TUBERCULOSIS. LEPROSY 89 



to be most effectual in destroying the tubercle 

 bacilli. Lysol, which is a preparation of carbolic 

 acid, has a solvent effect upon mucus, besides being 

 an excellent germicide, which makes it preferable to 

 any other preparation for the disinfection of sputum 

 from patients suffering from phthisis. 



Tuberculous Infection in Man. — The tubercle 

 bacillus is one of the few organisms which invades 

 every tissue and organ of the human body. The 

 lungs are the most common seat of infection, but the 

 larynx, the intestines and mesenteric glands, the 

 glands of the neck, the bones and joints, the urinary 

 tract, and the skin are frequently infected. 



The lesions caused by the tubercle bacillus are 

 characteristic nodiiles or tubercles which may be 

 plainly seen with the naked eye in the more advanced 

 stages of some forms of the disease. The general 

 symptoms are wasting, fever, and perspiration, which 

 are due to the toxic products of the bacilli, and in pul- 

 monary tuberculosis (phthisis) the frequent presence 

 of other bacteria may cause various other symptoms. 



Tuberculosis in the Lower Animals. — Tubercu- 

 losis occurs frequently in cattle and swine. In Eu- 

 rope statistics show that from 15 to 20 per cent of 

 cattle and from 2 to 3 per cent of swine are tubercu- 

 lous. In the United States the percentage is much 



