338 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan. 



observe ijrecautions ; but tliey should be governed by the following con- 

 siderations : — 



Prevent alcoholic excess by all means in our power. Make laws 

 which Avill secure to the workman in his shop and tlie pupil in his 

 school-room a supply of air necessary to the requirements of health. 

 Apply proper rules to the constiniction of dwellings, and modify those 

 already in existence so as to avoid crowding. 



M. Villemin remarked : " There is one point on which nearly all of 

 us are agreed, and that is, the danger from the expectoration of con- 

 sumptives. We. agree also on the proper prophylactic measures. For 

 a long time experiment has shown the virulent activity of the sputa of 

 persons affected witli pulmonary tuberculosis. Twenty years ago I read 

 in this same society a series of experiments, tending to show the natural 

 causes of the transmission of the malady. The discovery of the bacilli 

 of tuberculosis has only confirmed the opinion I then advanced." 



If M. See has read my work, he will see that I agree with him in the 

 innocuous character of sputa in a liquid state. He will see that I reject, 

 as he does, the idea that the air breathed is susceptible of contamination. 

 He will find there what I have said upon the immunity of physicians 

 and servants in the rooms and hospitals of tuberculous patients is true. 

 It follows that, if we speak of atmospheric infection, it is from the dust 

 of expectorated matter, and not fi-om the presence of tubei'culous virus 

 in the air. It is therefore important to take great pi'ecaution to remove 

 frequently the sputa of consumptives. 



In removing consumptive ijatients from place to place in I'ailroad 

 cars, care should be taken that none of the expectoration of these 

 patients should be allowed to dry on the carpet, so that the particles may 

 be thrown into the air by the motion of the cars. 



I come now to the transmission of tuberculosis by alimentary causes. 

 This sort of contagion is less frequent than that caused by expectorated 

 matter. Milk may be poisonous, it is true, when it is furnished by a 

 cow affected with mammanj tuberculosis. It may also happen when a 

 diseased cow, in licking herself, shall have impregnated her teats with 

 her contagious discharge. 



Concerning the meat of animals, it appears that the juice of certain 

 tuberculous animals produces tuberculosis ; and, as the recommenda- 

 tions of the commission apply only to the meat of tuberculous animals, 

 there is no fear that we shall be deprived of the precious resource of 

 i*aw and bloody meat, so useful to the sick. 



It now remains to discuss with M. See the conditions which favor or 

 create predisposition to tuberculosis. On this question opinion is greatly 

 divided. Personally, I am inclined to accept the opinion of ISI. Se6 with 

 regard to pneumonia and bronchitis. But, if the commission has con- 

 sidered inflammations of the bronchial tubes and lungs as favorable to 

 the implanting of tuberculous bacilli in those organs, they have based 

 their opinions on the assertions of Koch alone, and not on facts. 



The academy, at the close of the debate, appointed a commission 

 composed of advocates of both sides of the question. I have 



