264 ABSTRACTS 



The Epidemiology of Tuberculosis. F. C. Smith. Journ, A. M. A., 



1916, 66, 77. 



A general discussion of the subject. 



The climate and topography of the country cannot of themselves 

 constitute immune zones. Such areas are simply uninfected territory. 



Infection of a majority of all persons occurs before the age of 12 

 years. Such factors as street dust, flies, water and fomites are prob- 

 ably of less moment in causing infection then direct contact. The 

 lymph glands as avenues of infection are significant. 



The importance of infection with the bovine type is indicated by 

 the fact that 8 per cent of deaths from tuberculosis are due to this 

 agent. 



While it is granted that certain occupations predispose to tubercu- 

 losis and that age, social condition, economic state, and race may be 

 potent factors, It is most certain that physical exhaustion, whatever 

 may be its cause, entails the failure of some of the natural defenses, 

 and latent infection becomes active. 



Gross infection should be avoided; a diagnosis should be made at 

 the earliest possible time, but in the eradication of tuberculosis the 

 greatest problem is the economic one. — G. H. S. 



Tuberculosis. Hermann M. Biggs. New York Med. Jour., 1916, 



103, 168. 



In reviewing the progress made in the treatment and control of tu- 

 berculosis during the past 20 years, the author states that while much 

 has been done toward eradicating the disease, researches upon tubercu- 

 losis have not added anything essentially new to the knowledge of the 

 subject. A clearer definition has been given to certain phases of the 

 disease, such as the establishment of the facts that bovine infections 

 play practically no part in the production of pulmonary tuberculosis, 

 but do cause 30-35 per cent of the tuberculosis of lymph nodes of chil- 

 dren under five years; that pulmonary tuberculosis is practically al- 

 ways the result of the direct transmission of tubercle bacilli from the 

 sick to the well; and that the disease is definitely preventable. 



Neither a specific treatment nor an eft'ective method of producing 

 insusceptibility for tuberculosis has been discovered. Tuberculins and 

 various forms of modified vaccines are receiving less recognition than 

 formerly. The evidence of the wide dissemination of tuberculous in- 

 fections in early life renders the use of tuberculin of little value as a 

 diagnostic agent. 



With the use of the X-ray, some progress has been made in diagnosis 

 and with the aid of an earlier diagnosis a larger per cent of recoveries is 

 probable. 



As a constructive program for further eradication of tuberculosis, 

 emphasis should be laid upon extensive improvements in preventive 

 measures. Among these are disinfection of tuberculous material, 

 caution in disseminating the disease, increased facilities for bacterio- 

 logical diagnosis, adequate provision for institutional care of tuber- 



