TUBERCULOSIS 169 



No doubt the favourable results as regards a dim- 

 inution in the mortality from consumption, which 

 have been obtained in England, Germany, and cer- 

 tain portions of the United States, are due in part to 

 improved housing conditions among the poor, and in 

 part to the removal of consumptive patients to sana- 

 toria, rather than to the disinfection of sputa, which is 

 still very imperfectly carried out. 



The treatment of cases of pulmonary tuberculosis in 

 special hospitals or sanatoria has a twofold advantage. 

 It is in the interest both of the patients and of the 

 general public. It has been demonstrated that under 

 proper treatment in well-located sanatoria a consider- 

 able proportion of the cases may recover, and that 

 the methods adopted in such sanatoria for the de- 

 struction of the sputa of tuberculous patients prevents 

 the infection of the buildings and grounds. 



On the other hand, private dwellings, especially 

 among the poorer classes of the "community, are al- 

 most sure to become infected by the prolonged resid- 

 ence in them of a case of pulmonary consumption, 

 and sad experience shows that a first case is often 

 followed by a series of cases, which, occurring in one 

 family, were formerly ascribed to heredity. The per- 

 sistent infection of localities in which cases have 

 occurred is illustrated in the vital statistics of every 

 city. Thus in New York City " on a single street 



