It is said, however, that this method of dealing with the 

 disease made no impression on the death-rate, and it was therefore 

 abandoned. 



Some of the recorded instances of the communicability of tu- 

 berculosis are, especially with our added knowledge of the bacil- 

 lus, quite striking. Among these may be mentioned the iuDcula- 

 tion experiments of Villemin, already referred to. Before this, 

 however, Laennec, who became eventually a victim to the disease, 

 believed that he had inoculated his own finger by means of a saw 

 while he was making a post-mor em examination of the dead 

 body of a consumptive. A tuberculous nodule developed at the 

 seat of the wound. Morgagni, too, at a still earlier period, showed 

 by his writings that he realized the danger of inoculation in this 

 way. Calves which have sucked cows suffering from pearl dis- 

 ease or tuberculosis are frequently found to be affected with the 

 same disease. Dr. Jacobi has recorded an instance of a dog con- 

 tracting tuberculosis by licking the sputa of his diseased master 

 as he followed him about the garden. Acute or hasty consump- 

 tion has prevailed in almost epidemic form among young recruits 

 in crowded barracks in England, and the inmates of certain con- 

 vents have beea almost exterminated by the same disease. In a 

 convent in Louisville nine of the nuns developed consumption 



