The war against consumption: a popular handbook of the proceedings of the British Congress on Tuberculosis, London, 1901 / by Dennis Vinrace ; revised by John H. Vinrace.

  • Vinrace, Edward Dennis.
Date:
1902
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The war against consumption: a popular handbook of the proceedings of the British Congress on Tuberculosis, London, 1901 / by Dennis Vinrace ; revised by John H. Vinrace. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

    37/224 (page 29)
    CHAPTER III. infectioii from tuberculous Spurum* IF it must be admitted that, in the course of tbe^ Congress, wide differences of opinion were ap- parent as to many of the subjects discussed, it can yet be said that on at least one subject there was the utmost possible unanimity. That tuberculous sputum is a most potent, if not the most ])oteut, factor in the distribution of the bacilli of tuberculosis w^as proclaimed on all hands. Since all are of one opinion in this matter, I shall sufficiently indicate the g'eneral feeling of the Con- gress if, in the first instance, I quote passages from the papers contributed by Professors Eoch and Brouardel. I will then briefly deal with some of the suggestions made for lessening the risk of infection from this source. Professor Koch, after referring to the introduction of tubercle bacilli into the lungs by inhalation, went on to say : “ As to the question where the inhaled tubercle bacilli have come from, there is no doubt. On the contrary, we know with certainty that they get into the air with the sputum of con- sumptive patients. This sputum, especially in ad- vanced cases of the disease, almost always contains tubercle bacilli, sometimes in incredible quantities. By coughing, and even speaking, it is flung into the air in little drops, that is, in a moist condition, and can at once infect persons who happen to be near the cougher. But then it may also be pulverised when dried, in the linen or on the floor, for instance, and get into the air in the form of dust. In this manner a complete circle, a so-called circulus vitiosus, has