1054 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION I. 
It is now permanently prepared and ready for exhibition ; but 
it must be remembered that as far as possible it should not be 
exposed for a lengthened period to direct sunlight. 
We find, so far as we have gone—for the method is still in the 
experimental stage—that by this method all formsof blood pigment 
may be fixed in this way. 
It is, we find, of no service whatever in preserving the colour 
produced by the staining of the tissues with bile. 
The process is a somewhat long and tedious one, and requires a 
considerable amount of careful supervision ; but I think you will 
agree with me in pronouncing it a wonderful improvement upon 
the old style. 
No. 3.—TUBERCULOSIS AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH. 
By Grorce Lane Muuiins, M.A., M.D., F.S.S., F.R.M.S. 
(Read Friday, January 7, 1898.) 
[ Abstract. | 
Durine the past forty years (1857-96) there have been nearly 
34,000 deaths from tuberculosis in the Colony of New South 
Wales. 
During the years 1885-96, there were 17,114 deaths from 
tubercular diseases in the Colony, while there were 12,884 from 
the six chief zymotic diseases—viz., smallpox, measles, scarlet 
fever, whooping cough, diphtheria, and typhoid fever. 
Within the metropolitan area (Sydney and suburbs) there were 
4,726 deaths from tuberculosis, and 2,925 from these zymotic 
diseases, during 1890-96. Immense sums of money are spent 
every year in the prevention of infectious fevers, yet the most 
deadly disease in the world is neglected. Fevers usually attack 
children, run a short course, protect from subsequent occurrence, 
and leave their subjects able to work. Tuberculosis, on the other 
hand, strikes down those in the prime of life, runs a chronic 
course, and causes permanent incapacity for occupation. Tuber- 
culosis is a communicable disease. Experiments have demonstrated 
this clearly. This communicability being granted, it is our duty 
to protect the healthy members of the community against the 
ravages of the disease. 
Tuberculosis is caused by the tubercle bacillus of Koch, which 
gains an entrance to the body from without. It affects man and 
many of the domestic animals, such as cattle, horses, and pigs, 
Heredity plays a very unimportant part in the production of the 
