i 94 PHYSIC 



lining mucosa, and attacking the agents of nutrition, 

 destroying their functional powers, and disseminating 

 toxins, until mal-nutrition and inanition "prove superior 

 to the powers of life." 



In relation to the intra-corporeal distribution of the 

 tubercle bacillus, we are convinced that the invasion of the 

 cerebro-spinal cavity, and the subsequent tuberculous 

 tainting of the streams of cerebro-spinal lymph issuing 

 therefrom, becomes a principal, and perhaps the greatest, 

 means of carrying into the most remote regions of the 

 body the seeds of the disease, there to become fresh centres 

 for its further dissemination and the spread of its patho- 

 genic influence. 



Amongst the phenomena of tubercular infectivity is one 

 most remarkable, we would say, almost unique, feature, 

 viz. the harmless retention for long periods of the bacillary 

 organisms, in spore, or germ, or adult condition, within 

 the invaded structures, without their giving rise to more 

 than passive symptoms or attracting the attention of their 

 host. In such circumstances the enemy, so to speak, lies 

 low until the time arrives that, from an attack of inter- 

 current disease and a lowering of the power of resistance, 

 with most likely the accumulation of adynamic and more 

 or less devitalised material, it is enabled to supply itself 

 with the means of renewed development and pathological 

 progress, and to engage with renewed vigour in its work 

 of destruction and "consumption," not usually to be 

 stopped until it has become completely victorious over its 

 now helpless victim. 



The local incidence of the disease, its methods and 

 manner of development, the pathological changes it effects 

 in individual structures and organs, and its ultimate 

 results all conform to the character and nature of its 

 microbic origin and essence, which enables it first to effect 

 a lodgment in, or take possession of, its victim at any 

 time, and to wait the "current of organic events," until 

 the time arrives for it to take action, when it will its lethal 

 "tale unfold." In this it is but too frequently successful, 

 but not always, as clinical experience has told, and as 

 modern research is now demonstrating in its beneficent 

 work of prevention and cure. 



