LOCAL OR GENERAL TUBERCULOSIS. 339 



from the lumen of the intestines into the internal 

 organs and tissues. They may be transported from 

 the intestinal tract into the lymphatics in the same 

 way that the fat-droplets of the chyle find entrance 

 into the lymphatic circulation. 



Unlike most pathogenic organisms, the tubercle ba- 

 cillus is believed to have the property of forming spores 

 within the tissues. These spores, which are presum- 

 ably highly resistant and not destroyed by drying, 

 are thrown off from the lungs in the sputum of tuber- 

 culous patients in large numbers ; and unless special 

 precautions be taken to prevent it, the sputum becomes 

 dried, is groiind into dust, and sets free in the atmos- 

 phere the spores of tubercle bacilli which came with it 

 from the lungs, and which have the property of ex- 

 citing the disease in a certain number of persons who 

 inhale them. The frequency of pulmonary tuber- 

 culosis points to this as one of the commonest sources 

 and modes of infection in human beings. This opinion 

 is borne out by statistical studies upon the disease, as 

 well as by such evidence as Cornet ^ has produced upon 

 the infective nature of dust taken from apartments 

 occupied by persons suffering from pulmonary tuber- 

 culosis. 



Location op the Bacilli in the Tissues. — ^The 

 bacilli \\ill be found most numerous in those tissues 

 which are the seats of the active stage of the process. 



In the initial stage of the disease the bacilli will 

 be fewer in number than later. At this time only 

 single rods may here and there be found ; later they 

 are more numerous ; and, finally, when the process 

 has advanced to a stage easily recognizable by the naked 



1 Comet: Zeitschrift fur Hygiene, 1889, Bd. v. S. 191. 



