68 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY [March, 



the means of spreading it. That the disease is contagious there can be 

 little doubt, and that certain conditions of the general health and he- 

 reditary physical weakness are likely to render the introduction of the 

 germs of the disease more probable is equally well established. Prof. 

 C. H. Fernald has recently published, in Bulletin No. 3 of the Hatch 

 Experiment Station of Massachusetts Agricultural College, an inter- 

 esting account of the growth of our knowledge of the disease and many 

 important points bearing upon its prevalence among domestic animals. 

 Dr. C. V. Chapin, of Providence, R. I., has published an essay upon 

 the relation of the germ theory to the prevention and treatment of con- 

 sumption. Dr. Chapin admits that little advantage has yet been taken 

 of the rapid progress that has been made in our knowledge of the cause 

 of the disease, but hopes for better results and urges physicians to edu- 

 cate the public to a higher appreciation of the large extent to which 

 the disease may be controlled by proper care. Considering the still too 

 large class of practitioners who do not yet heartiby accept the idea that 

 consumption is a contagious germ disease the hope of this being accom- 

 plished at an early day is very small. It is certainly high time that 

 this discovery of biology should be made familiar to the intelligent cit- 

 izen in order that such measures as may be available may be taken to 

 lessen the enormous number of victims which annually fall beneath the 

 stroke of this grim destroyer. A few of the well-established facts re- 

 lating to the subject can be easily promulgated, and thereby thousands 

 saved from untimely death. These are among the most important : 



1. Tuberculosis in man and domestic animals is caused by a minute 

 organism called Bacillus tuberculosis. 



2. The bacillus may be transmitted from animal to animal by many 

 means, so that whole herds are liable to become infected when once it 

 enters. Cattle, swine, hens, rabbits, and guinea-pigs are very sus- 

 ceptible to the disease. Prof. Fernald reports a diseased chicken sent 

 to him for examination as completely infected with tuberculosis. 



3. The bacillus may be transmitted to man through the flesh of in- 

 fected animals used as food, the milk of diseased cows, and probably 

 through the eggs of diseased fowls. Hence, public safety demands 

 that more stringent measures be adopted for the suppression of every 

 manifestation of the disease by the destruction of all infected animals, 

 even if it be at a considerable pecuniary loss. Long continued heating 

 to the boiling point probably destroys the vitality of the bacillus, but 

 it is not certain that the spores are thus destroyed. 



4. The bacillus may be transmitted from persons suffering with the 

 disease by the air of the sick room, by handkerchiefs used by them, or 

 by exposed sputum which is usually laden with germs. All sputum 

 should be treated with a solution of bichloride of mercury, the most 

 powerful germicide known, and cloths used in place of handkerchiefs 

 should be burned ; or if handkerchiefs are used they should be soaked 

 in the bichloride solution. 



5. The bacillus seems not able to establish itself in persons who are 

 in vigorous health. Hence the need of great care of the general health, 

 especially when there is any danger from exposure to the disease. 

 Plenty of exercise, abundant and wholesome food, and pure air taken 

 by deep and full respiration are doubtless the best safeguards against 

 contractinp- the disease. 



