296 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY [Oct., 



to another, they may furnish the missing links in cases 

 not otherwise explicable. 



In view of all the facts its seems idle to deny an etiolog- 

 ical role to the bacillus tuberculosis, and pernicious to 

 omit measures looking to its exclusion and destruction in 

 connection with the prevention of tuberculosis and the 

 care of those suffering from this disease, notwithstanding 

 the statements of a few recent writers as to the needless- 

 ness and inutility of such measures. 



DISINFECTION OF FIRST IMPORTANCE. 



In our opinion the disinfection of the sputa and other 

 infectious materials, and the destruction or proper dispos- 

 al of tuberculous cattle are of the very first importance. 

 If this could be thoroughly done there is no question but 

 that this monstrous scourge could be eliminated from the 

 face of the earth. But while the hope of complete eradi- 

 cation cannot now be entertained, we may at least hope 

 for as much success as has been attained in limiting the 

 spread of smallpox, cholera and other infectious diseases. 

 We do not underestimate the importance of measures of 

 general hygiene, and are not unmindful of the fact that 

 while tuberculosis is communicable, it is so to a much less 

 extent than measles, scarlet fever, smallpox, etc., to which 

 the term contagious is more properly applied, and we are 

 aware that it generally requires for its development long 

 and close contact with the sources of infection, or, in ad- 

 dition to exposure, the operation of some depressing 

 agent or source of irritation sufficient to overcome the 

 natural resistance of the organism and render the tissues 

 vulnerable. For this reason special care should be exer- 

 cised to avoid all possible sources of infection during the 

 existence of disorders of the respiratory organs or con- 

 valescence from any of the exanthemata, whooping cough, 

 diabetes, or other diseases likely to lay the foundation 

 for the development of tuberculosis. 



