TUBERCULOSIS. LEPROSY 91 



in the air, but many will find favorable lodging places 

 where they may retain their vitality for weeks. 



Infection through the alimentary tract is usually 

 ascribed to butter or milk from tuberculous cows, 

 but tubercle bacilli could easily be taken with food 

 infected by handling, or from common drinking cups, 

 or from dishes or food infected by flies. The 

 phthisical patient often infects his alimentary tract 

 by swallowing his own sputum. 



Infection by inoculation through abrasions of 

 the skin is not common and is usually localized. 



Modes of Dissemination and Methods of Preven- 

 tion. To the nurse the modes of . dissemination 

 and the methods employed for the prevention of 

 tuberculous infection are of double interest, on her 

 own account as well as that of her patients. 



Of first importance, and which should never be 

 forgotten, is the fact that " every tuberculous indi- 

 vidual is a source from which the disease may 

 be further disseminated." (Abbott.) The phthisis 

 patient is a source of greater danger to his neighbor 

 than persons suffering from other forms of tubercu- 

 losis, but large numbers of bacilli are thrown off 

 from lupus (tuberculosis of the skin), from wound 

 secretions in surgical tuberculosis, from evacuations 

 from the bowels in intestinal tuberculosis, and from 



