The prevention of consumption : a mode of prevention founded on a new theory of the nature of the tubercle-bacillus / by C. Candler.

  • Candler, C.
Date:
1887
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The prevention of consumption : a mode of prevention founded on a new theory of the nature of the tubercle-bacillus / by C. Candler. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

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    consumptive and scropliulous. In short, he would have to analyze the multitudinous phenomena connected with consumption, so as to evolve suitable matrices- for the bacillus-vegetation in such positions and under such con- ditions as to account for the occurrence, and, in certain cases, even for the non-occurrence, of the disease. The etiologist would call in to his aid the pathology, the symptomatology, and the treatment of phthisis. The past and present prophylaxis would command his attentive con- sideration; for, though as empirical now as it was formerly, modern efforts to ward off the disease have been far more effective than were the ancient measures. He would inquire into exercise, open air, sea-voyages, health resorts, etc., etc., with a view to determine how much of their efficacy in treatment is due to purely tonic effects, and how much to reduction in the amount of the specific infection. In this part of his inquiry he would be attracted, no doubt, by the importance attached by most physicians to the subject of light and sunshine in treatment. This thread runs through the works of all writers from the earliest times. He would know, having the key, that the empiricism here is pregnant with some law by which, when it shall be possible to educe it, the growth of the bacillus-vegetation may be governed. He might be baffled for a time in his attempts to make out precisely how the solar ray is involved here, and then, when he should come to apprehend the actual nature of the re- lations of the sun to the bacillus, lie would find himself impeded in many ways by the limited knowledge we have of the clicmical ])Ower of solar radiation. He would find it impossible to arrive at exact results here, because of the nescience (unavoidable) of physicists in this matter; and he would have to fall back on his own ri'sourcos, and get as nearly as lie could to correct approximations. Many of his conclusions are thrown into the following proposition.