416 ON THE OKIGIN, PKOPAGATION, 



either upon the floors or into pocket-handkerchiefs. In 

 no single case, on the other hand, where spitting on the 

 floor or into pocket-handkerchiefs was strictly and 

 effectually prohihited, did he find himself able to pro- 

 duce tuberculosis from the collected dust. 



A point of considerable importance, more specially 

 dealt wiih by Cornet in a further investigation, has 

 reference to the allegation that physicians who attend 

 tuberculous patients do not show among themselves 

 the frightful mortality from phthisis that might be 

 expected. This is often adduced as proof of the com- 

 parative harmlessness of the tubercle bacillus. No in- 

 vestigation, however, has proved that the mortality 

 among physicians by phthisis does not far exceed the 

 average. And even should this mortality show no great 

 preponderance, it is to be borne in mind that the 

 number of physicians who, thanks to their education, 

 are able to discern the first approaches of the malady, 

 and to master it in time, is by no means inconsiderable. 

 In the health- resoits of Germany, Italy, France, and 

 Africa, we find numbers of physicians who have been 

 compelled, by their own condition, to establish their 

 practice in such places. 



The memorable paper of which I have here given a 

 concentrated abstract concludes with a chapter on 

 ' Preventive Measures,' which are assuredly worthy of 

 rave attention on the part of Governments, of hospital 

 authorities, and of the public at large. The character 

 of these measures may be, in great part, gathered from 

 the foregoing pages. It is more than once enunciated 

 in Cornet's memoir that the first and greatest danger 

 to which the phthisical patient is exposed is himself. 

 If he is careless in the disposal of his phlegm, if he 

 Buffers it to become dry and converted into dust, then, 



