The Bacteria of Consumption 91 



germs were widely dispersed in the air. Of 

 course those which fell upon this small dish, 

 three inches across, form but a small proportion 

 of the number expelled. 



It is thus clear that both safety and decency 

 require that in coughing and sneezing, the 

 handkerchief, or at need the hand, should be 

 held before the mouth and nose. This ob- 

 vious rule of propriety is also a counsel of 

 security under all circumstances, since the 

 mouth and nose of many persons, not tuber- 

 culous and not even themselves ill, contain 

 infective organisms which, gaining a foothold 

 upon more vulnerable individuals may lead 

 to serious disease. 



Now all these facts are extremely disagree- 

 able both to hear about and to tell, and they 

 can only be infinitely distressing to the vic- 

 tims of tuberculosis and to their friends and 

 associates; but all the same they are facts, 

 stubborn, abiding, and significant. The 

 sooner we recognize the truth that every 

 consumptive person may, if proper precau- 

 tions are not taken, be an actual and active 

 source of infection, not only to those who 



