262 TUBERCULOSIS. 



to tubercular infection, and this is doubtless true, but 

 this does not mean that other animals escape it. Horses 

 and dogs are less susceptible probably from their out- 

 door life, large vital organs and abundant circulation, 

 but they are not immune, for as to immunity from tuber- 

 culosis, we are not sure that such a thing exists. 



We know that in other infectious diseases there are 

 some, such as erysipelas, diphtheria and pneumonia, 

 where no immunity is produced by an attack, however 

 severe, while in others, as variola, scarlatina, measles 

 and whooping cough, one attack affords perfect immunity 

 for a life time. It was the great hope of Prof. Koch 

 and his followers that tuberculin would furnish the 

 much desired immunity, but it failed in this, though it 

 found such a broad field of usefulness as a means of di- 

 agnosis of consumption in cattle. 



CONSUMPTIVE PEOPLE. 



Although, we can destroy diseased cattle, what shal! 

 we do with the great number of humans who are already 

 infected and infecting others? I am not going to advise 

 their destruction, but merely to point out what I think 

 the best means to prevent their destroying others. Next 

 to the disposal of tuberculous cattle, if not first in im- 

 portance, comes disinfection of the sputa. Every par- 

 ticle of sputa that is raised or coughed up by patients 

 suspected of having tuberculosis should be directly 

 ejected into some strong antiseptic solution, such as cor- 

 rosive sublimate, 1-1,000; carbolic acid, 1-30, or a strong 

 solution of chloride of lime, or formalin; and the ut- 

 most care should be used to educate the patient and 

 those around him to the danger to which he subjects 

 those living with him, if any of the spittle is allowed to 

 dry upon the floors or handkerchiefs, or even the public 

 streets. 



Persons suspected of having consumption should not 



200 



