214 
C. J. SIHLER. 
This insidious and delusive disease is not the result of 
civilization, as manv suppose. Barbarous and uncivilized 
races are afflicted as severely as many of the most advanced 
civilized races. Neither geographical position nor climatic 
condition is a factor in the distribution of tuberculosis; every 
known part of the globe, with a few isolated areas excluded, 
is a habitat of the disease. The only constant associated 
factor is found, in my opinion, in the inbred bovine species. 
If a community is closely associated with inbred dairy cattle, 
tuberculosis prevails. 
P. L. Simmonds, in his book on “Animal Products," says: 
“The natives of South Africa delight in horned cattle of the 
bovine species ; the natives are great milk drinkers. These 
barbarous people suck the blood from the jugular vein of the 
living bullock," and also “churn together blood and milk for 
a drink." 
In Hirsch’s book on the “ Geographical Distribution of 
Phthisis," we find the following: “ In Cape Colony phthisis 
is oftenest met with among the Hottentots inhabiting the 
plain near the coast." 
In proof of the fact that these African cattle are inbred, 
we have the writings of Anderson, quoted by Darwin, as fol¬ 
lows : “The Damaras take great delight in having whole droves 
of cattle of the same color, and take great pride in their oxen 
in proportion to the size of their horns. The Namaquas have 
a perfect mania for a uniform team, and almost all of the 
people of southern Africa value their cattle next to their 
women, and take great pride in possessing animals that look 
high bred." 
These facts relating to the cattle-breeding propensities of 
the negroes account for the statement of Daniell, that “ Phthisis 
is widely prevalent and very malignant among the negroes of 
the west coast of Africa. In the interior plateaus of southern 
Africa phthisis, however, hardly ever occurs. This immunity 
can be accounted for by the presence of the Tsetse fly. This 
fly inhabits well-defined regions in central Africa, and where it 
exists cattle, horses and dogs cannot live." Doctor Webster 
says, although the climate of St. Michael cannot be safely 
