CARE OF THE THROAT AND EAR. 



799 



contains the infectious bacillus, which may cause a similar disease in 

 a person predisposed by heredity or sickness to this affection. 



The germ of tuberculosis is the seed, and the predisposed person 

 the soil, and it requires a combination of both to develop the disease. 

 To illustrate the necessity of suitable conditions for the development 

 of plants — for it is now almost universally admitted that the germ of 

 tuberculosis is a micro-organism which belongs to the vegetable 

 kingdom — I remember some years ago, while in North Europe, see- 

 ing in a hothouse a plant which is here commonly known as the " four 

 o'clock." The gardener in charge of the conservatory considered it 

 a remarkable plant, but difficult to propagate, and stated that it was 

 absolutely impossible to raise it out of doors. In this part of the 

 world, however, we know that this plant grows so easily that once 

 established in a garden it is difficult to keep it within limits. In both 

 of the cases we have the same seed, the difference being only in the 

 soil and the conditions favorable for its development. The absence 

 of either the seed or the soil will absolutely prevent tuberculosis, 

 and if the laws of hygiene are properly carried out, both in destroying 

 the seed and in preventing the formation of a suitable soil, favorable 

 effects will soon be shown. 



Hygiene in regard to patients demands simply that the infectious 

 character of the expectoration be destroyed. The vessels for this 

 purpose should contain some disinfecting solution, should be cleaned 

 regularly, and handkerchiefs, towels, or other material with which 

 the expectoration has come in contact should be sterilized by being 

 placed for at least half an hour in boiling water. This is necessary 

 not only for those in the same room with the patient, but also for the 

 patient, as it is quite possible that a former expectoration may produce 

 reinfection of the patient himself. 



Another method of contracting tuberculosis is by means of ani- 

 mals, such as cows, used for food and milking, which are known to 

 be subject to this disease. It has been shown in some localities that 

 one cow out of every twenty-five was affected with tubercular disease. 

 This suggests the importance of having competent veterinarians to 

 examine not only the meat which is sold, but also the cows used for 

 milking purposes. Where there is the slightest doubt as to the nature 

 of the meat or milk, the former should be thoroughly cooked and the 

 latter sterilized before using. 



In this connection it would be well to refer to the subject of spit- 

 ting in street cars and in public places. While this nuisance is the 

 subject of danger to every one in the street cars, especially in winter, 

 when the windows are closed and a large amount of impurities is in- 

 haled, it is more particularly so to ladies, whose skirts, in spite of 

 every care, are soiled by the filthy expectoration, thus making them 



